ONE MORE MILE

Tradewinds, Cotati

January 2, 2004
By Rolf Olmsted

On a freezing night One More Mile kept the Tradewinds nice and toasty.  Playing to a small crowd of really appreciative fans they put on an intimate show of high-powered guitar trio blues.  Craig Kloor on guitar, Jersey Jim on bass and Lee Thompson on drums seemed to have on heck of a good time.

One More Mile appeared last September at Tradewinds.  They were ferocious and really driving.  Craig Kloor was a monster then of ice cold driving guitar.  It was a revelation and some word of mouth got started.

The band was a little apprehensive at first when a large crowd didn't show up.  It was freezing and it was the end of the holidays.  And nobody got up and danced for the first half of the first set.  They began to see that the crowd was very appreciative, nobody was leaving, and we were all bushed from the holidays.  We wanted to sit and enjoy some fine guitar playing and the blues.

"I lay awake at nights,
False love, just so troubled
It's hard to keep a job,
Laid off, having double trouble

Hey hey yeah they say you can make it if you try
Yeah some of this generation is millionaires
It's hard for me to keep decent clothes to wear."

---Otis Rush

And so they did really play for us.  It was a house party for blues fans.  Kelly behind the bar leaned against the back when he wasn't filling orders and just watched the band.  Couples sat and watched and occasionally got up and danced.  Mo went out on the floor and danced slowly.  Single men who'd been cruising for ladies sat down on bar stools and went for the music.

The band went with us on the feeling.  Craig Kloor began to fool around in the songs and he took some chances with new licks and generally gave us a night of intimate guitar playing.  It was still hard as nails a lot of the time, but it just seemed he was playing for a living room of fans.  Sometimes he'd goof around with the tunes.  Making faces and rolling his eyes he'd start on a lick and take it somewhere off to left field. He'd get a little devilish look and check to see if anybody was watching and listening.  We were.

"It serve you right to suffer, serve you right to be alone
It serve you right to suffer, serve you right to be alone
Because you're still livin' in the days done back and gone

Every time you see a woman, she make you think of yours
Every time you see a woman, she make you think of yours
And that's why, that's why, that's why you can't keep from crying

Your doctor put you on milk, cream, and alcohol
Your doctor put you on milk, cream, and alcohol
He told you that's why you can't sleep at night; your hurt is so bad

Every time you see a woman, she make you think of yours
Every time you see a woman, she make you think of yours
She treated you so bad you just couldn't keep from crying

Your life will never be the same,
You're still livin' in the days done past and gone"

---John Lee Hooker

Playing West Side Chicago classics and Little Walter tunes they kept things moving while playing many slow and medium tempo numbers.  It was the night for the slow blues and Craig really brought the expression out of his Stratocaster.  There was room for the slow blues since we wanted to listen to expression on the guitar.  Craig seemed happy to do it.  Jersey Jim's vocals were laid back and easy. Jim worked the showmanship too doing little physical bits that were fun.

"Blues with a feeling, that's what I have today
Blues with a feeling, that's what I have today,
I've got to find my baby, if it takes all night and day.

What a lonesome feeling when you're all by yourself,
What a lonesome feeling, when you're all by yourself,
When the one you been loving, has gone off with someone else."

---Little Walter

Later on in the evening we were really yelling at the end of songs, the band was so good and it was just "us'n us" with a great band.  It felt so good, so low pressure, so living room.  The crowd built up a bit over the evening as nobody left and people came in by ones and twos.

In the last set Steve Long sat in on a couple of numbers and played some good trumpet solos and Vince Anthony (DeBrain) sat in on drums, which was fun.  Mo and Ronnie Jean had the floor all by themselves and were swaying having a ton of fun as Craig played for their dancing. The rest of us just sat and enjoyed.

Speaking for all the sleepy bears full of Christmas food and chocolate chip cookies (thanks Willy), I'd like to thank One More Mile for stopping by the cave and playing some hot ones while we lolled around.   It was a gas.

...Rolf Olmsted

Rolf Olmsted was born on the banks of the Mississippi River and had a dog and played his father's mandolin. He was exposed to the blues at an early age which accounts for it. Among his accomplishments are reproduction, a collection of cheap guitars, and computer semi-literacy. He's guilty of attempted guitar and mandolin playing.