this one
Paul Moffett

Down On The Corner
By Paul Moffett

Chip Adams, formerly with Spanky Lee, managed to get himself on national TV at Farm Aid VI, playing with the Jimmy Ryser band. Also with the band was Matt Thompson, drummer of the former Hammerheads. Chip is also working on a new group with Chuck Mingis (also of Spanky Lee), Phil Pearly, formerly of P. S. Dump Your Boyfriend and Thompson. Look for an album release later this year.

• The Louisville Youth Orchestra is announcing the availability of audition music and time slots for interested students throught the age of 21 for the 1993-94 seasons. Auditions will take place during the last week of August and the first week of September. Call Melody Welsh at the LYO 582-0135 for more information.

• The MR2 Blues band won the Blues contest at the Bluebird Cafe a while back. Congrats to the guys!

• The Louisville Orchestra has won its 15th ASCAP Award for Adventuresome Orchestral Programming, more than any other orchestra. The LO is the only American orchestra with its own record label, First Edition Recordings.

MERF is planning a celebrity auction. They're gathering goodies from all over, with particular emphasis on stuff from famous musicians and sports figures. The auction is tentatively set for September.

Let's See You Do That Dept. The Preferred Artists Showcase at the Phoenix on Wednesday, June 23, was a doozy. The bands were: da Mudcats, the Kelly Richey Band, the Predators and the Low Riders. I caught Kelly Richey's set and let me testify that Kelly can flat pick that gitter and flat out, too boot. Not to mention behind her head. A fine little blues-based power trio. She ripped through a Hendrix tune or two just to establish her bona fides.

The male players were standing around with their faces hanging out, trying to be cool about being impressed. Kelly and the band will appear Friday, July 2, at the Waterside Arts & Blues Festival, on a bill with Lou Ann Barton; Sue Foley, the Canadian blues player now working out of Austin, Texas; and Sue O'Neil with the Little Dippers.

The Predators followed Richey and let it be known that Screamin' John Hawkins takes a back seat to nobody in the killer guitar department. Front man and vocalist Jimi V. ain't too shabby, neither. Deadline pressure ran me out of the Phoenix halfway into their set, but they, hey, they're scheduled for a Sunday, July 4 set on the Waterside stage along with da Mudcats, the Metro Blues Allstars, Gary Primich and Mick Taylor. It looks to be a hot one. The weather'll prolly be warm, too.

Dem Bars Dept.

Penny Loafers & Letter Sweater Dept. All you Fifties aficionados, take note. A new diner, Bobbie Soxers', has opened at 2039 Frankfort Ave. The diner is open from 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Needless to say, the establishment has a Fifties theme and, I presume, "Dance with Me, Henry" on the jukebox, along with other songs from the era of Ike and not Tina. Phone 899-9800 for more information.

• Things are changing at Uncle Pleasant's – for the better. Owner Mark Smalley has been busy hanging drywall and painting, safe in the knowledge that the next rainstorm won't mean the ruin of all his work. The landlord finally got around to fixing the roof. The bar will be open for business throughout the renovation.

• The Cherokee Blues Club is history. Apparently, frequent overcrowding and the subsequent citations took their toll.

• A new blues club is in the making, however. Those wild and crazy guys at Hurricane O'Malley's are planning to add a blues club to their multiplex down at O'Malley's corner. A contest will be held to name the place, so stay tuned for details. A tentative opening date is set for early September.

Doc Dockery is dusting off his passport again. Doc has managed to make some connections in Merrie Olde England, so he's heading over to the grand island shortly.

Misha Feigin called at the last minute to say he was scheduled to be on Mountain Stage. Taping is set for July 11, with broadcast a month on so later.

Rick Wagner has moved his Thursday night Rick Wagner and Friends sit-in show to the Blue Bird Cafe, 956 Baxter Avenue. Phone is 585-5987.