Audie Stanley...

Audie was sounding great on bass. If you go to look through all the history of Robbin Thompson music and hits you find his name all over the place. http://www.robbinthompson.com/discography.html

This show was a reunion of the Robbin Thompson Band and let me tell you there were no lightweights on that stage. They rocked.

Steely Dan Leaves the Stage...

Click on the photo if you want more detail....

The show is over. After two hours and twenty songs non-stop Walter and Donald walk off the stage. The band plays the final vamp and it is done. Wow what a night. I need to go find some tickets for one of those New York shows.....

Before I go on I have to share a story from last week while I was hanging out with Robbin Thompson. There is more on Robbin in my blog from last week. I asked Robbin if he was going to be around for the Steely Dan show this week. No...He was booked up surfing in Nicaragua (rough life)

Anyway he was telling me a story of being in a studio with Gary Katz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Katz and at the same time Donald Fagen was right beside him playing pinball on some game machines in the studio. He stopped Donald and said " Man that was some album you all just made. I have questions." (He was talking about "Royal Scam") Donald stopped and said "OK what?" What does that song "Kid Charlemagne" mean? And of course he told the story. I won't recite it here but this link does a good job: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kid_Charlemagne

I thought that was a very cool story. The title track "Royal Scam?" Well according to Robbin via Donald that was the deal they made with the record company to record in the Caribbean...go check those lyrics...anyway...here's to the Kid:

While the music played you worked by candlelight
Those San Francisco nights
You were the best in town
Just by chance you crossed the diamond with the pearl
You turned it on the world
That's when you turned the world around...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylr2D4Pwn58

Robbin Thompson http://www.robbinthompson.com last Saturday night in Danville, Virginia at the Purple Onion. A very tropical hangout! What a show! We had a great time in a small venue enjoying Robbin's music, hanging out with friends, and talking music. Yet another "Brutha T", Tony Turner that is, production. Note a picture of Robbin's sailboat is stuck to the painting on the wall. PS...go to Robbin's web site and listen to "Orange Moon." This is the song I would really like to hear Jimmy B cover.

Robbin Thompson!

http://www.robbinthompson.com/
Last Saturday night in Roanoke, Virginia at Roanoke College. It's been a long cold winter. After a very nice dinner in Roanoke overlooking the city and the blue ridge mountains in the distance I watched the sun go down on the way to the venue. It is always good to see Robbin play. I never tire of his music.

The voice of the Bojangles commercial....http://www.lobe.com/ Robbin gets it done..every time I see that commercial I smile. 'Nuff said.

Brad working the sound board.

Brad Waycaster.

I called my pal Brad over at Mansion462 who told me my other pal Robbin Thompson was getting ready to do a sound check. In three minutes also known as two blocks I was parked 20 feet from the back door. I went inside and straight for the elevated sound booth. Brad shook my hand and we proceeded to listen to Robbin play on stage. Man the sound is good in this place! The wool carpets hanging on the walls and on the floor were absorbing the sound and the PA sounded really sweet. Let me just stop and say if I ever own a music venue this is one excellent model. I love this place. Intimate, very clean, comfortable, and well decorated. It feels like you are in an upscale listening room with a big bar. I love a music venue with leather couches. Very nice.

Robbin's guitars are very cool and they were real nice in this room. I am loving the acoustics in this place.

http://www.robbinthompson.com/

http://www.myspace.com/robbinthompsoncom

Having too much fun in Danville, Virginia

Me, Robbin Thompson, and Tony Tuner...aka "Brutha T" after the show Friday night. As you can tell from the context of the picture we were having some fun after a great show. I never tire of Robbin's music. http://www.robbinthompson.com/ He always has something new to offer and will play for three hours? Wow..his shows are excellent and if you haven't listened to his work lately you need to dig out your music or just go to the link provided above or CD Baby and test drive some of his latest offerings. You will not be disapointed.

Robbin Thompson in Danville, Virginia. Robbin is a very nice guy and friends with many people in the music industry. I can't wait for his next visit to my area. He lives in Richmond, Virginia and comes down every six months or so. Check his web site out and go buy all his cds...he is an exceptional talent and I feel fortunate to have access to see him in small venues. You can hear him on the Down South Radio Hour and Adam's Island Grill on radiomargaritaville.com 

Sorry..Busy Winter!!!

OK so I have been very busy and not blogging lately!! And my uptake of LIVE music has been slow in the last few weeks. I intend to change that real soon! I have been listening to tons of new recorded music and talking to people in the "bidness." I have been buying a whole pile of tickets and I am ready to see some fine LIVE music. I do have tickets to Robert Randolph and the Family Band this Saturday night and I will tell you the tickets are in the "touch the stage" area. Can't wait. In the meantime I have been on the Bonnaroo site http://www.bonnaroo.com/and hearing that the Police are headlining the event. Tickets go on sale in the morning for this event. I wish I could be there but I have plans! Oh well....more to come on that later. I gotta' see these guys somewhere..Oh yes while I am thinking about it, I was on the phone for several hours the other day with a whole list of music "bidness" types and talked to Robbin Thompson while he was on a trip to New York City. That is another story I will let him tell you. http://www.robbinthompson.com/. Without trying to take any of his press thunder I will tell you he is releasing a new cd very soon-next 30 days and it will be real "top shelf." I heard a cut off it several months ago and I know some of the songs that will appear on it. Let me tell you...go sign up for his online newsletter and get a copy of this cd as soon as you can. This album will be awesome stuff!
It will be a cool year by the time 2007 is done. I have many things brewing so standby for "more to come." I have a new high tech 8.something MP camera this year so my images will only get better! If I haven't told you lately...Go see some live music and tell me about it!!! Better yet play some! C ya down the road and talk soon!! Gotta' go catch some LIVE music! Happy Mardi Gras everyone! Remember our Bruthas and Sistas in Nawlin's and Mississippi need your help! Don't forget them!!

Robbin Thompson playing a Chinese zhongruan (moon guitar). He has two of them....You really need to hear his version of "Can't Find My Way Home" on this instrument. Awesome. 

On the Down South Radio Hour This Month

Tune into http://www.radiomargaritaville.com for some holiday music this month on the Down South Radio Hour. This weeks show features many sound bytes from your favorite Coral Reefer Band members and several from some of the many bands I have seen this year like Little Feat, Jerry Jeff Walker, Robbin Thompson, Robert Earl Keen, and many others. I hope you enjoy the holiday music! Drop me a line at dsrh@triad.rr.com with your comments or requests. I'll see you down the road.