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July 07, 2007
Roger Hurricane Wilson at the Tradewinds 7/6/07
I went down to the Tradewinds in Cotati knowing I'd be leaving early. I wanted to catch some of Roger Hurricane Wilson. Walking in the back door I discovered the 'Winds was still set up for daytime with the tables on the dance floor and the TV still on over Roger's head and no band lights turned on. Roger was playing great and had a fine sound.
After a while I just pushed the tables to the sides where they usually go and recruited Dwight to turn on the band lights. A bartender I'd never seen before responded to my request and turned off the panel TV right over Roger's head. I'm still curious why nobody who worked there noticed.
Roger was playing hot and smooth with a great variety of rhythms and sound. A fantastic guitarist, he's really versatile.
There were only a few people there. The Tradewinds didn't promote this show, they only got their July calendar up today --a week late.
Standing at the back with drummer Gary Silva, we both dug the sound, and both of us felt uncomfortable with what we were seeing of the Tradewinds itself. The place just isn't what it used to be. Few of the great framed posters are left. The juke box with the local CDs is gone. Beer company mirrors are the "decor" now. Two pool tables now taking up much more space. Thank goodness for the old knotty pine walls.
Roger played on hitting great solos and doing a masterful job entertaining the small group of people there.
All of downtown Cotati was dead. From time to time people would show up and then leave again as no one was dancing.
Roger Hurricane Wilson deserves better than this. He plays again at the friendly Black Cat in Penngrove Sunday night.
Posted by Rolfyboy6 at July 7, 2007 07:08 AM