The festival's promoters say that they're "celebrating the unsung heroes of the blues, garage, soul, funk, rockabilly, swamp pop and New Orleans R&B." Judging from the recently-announced line-up for this year's Ponderosa Stomp, they're gonna be rockin' the parish in New Orleans next April. Soul-blues singer Otis Clay is among those headlining the eighth annual Ponderosa Stomp festival.
Scheduled for April 28th and 29th, 2009 at the House of Blues in New Orleans, the eighth annual Ponderosa Stomp features a wide range of musical performers. On the blues side, Chicago soul-blues legend Otis Clay will take the stage, as will Long John Hunter, Texas Johnny Brown, Jerry "Boogie" McCain, and the legendary swamp-blues harpist Lazy Lester.
Roots-Rockers, R&B and Rockabilly Rebels
Ponderosa Stomp 2009 will also include performances by a number of legendary roots-rock and rockabilly artists, including headliner Wanda Jackson and Lousiana guitarist Dale Hawkins ("Suzie Q"). Rock & Roll Hall of Fame guitarist James Burton, who has performed and recorded alongside artists like Elvis Presley, Rick Nelson, and Jerry Lee Lewis, will bring his stinging guitar to the stage. Burton recently recorded with singer/songwriter Threk Michaels on a Rick Nelson tribute album.
A number of fantastic rhythm & blues singers will also be appearing at the Ponderosa Stomp, most notably soul-crooner Howard Tate, who is best remembered for late-1960s hits like "Ain't Nobody Home" and "Stop." Memphis soul legend Dan Penn will perform with Bobby Emmons, as will the underrated R&B singer Bobby Patterson. Patterson has also often worked as a producer, and has had success as a songwriter with songs covered by blues and blues-rockers like Albert King and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. The Bo-Keys, primarily an instrumental soul outfit, will also perform, as will acclaimed experimental jazz/blues guitarist James Blood Ulmer.
For those who would prefer to rock, the festival will feature performances by folks like garage-rock cult heroes Kenny and the Kasuals, 1960s-era Texas rockers Question Mark and the Mysterians, and Deke Dickerson and the Eccofonics. Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan of the Flamin' Groovies will be performing together for the first time since 1971, backed onstage by the A-Bones.
Ponderosa Stomp Blues Performers
Although he is best known as Chicago's premiere soul-blues singer, Otis Clay actually made some of his best records for the Memphis-based R&B label Hi Records. Backed by the Hi Rhythm Section, who will also be performing at Ponderosa Stomp, Clay scored his biggest hit, "Tryin' To Live My Life Without You," in 1972 for the label. He's been busy ever since, touring and recording, and is exceptionally popular in both Japan and northern Europe.
A Louisiana native, Long John Hunter is nevertheless a Texas roadhouse legend, influencing string-benders like Phillip Walker and Lonnie Brooks. For better than a decade, Hunter brought his incendiary fretburning style to roughneck audiences at the Lobby Bar on the Mexico/Texas border, recording a string of obscure singles for labels like Duke Records and Spindletop. Hunter's reputation grew with the 1996 release of his Alligator Records debut, Border Town Legend, and the guitarist has been touring ever since.
Blues guitarist Texas Johnny Brown began his career in the late-1940s as a sideman for the Duke and Peacock Records labels. His uncredited fretwork can be heard on early singles by blues artists like Lightnin' Hopkins, and he has lent his talents to hit songs by Ruth Brown, Amos Milburn, and Junior Parker. Although he waxed a few sides for Atlantic Records during the 1950s, Brown didn't get the chance to record a full-length album until 1998's Nothing But The Truth set, following it up a few years later with the critically-acclaimed Blues Defender album in 2002.
Harp Masters To Rock Ponderosa Stomp
Alabama-born Jerry "Boogie" McCain is one of the most underrated old-school blues harp players still hittin' the notes. McCain first picked up a harmonica at the young age of five years old, later recording his first sides in 1953 for the Trumpet Records label. McCain is best-known for a string of outrageous mid-1950s records that he recorded for Nashville's Excello label, "My Next Door Neighbor" becoming his biggest hit. After spending decades in relative obscurity, McCain blew back on the scene with 1989's acclaimed Blues 'n' Stuff album.
Louisiana native Leslie Johnson, better known as blues harpist "Lazy Lester," was heavily influenced by Chicago blues harmonica master Little Walter, but has since forged his own distinctive swamp-blues sound. During the 1950s Lester performed behind blues guitarist Lightnin' Slim, and added his harmonica to songs by artists like Slim Harpo and Katie Webster. Lester recorded several sides for Excello himself during the '50s, and songs like "Sugar Coated Love" and "I Hear You Knockin'" would later be covered by the Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Lester gave up on the music biz during the mid-1960s, retiring for almost two decades until the blues revival of the 1980s prompted him to return to performing. He recorded a well-received album for Alligator Records in 1988, Harp & Soul, and has continued to record and perform sporadically since then.
The Mystic Knights of the Mau-Mau
A group of anonymous music fans formed The Mystic Knights of the Mau-Mau to promote American roots music. They formed the Ponderosa Stomp Foundation in 2001 as a tax-exempt cultural organization, and apart from the annual Ponderosa Stomp festival, they also promote regular concerts and events to promote awareness of deserving blues, roots-rock, and R&B artists. The Ponderosa Stomp name comes from a Lazy Lester song.
Tickets for each night of the Ponderosa Stomp 2009 are $50 general admission, with re-entry and photography allowed. Tickets will go on sale in mid-January 2009, check on the Ponderosa Stomp website for more details and availability.
