We rolled into Chi-Town this week on a night off. We don't get many nights off on this tour, so we planned a night out on the town. My good friend and fabulous blues man, Nick Moss hooked up a jam at the HOB for the band to attend. Before the night was over I insisted we make a stop at Buddy Guys' Legends.
It's the new location now, but it looks great and still has the feel of the old club.
For me Legends was the catalyst in my blues career.
In fact, Buddy Guy has been there every step of the way, although I'm sure he has no idea......
I was 20 years old when a group took a trip to Chicago to visit a friend and I begged everyone to go to Legends.
I was a huge Buddy Guy fan and I had this dream he might be there.
He was not there that night, but someone else was rocking the joint.
Joanna Connor.
She was on fire with her slide guitar.
Her band rocked, she had attitude and commanded the stage.
I was in awe....(and maybe in lust too)
I bought her new cd - Live in Germany on a new record label- Ruf Records.
I went home excited about the blues and the energy I had seen on stage.
I knew its what i wanted to do. I was also interested in this record label, Ruf.
I had no idea their were labels out there beyond Columbia and Elektra.
Independent labels were around but not like now.
8 years later I'm making my own records in Saint Louis and opening shows for bigger name acts when they roll through town. I get a call that Joanna Connor is playing and did I want to open the show. I absolutely said yes! I still had the cd I bought from her and couldn't wait to show her.
Joanna was so gracious and we hit it off right away. She invited me to come to Chicago and try to get in on the blues scene. She invited me to play with her and her band at Legends.
I was so excited to make the trip....
So excited I got lost in the city and was running late to the gig, my first gig at Legends and I'm gonna be late!
I found the club, pulled to the back lot and a big suburban was blocking the entrance. Just sitting there talking to the attendant, in no hurry....
I waited a few and then began honking my horn. I rolled the window down and yelled "Come on!!"
The car finally pulled in and the attendant gave me this crazy look like I was in trouble. I got out of the car, grabbed my guitar, turned around and Buddy Guy is standing there looking at me all mad. Silence for what seemed like days. I was in shock and thrilled to death at the same time.
He asked "You in the band??"
"Yes sir, I'm playing tonight."
He waited....then smiled and said
"you better get going, you're gonna be late"
I started to make the trip to Chicago pretty regular the next few years.
Opening shows for little to no money, but getting experience and exposure.
Another time I opened for Jimmy Thackery at Legends. I was feeling pretty good. I knew Jimmy and his band. I had become good friends with his sax man Jimmy Carpenter.
I was setting up when I heard a lot of laughter at the bar. A couple of fellows were real loud. I was always a little shy in Chicago at Legends. I knew I was in over my head and I wanted to do a good job. I walked over to the bar to get a drink and there's Buddy Guy and Otis Rush laughing and being loud.
They were drinking and Buddy turns around and asks "hey, you playing in my club tonight?"
"yes sir Mr. Guy"
He turned around and busted out laughing with Otis.
Otis said " you do good son".
Now I'm like nervous as shit.
I have to go onstage in Chicago in front of a packed house and play my best with Buddy Guy and Otis Rush watching me......
I started drinking!!!
We had a great set to a standing ovation and when I finished the bouncer came and got me and said Mr. Guy wanted to see me.
I walked to the bar where Buddy and Otis were clapping and laughing and handed me a drink.
"You did good son" said Otis
"Boy, you can play the blues in my club anytime, as long as you play like you just did" said Buddy
The inspiration was exhilarating.
Years later when I had moved to southeast Texas, I was just getting into playing music again. This time I was clean and sober and in a new part of the world. I was playing every night trying to get my name out there when I got a call from a casino in Vinton, La asking if I wanted to open for Buddy Guy and his band.
This was just what I needed.
A chance to play for a big crowd in this new neck of the woods.
Buddy sold out the show.
We played a 25 min set to about 5000 people. I sold every cd I brought that night. Made good friends with Ric Hall, Buddy's second guitarist, and really started getting gigs in the new region.
It seemed like every time I needed a push or kick start, Buddy Guy would be there for me.
