Clarence Spady at Terra Blues (NYC) - Sat. night
ron kraemer
I read somewhere that Clarence Spady will be at Terra Blues in NYC tomorrow
night, April 5th. I'm thinking of taking the train in to catch the show.
I've never seen/heard Clarence, and haven't been to Terra Blues before.
What can I expect from Clarence?
What can I expect from Terra Blues? :)
Anybody planning on attending?
Thanks.
Ron
************************************************************
Ron Kraemer "We're broke!!"
rkra...@ets.org
(and in another life....) Sam Myers
Ron Kraemer and the Hurricanes
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/lofts/1969
************************************************************
Jamie Bell
ron kraemer wrote:
>
> I read somewhere that Clarence Spady will be at Terra Blues in NYC tomorrow
> night, April 5th. I'm thinking of taking the train in to catch the show.
>
> I've never seen/heard Clarence, and haven't been to Terra Blues before.
>
times. Typical of so many Village layouts, it is rectangular with an
unelevated stage at the far long end with the bar running lengthwise
along the left. It's a very boomy room and most bands I've seen there
tend to play far too loud for the space. Also, it's likely to be
teeming with tourists of all nationalities. All in all, it's probably
not worth the effort; he plays enough in the tri-state area. I'd catch
him elsewhere.
Jamie Bell
Mike Curtis
I've seen a zillion or so blues acts, give or take a few, from rank
amateur to the best of the best. I've seen Clarence Spady and band at
Terra Blues, before I knew they were anyone. I went there to see Satan
(of Satan and Adam). I was VERY impressed with Clarence Spady and his
band. And I'm not NEARLY that impressed by very many.
If you can see them at Terra Blues, you too will be impressed. Clarence
happens to be incredible - a GREAT vocalist - a GREAT guitarist. His
organist, Mark Hamza, had me staring in awe at his proficiency at playing
bass pedals on the B-3 organ. I'm quite skilled on bass pedals - but
Mark is undoubtedly one of the all time best I've ever seen at this.
Usually, organ bass is a compromise. But in this case, it absolutely is
not.
My advice: go see them while you can. And say "hi" from the IronMan.
-- IronMan Mike Curtis
Cassette available - email for details
VT
ron kraemer <rkra...@ets.org> wrote:
>I read somewhere that Clarence Spady will be at Terra Blues in NYC tomorrow
>night, April 5th. I'm thinking of taking the train in to catch the show.
>I've never seen/heard Clarence, and haven't been to Terra Blues before.
I sincerely hope you did go despite the negative report of Terra
Blues. If you did then you would have witnessed a very fine gig.
Clarence Spady @ Terra Blues, NYC Sat.97.04.05
Clarence was on fine form Saturday.
There is a very unique opportunity in seeing the Clarence Spady band
at Terra Blues - their semi-regular drummer at Terra Blues gigs is
Luigi Franconi (usually plays with Michael Powers at Terra Blues) who
is a very fine drummer and fits in really well with the band. He has
more than just good rhythm, but adds really good tonality as well.
On the night Clarence's singing and playing had this fire - it was
fierce throughout the evening. I don't mean aggressive, but his
playing burned.
Mark Hamza's Hammond organ playing was great as usual with his bass
pedal playing astonishing.
The crowd was very receptive and the place was packed when I arrived
just after 10PM. Although the crowd did thin out toward the end the
size of the audience was still quite respectable at 3:20AM when they
finished. Remember this was the night the clocks Spring forward so it
really was 4:20AM!
Notable version of songs were a really fiery "Black Cat Bone", a
radical version of "Stormy Monday" given an up tempo almost reggae
like treatment, but still very bluesy.
A well received "Oye Como Ya" with some very nice phrasing from
Clarence's guitar and Luigi's durmming was outstanding.
A really swinging instrumental "Blues Walk" - during this number some
of the audience noticed Mark Hamza's bass pedal playing (due to a well
placed stage light by the bass pedals :-) and there were sponanteous
whoops of appreciation. Again Luigi's drumming added so much to this
jazzy number.
They finished on a jump blues whose title I didn't know but had part
of the lyrics of "....don't give me that yak-yak-yak......" - Clarence
and Mark traded licks and did call and response - a really great way
to end the show.
Even though I have followed them enough to know most of their regular
numbers - I continue to be impressed with the band...... and I have
seen them often enough to realize I witnessed somthing special on
Saturday.
--
Vincent
v...@pipeline.com