#668 : Wylde Nept Live at the Ideal Theater 3-16-24 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

Wylde Nept – St. Paddy’s Day Party

Ideal Theater

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

March 16, 2024

 

By Phillip Smith; Mar. 17, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

I always have a great time when Iowa’s favorite Celtic band Wylde Nept is onstage. If one can catch them on or near St Patrick’s Day, that makes for even more of a special occasion. With four albums under their belt, and over thirty years of playing live shows, Wylde Nept has cultivated a faithful following of fans. Comprised by Westan James (lead vocals/didgeridoo), Steven James (vocals/accordion), Jon Southwood (guitars), Wayne Twombley (guitars) and Lincoln Ginsberg (cajon), the band played to an absolutely packed house of folks eager to get their Irish on.

After a traditional community shot of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey and their trademark shout of “Sligo!”, the music commenced their three high-energy sets of music with “Haul Away Joe” from their Live in 3D album. Like the whiskey behind the bar, all the favorites generously began pouring out, such as “Whiskey in the Jar”, “Mountain Dew”, “The Unicorn Song”, “Beer Beer Beer”, and “Johnny Jump Up”.

The band was on fire and the fans were enthusiastic. It truly was a special evening of music and celebration.

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 ·       All photos by Phillip Smith      

* all photos by Phillip Smith

For more information about Wylde Nept, visit their website https://www.wyldenept.com/

#665 : Cedar County Cobras - Live at CSPS 3-2-24 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

Cedar County Cobras

Live at CSPS

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

March 2, 2024

 

By Phillip Smith; Mar. 3, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

I’ve been wanting to see Cedar County Cobras since reviewing their Homesick Blues album in December. The opportunity finally made its way last night at CSPS in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in front of full house. That’s one of the most perfect venues in town to experience live music. The Cedar County Cobras are comprised of Tom Spielbauer (guitar/vocals) and April Dirks (upright bass/mandolin/vocals).   

The Cobras played two amazing sets of music, leaning heavily into delta blues. They kicked the show off with an infectious cover of RL Burnside’s “Poor Black Mattie” followed immediately after with Son House’s “Walkin’ Blues”. The first set also included Burnside’s “Goin’ Down South” which Spielbauer remarked he picked up while playing at Red’s in Clarksdale, Mississippi. With Dirks on mandolin, they gave a wonderful performance of Bill Monroe’s “Under the Bridge” and Mississippi John Hurt’s “Poor Boy, Long Ways From Home”. 

They started their second set with “Utah” from their Homesick Blues album. Spielbauer brought out his 1929 National Steel guitar to play for several songs of which included a fantastic of Muddy Waters’ “Trouble No More”. He then switched to his gold-top Les Paul guitar to finish the show, hitting on originals which included a couple of my favorites “Gimme Lightnin’” and “Homesick Blues”. The show concluded with the mesmerizing spiritual “Get Right Church”.

It was definitely a night of music for the soul, and I enjoyed every note played. I already look forward to seeing them again.

 

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All Photos by Phillip Smith

 

·       * All photos by Phillip Smith      

T Read the PhillyCheeze review of Cedar County Cobras' Homesick Blues album : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2023/12/651-cedar-county-cobras-homesick-blues.html

#661 : Winter Blues Fest 2024 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

Winter Blues Fest 2024

Downtown Marriott

Des Moines, Iowa

February 10, 2024

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 12, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

I finally made it to Des Moines for the Central Iowa Blues Society’s Winter Blues Fest, and it was a blast.  Although the festival runs for two days, I was only able to make it over to the Capital City for the Saturday shows which included Matt Woods, Studebaker John, Heath Alan’s Iowa Blues Expo, Rush Cleveland Trio, Gabe Stillman Band, Jimmi & the Band of Souls, Tony Holiday, Indigenous, Max Kaplan & the Magic, McKinley James, Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal, Tom Holland & the Shuffle Kings, Cashbox Kings, & Toronzo Cannon.   The Friday shows, which I unfortunately missed, consisted of Ben Levin Duo, Josh Hoyer, The Cold Stares, JD Simo, Mike Morgan & the Crawl, and Carolyn Wonderland.  With five stages for music, choices had to be made.  I did not get the opportunity to see everyone, but I did see some fantastic acts.  Although the snow and ice were kept at bay this year, there was certainly a “Blizzard of Blues” going on at Winter Blues Fest. 

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·         * All photos by Phillip Smith 

Matt Woods

Jimmi & the Band of Souls

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Heath Alan's Iowa Blues Expo

Tony Holiday

Rush Cleveland Trio

Studebaker John

Indigenous

Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal

Toronzo Cannon

·         * All photos by Phillip Smith 

For more information about Central Iowa Blues Society and Winter Blues Fest, visit their website at https://cibs.org/