In 2010 I was nominated for my first ever BMA Awards. My album Pearl River was nominated for Rock/Blues Album of the Year and the title track, Pearl River, was nominated for Song of the Year. I had the honor of writing that song with my soul brother Cyril Neville.
I was unable to attend the awards because I was making my first European tour and would be in Denmark the evening of the ceremony.
Cyril performed with Debbie Davies and Johnny Sansone at the awards show and I got a call at 7am in Denmark that we had won the Song of the Year.
I was so excited and happy!
This was a dream come true.
I've always wanted to be a part of this blues music world and I finally felt like I was.....
I had a good feeling leading up to the awards. Buddy Guy was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame that year at the awards ceremony.
He hadn't let me down yet and when I saw that this was all happening at the same time, I got a big smile on my face.
Buddy Guy has been there ever step of the way in my book. He stepped in for only a few minutes at a time, but man at the exact right time. I've listened and continue to listen to his albums almost everyday. He's my biggest influence in the blues. He got me hooked with "You're Damn Right I got the Blues" and things have never been the same.
I've been on his tour bus, I've shook his hand many times, looked him in the eye, he's smiled at me, and I've seen him play too many times to recall.
He probably doesn't know much about me. I'm sure these memories to him are just people passing by. But to me these memories are priceless.
I have a music room at home. I have my guitars hanging, my albums are on the wall (thanks to my wife), posters signed, festival passes, pictures of all my friends playing music, and a huge framed poster of Buddy Guy commemorating the 2010 Blues Music Awards. Every time I see it I think about these moments in my life and thank God.
You're damn right I got the blues.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
I now pronounce you...
It's been weeks now on this road to nowhere. Things start to get a little hazy. It's like the 5th or 6th round of a boxing match. You're gonna go down hard or you're gonna go the distance.
The band is becoming its own entity.
On and off of stage. A rhythm is being declared silently and sometimes at high decibel volume!
My experience has always been having my own band. I always look to my guys for input and approval, but at the end of the day what I decide is what it will be.
This is not like that.
This is a group with equal footing on each investor. We all have a say, and yes, WE all have a say :)
Everyone has their own experience and own ideas to bring to the plate, musically and logistically. Everyone has done the same job for years but we all do it a little different.
You don't want to alienate a member or step on toes, but we also got to get the job done. So as we go along on this tour a real line is being drawn in the sand and it's cutting edge.
The lines are being drawn by RSB.
We are deciding as a group how to handle our show, our business, each other and so on. It's similar but much different because everyone is contributing to the outcome. This is all a very different experience than I am used to and I must say its liberating and maybe sometimes a little frustrating. Not the end result. In the end it all works out to the best possible result but sometimes getting there is not as easy as it is on my own.
It's like being married.
I have experience being married.
I have been married several times and only now have begun to understand how you work with another human being in a realistic relationship.
You must learn to compromise.
Not who you are or what you believe in or anything that demanding, but who gets the first cup of coffee, what side of the bed you get to sleep on, who's driving this bus and who needs to think they're driving this bus!
I've learned from years of experience that if mama's not happy, NOBODY'S happy!
Well in this marriage their are more than one mama. It's 5 of us and we got to make it work. Through sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer.......
All this being said, it gets easier everyday. The honeymoon is wearing off in a good way. We realize we're all here and we're not going anywhere so you can tell me how you feel and I'm not going to runaway. As Cyril always says "I'm in it to win it!".
I realize I'm not giving you real examples of what I'm talking about, and for good reason. It's usually nothing.
It's the little things that matter in relationships.
I'll give you one good example:
Everyone needs to eat.
We all like different foods.
One guy likes cheeseburgers, one guy likes a full meal, one guy wants the grocery store, one guys wants grits, another guy needs healthier options...... It gets a little crazy!
It's easy to see the differences in these situations. To see how we are not the same, maybe we don't belong together.
But the bottom line is we have one huge thing in common:
we are ALL HUNGRY!
I'm making a joke, but it's true.
If our biggest problem is where to eat,
we ain't got no problems.
They say that marriage ends in divorce 50% of the time now in the USA.
I say, if 5 grown, proud, hungry men can get along and make it work,
then you and that woman ought to be ok too, you're just not trying hard enough.
