MUSINGS & RAMBLINGS

Vince Caminiti is a very strong guitar player without being screaming, he really plays with taste and with an eye to the song. He seemed to consciously keep his guitar level down and not try to ovewhelm the band and audience. Nice vocals and backup too.

George Landreth is a fine keyboard player with strong solos and a great organ and piano tone. He too isn't trying to dominate and really works for the ensemble sound. The song's the thing.

Greg Heumann has really put together his own sound as a vocalist, frontman, and as a harp player. Woof, Woof. Treat me like a dog!

A great rhythm section anchored by crisp drummer Tom DiFiglio always plays inside the song while driving the dancers. Bassist Pat tinling kept grabbing me through the night with his exact groove and spot on support of the band.

By eleven o'clock the place was filled and the dance floor was full without being uncomfortable. Lots of the old 'regulars' were in the house and dancing up a storm. A treat for all of us was when Mike Emerson sat in for a couple of tunes and funked us way up. First time I've seen Shoeless Mike with black socks.

I just went on dancing and dancing and so did a lot other folks. Around 12:30 I sat down for a while and watched. People were really dancing hard. Around 1:00 suddenly a group of Space Invaders (you know the kind) arrived and began to drunkenly step on dancers feet and bump into other dancers. Knowing the signs several of us bailed and went home. My apologies to the band for not staying for the end.

A fine night of the blues by a band that's working on their own sound with roots in all the blues and who isn't afraid to sound like a California Blues Band with jazz and jump influences. I'll be back.

The Bluestate Band's website is here: Bluestate Band