Marker’s Weekend Live Blues Pick

Otis Clay photo by Dragan Tasic www.nga.ch

Berwyn, Blues Capital of Chicagoland?  This weekend is a double pick weekend with two great acts performing in the town that’s been called, “The New Brooklyn” (though I’m not sure by whom.) Of course every weekend in January the Live Blues Pick is Buddy Guy at Legends, but the rest of the Buddy shows are now sold out.

Funky Mojo Daddy at Leroy's

Otis Clay is Chicago’s #1 Soul Man!  For those of us who work until midnight most every Friday, it’s been a long time since the last opportunity to see Otis in the Chicago area. Tomorrow night (Saturday) Otis will be at FitzGerald’s on Roosevelt Road in Berwyn. Otis’ music can sound like Memphis Soul, probably because he recorded on Al Green‘s label with the same producer, Willie Mitchell.  He often is more of a gospel singer than anything which probably has a lot to do with how soulful he is. And he can sing the blues with the best of them.

Meanwhile, down the street and around the corner, okay then down that street for a ways, there’s the Harlem Avenue Lounge.  I’m not sure just how the timing will work out, but this could be a night for a Berwyn double header.  Funky Mojo Daddy is returning to The Harlem. The players in this band all have gigs with other bands so the line-up can vary. This time around it’s Corey Dennison from Carl Weathersby‘s band on lead guitar and vocals, Nick Byrd from the Kinsey Report on guitar, Kenny Kinsey from the Kinsey Report and Wayne Baker Brook‘s band on bass and Jerry Porter, drummer for James Cotton and former drummer for Buddy Guy on drums. It’s gonna be great!

See you out there.

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