I'm lucky coming into this that I have a wonderful marriage at home and I learn from my wife everyday.
She's my hero.
In the end I'm proud to tell you that we all ate and got something that worked for us that day.
I'm even more proud to tell you that this band is strong and getting stronger everyday.
The band is becoming its own entity.
On and off of stage. A rhythm is being declared silently and sometimes at high decibel volume!
My experience has always been having my own band. I always look to my guys for input and approval, but at the end of the day what I decide is what it will be.
This is not like that.
This is a group with equal footing on each investor. We all have a say, and yes, WE all have a say :)
Everyone has their own experience and own ideas to bring to the plate, musically and logistically. Everyone has done the same job for years but we all do it a little different.
You don't want to alienate a member or step on toes, but we also got to get the job done. So as we go along on this tour a real line is being drawn in the sand and it's cutting edge.
The lines are being drawn by RSB.
We are deciding as a group how to handle our show, our business, each other and so on. It's similar but much different because everyone is contributing to the outcome. This is all a very different experience than I am used to and I must say its liberating and maybe sometimes a little frustrating. Not the end result. In the end it all works out to the best possible result but sometimes getting there is not as easy as it is on my own.
It's like being married.
I have experience being married.
I have been married several times and only now have begun to understand how you work with another human being in a realistic relationship.
You must learn to compromise.
Not who you are or what you believe in or anything that demanding, but who gets the first cup of coffee, what side of the bed you get to sleep on, who's driving this bus and who needs to think they're driving this bus!
I've learned from years of experience that if mama's not happy, NOBODY'S happy!
Well in this marriage their are more than one mama. It's 5 of us and we got to make it work. Through sickness and in health, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer.......
All this being said, it gets easier everyday. The honeymoon is wearing off in a good way. We realize we're all here and we're not going anywhere so you can tell me how you feel and I'm not going to runaway. As Cyril always says "I'm in it to win it!".
I realize I'm not giving you real examples of what I'm talking about, and for good reason. It's usually nothing.
It's the little things that matter in relationships.
I'll give you one good example:
Everyone needs to eat.
We all like different foods.
One guy likes cheeseburgers, one guy likes a full meal, one guy wants the grocery store, one guys wants grits, another guy needs healthier options...... It gets a little crazy!
It's easy to see the differences in these situations. To see how we are not the same, maybe we don't belong together.
But the bottom line is we have one huge thing in common:
we are ALL HUNGRY!
I'm making a joke, but it's true.
If our biggest problem is where to eat,
we ain't got no problems.
They say that marriage ends in divorce 50% of the time now in the USA.
I say, if 5 grown, proud, hungry men can get along and make it work,
then you and that woman ought to be ok too, you're just not trying hard enough.
I'm lucky coming into this that I have a wonderful marriage at home and I learn from my wife everyday.
She's my hero.
In the end I'm proud to tell you that we all ate and got something that worked for us that day.
I'm even more proud to tell you that this band is strong and getting stronger everyday.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Music City Madness
I've been dreaming of being a music star since the first time I saw an 8 year old Michael Jackson singing on tv. I was dancing in front of the tv going crazy. I immediately got in the local "Broadway Night" at our parish church and sang a song off of my Three Stooges album. I did that every chance I got. My parents were always supportive, although they were not musical in any way. Really no one in my family played music. My sister Patty sang in my band years ago and one of my older cousins plays the accordion, but that's about it.
I've literally spent a lifetime dreaming of the day when I would be a star.
I performed in theater, speech, band, choir all throughout school.
I never considered not being a star.
It was just what would happen.
But dreams don't just "happen", they take a hell of a lot of hard work.
Then I grew up, moved out, got a job, got married, had a kid.......
Of course, reality sets in and you start to see that this may not happen, at least not in the way you thought.
Like everyone else, I always thought you were either Michael Jackson or you were nobody. I don't think I ever considered that you could just be a musician by trade and make a living.
Few people realize this reality.
You just get good at your craft and play gigs every week and pay your bills.
Like any other job.
It's not about a success that equals fame and fortune, it's about a success that equals doing something you love for a living.
This reality is very much possible.
It is a dream come true for me today.
I am very satisfied with my musical career these days. I was satisfied when I made the above realization. Because what I realized was that I didn't really wanna be famous, I just wanna play music. All the time, everyday.
I don't need all the money in the world, just enough so that I don't have to do anything else but play guitar and sing.
In all of these respects, I am very satisfied with my musical career.
Heres the kicker, once I made this realization things start to really take off.
One day I'm happy to play the After Dark club in Sulphur, La. the next day I'm in a van with the Royal Southern Brotherhood on tour!
We hit Nashville this past Friday night.
I was excited to get to town and have a great show. I lived there for a while in the 90's and have a lot of friends in town. We hit the ground running. We had a list of interviews, radio shows, and an in-store performance all after a late night in Memphis and a long enough drive. Straight to the club to load in, then off to a radio station.
By the time we hit Grimeys Record Store to do a short set I was getting very tired and crabby. I was thinking this is just not fair that I have to do all of this. I need a nap!
Then I started looking around at all the old records. All of my hero's in front of me. I spent 20 years dreaming of being like them and it's happening right now in one aspect or another. This is what I have dreamt of, and I'm complaining about the small success I'm dealing with. Right away I sat up straight, put a smile on my face and thanked God for all my blessings. This is a hard job most of the time and playing music is the easy part. I should be so lucky.
We played at 3rd and Lindsley that evening to a gracious crowd and had a great show! The band was rocking, Johnny Sansone opened the show and Bart Walker played with us too.
All of my friends loved the band.
Everyone hung out for awhile backstage and even helped us load out our gear. Johnny told stories, I lost a bag of peaches and everyone was laughing.
When I think of all the things I could be doing for a living, I'd say my dreams have come true playing music.
I may never be super famous, and that's ok. Fame doesn't interest me so much anymore. I get to play my guitar and sing for my supper and that is true fortune.
I realize now when I tell my kids
" You can be anything you wanna be"
it's true.......
I've literally spent a lifetime dreaming of the day when I would be a star.
I performed in theater, speech, band, choir all throughout school.
I never considered not being a star.
It was just what would happen.
But dreams don't just "happen", they take a hell of a lot of hard work.
Then I grew up, moved out, got a job, got married, had a kid.......
Of course, reality sets in and you start to see that this may not happen, at least not in the way you thought.
Like everyone else, I always thought you were either Michael Jackson or you were nobody. I don't think I ever considered that you could just be a musician by trade and make a living.
Few people realize this reality.
You just get good at your craft and play gigs every week and pay your bills.
Like any other job.
It's not about a success that equals fame and fortune, it's about a success that equals doing something you love for a living.
This reality is very much possible.
It is a dream come true for me today.
I am very satisfied with my musical career these days. I was satisfied when I made the above realization. Because what I realized was that I didn't really wanna be famous, I just wanna play music. All the time, everyday.
I don't need all the money in the world, just enough so that I don't have to do anything else but play guitar and sing.
In all of these respects, I am very satisfied with my musical career.
Heres the kicker, once I made this realization things start to really take off.
One day I'm happy to play the After Dark club in Sulphur, La. the next day I'm in a van with the Royal Southern Brotherhood on tour!
We hit Nashville this past Friday night.
I was excited to get to town and have a great show. I lived there for a while in the 90's and have a lot of friends in town. We hit the ground running. We had a list of interviews, radio shows, and an in-store performance all after a late night in Memphis and a long enough drive. Straight to the club to load in, then off to a radio station.
By the time we hit Grimeys Record Store to do a short set I was getting very tired and crabby. I was thinking this is just not fair that I have to do all of this. I need a nap!
Then I started looking around at all the old records. All of my hero's in front of me. I spent 20 years dreaming of being like them and it's happening right now in one aspect or another. This is what I have dreamt of, and I'm complaining about the small success I'm dealing with. Right away I sat up straight, put a smile on my face and thanked God for all my blessings. This is a hard job most of the time and playing music is the easy part. I should be so lucky.
We played at 3rd and Lindsley that evening to a gracious crowd and had a great show! The band was rocking, Johnny Sansone opened the show and Bart Walker played with us too.
All of my friends loved the band.
Everyone hung out for awhile backstage and even helped us load out our gear. Johnny told stories, I lost a bag of peaches and everyone was laughing.
When I think of all the things I could be doing for a living, I'd say my dreams have come true playing music.
I may never be super famous, and that's ok. Fame doesn't interest me so much anymore. I get to play my guitar and sing for my supper and that is true fortune.
I realize now when I tell my kids
" You can be anything you wanna be"
it's true.......
Thursday, June 7, 2012
It's a Zoo
You never know how a tour will begin after being off for awhile. You hope for the best and chances are it'll all be good, but you never know.
Sometimes when I'm off and at home their are days when I don't get to play much guitar. I try to pick one up each day, but sometimes their just isn't enough time and that's ok.
When I was younger I would always have a guitar in my hand. I never put it down. I walked around all day holding a guitar. I ate with it, slept with it, watched tv with it, I never stopped playing. I learned from an older musician back then that when I take time off from playing, I should take "time off" from playing. Put my guitar down for a few days. Do other things, read a book, go outside, travel. I've found that when I'm away from things for a while and come back to them I appreciate them more and look at them differently. Sometimes I'd get stuck playing the same licks but if I put it down for a few days and came back to it I'd have some new ideas.
We had been off for a few weeks and we are just beginning this summer tour.
The band is full of professionals.
The level of talent in this band is athletic. Even though we've been off for a few days, you'll get nothing less than a great show. Still, coming back allows me to hear things I may have missed before because I have been away. It's like the first gig all over again. One thing is certain, this band loves playing music together!
The first gig was in Lincoln, Ne. at the famous Zoo Bar. The Zoo Bar is one of my favorite places to play. It's a small dark blues club, shotgun style with years of vibe and energy coming off the walls. It was Luther Allison's favorite as well. He would come to the states for one week and play big festivals and would always play the Zoo Bar, no matter what. Albert Collins, Magic Slim,Robert Cray, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Otis Rush, Junior Wells among others were regulars at the Zoo Bar.
It was a sold out show, standing room only. Hot, dark and sweaty- the room was electric. From the first note the audience was into it and the band gave them everything we had.
It was a night to remember for sure.
The most room to move was on the stage.
It proves the point that live music is only live if the audience shows up.
It's all about the people. If they're wild, the show will be wild. If they're quiet and relaxed, the show will be relaxed.
It's what makes live music so beautiful.
It's all about you and me. I need you and hopefully you need me.
The people can raise the band up to new heights, it's exhilarating!
Without the people it's just rehearsal.
It's like Luther always said
"Leave your ego, play the music, love the people"
We love the people.
Thanks Lincoln and God bless the Zoo Bar.
Peace, Love, Zito
Sometimes when I'm off and at home their are days when I don't get to play much guitar. I try to pick one up each day, but sometimes their just isn't enough time and that's ok.
When I was younger I would always have a guitar in my hand. I never put it down. I walked around all day holding a guitar. I ate with it, slept with it, watched tv with it, I never stopped playing. I learned from an older musician back then that when I take time off from playing, I should take "time off" from playing. Put my guitar down for a few days. Do other things, read a book, go outside, travel. I've found that when I'm away from things for a while and come back to them I appreciate them more and look at them differently. Sometimes I'd get stuck playing the same licks but if I put it down for a few days and came back to it I'd have some new ideas.
We had been off for a few weeks and we are just beginning this summer tour.
The band is full of professionals.
The level of talent in this band is athletic. Even though we've been off for a few days, you'll get nothing less than a great show. Still, coming back allows me to hear things I may have missed before because I have been away. It's like the first gig all over again. One thing is certain, this band loves playing music together!
The first gig was in Lincoln, Ne. at the famous Zoo Bar. The Zoo Bar is one of my favorite places to play. It's a small dark blues club, shotgun style with years of vibe and energy coming off the walls. It was Luther Allison's favorite as well. He would come to the states for one week and play big festivals and would always play the Zoo Bar, no matter what. Albert Collins, Magic Slim,Robert Cray, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Otis Rush, Junior Wells among others were regulars at the Zoo Bar.
It was a sold out show, standing room only. Hot, dark and sweaty- the room was electric. From the first note the audience was into it and the band gave them everything we had.
It was a night to remember for sure.
The most room to move was on the stage.
It proves the point that live music is only live if the audience shows up.
It's all about the people. If they're wild, the show will be wild. If they're quiet and relaxed, the show will be relaxed.
It's what makes live music so beautiful.
It's all about you and me. I need you and hopefully you need me.
The people can raise the band up to new heights, it's exhilarating!
Without the people it's just rehearsal.
It's like Luther always said
"Leave your ego, play the music, love the people"
We love the people.
Thanks Lincoln and God bless the Zoo Bar.
Peace, Love, Zito
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Calm before the storm...
It's just a few days before we hit the road for the summer with Royal Southern Brotherhood.
I've been lucky enough to have a few weeks at home with my wife and kids for some quality time
before I never see them again! I'm certainly not complaining and lucky enough to have been used to this routine for some time now. When I cleaned up and was ready to become a productive member of society I began touring hard thanks to Craig Neilsen, owner of the Ameristar Casinos. His father was a partial owner in the 1960's of Cactus Pete's in Jackpot, Nv. Craig became sole proprietor in 1984. In 1985, Craig was in a horrible auto accident and was left a quadriplegic. He ran the company from a wheelchair/bed.
He expanded the one casino to 5 across the country by 2006. They have a huge Ameristar Casino in Saint Louis, though I had never played there before. Because of his disability, he didn't travel much. He had camera's and computers installed in his home where he could watch over all of the properties 24 hours a day. In 2006, his board of directors told him they were needing to put an end to most of the entertainment in the casinos. It was just too much money and they needed to cut costs. Craig loved the entertainment facet of his business and was determined to prove them wrong. He set out to visit each casino and see first hand what he could do to continue the entertainment in his businesses. He had not been to most of the properties in years. I had just begun playing Cactus Pete's in Jackpot, Nevada. They had 2 bands a night.
One band on the showroom floor of Cactus Pete's and another band at the Horshu Casino across the street. If you have never been to Jackpot, Nv.....then you have no idea what I mean when I say, it's a very small town. There are 4 casino's, a Post Office, a gas station, some apartments for employee's of the casinos, a golf course, a small school for children of the employees of the casinos and one road that goes through town, Hwy 93. Jackpot, Nv. is on the northeast Nevada border with Idaho. You can walk out of Cactus Pete's Casino and walk into Idaho in minutes. Jackpot is in the middle of the high plains desert.
It is extremely dry and windy. There is nothing else around for 60 miles or more in each direction.
I began playing in Nevada in smaller towns casinos where they would put you up for 2 weeks at time. It was the only possible way for a guy like me, with 3 kids at the time, to tour and make money. I would take the one or two nights we had off and go to Reno, or Vegas or Boise or Salt Lake and find the Blues Society and offer to do a show for free or sit in at their Blues Jams. My group was the exception to the rule in these casinos. They were used to cover bands and dance bands....certainly not "Blues" bands!
We played our fair share of cover songs, but blues and old standards that we could make our own.
I'd always play 3-4 original songs in each set and sell my cd's on break. For the most part it worked pretty well. The customers were getting something different, something more original. They were diggin the blues or the band jamming and buying my cd's. But, their were customers and employees alike that thought I was arrogant to come in and play my own music at these places. They expected us to play "Their" favorites, not mine! It took about 2 years to get the gig at Cactus Pete's. It was a step up in the casino gig world. It paid well and fed the band for 2 weeks straight. The manager of Cactus Pete's and entertainment director took a liking to me right away. They could see I was working hard and doing something different. One day the manager saw me walking through the casino and told me he was going to put in a good word to see about me getting into some of the other properties.
We then quickly got booked at the Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg, Ms.
This was much closer to home than Jackpot and was a little more "happening".
They had a main stage their called the Bottleneck Blues Bar.
They had real national touring blues acts like Johnny Lang, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Tinsley Ellis and so on. They had another stage on the first floor and thats where I started.
The second time I played at the Vicksburg property, the owner, Craig Neilsen showed up to check on entertainment. He had not been to Vicksburg in 8 years.
We were performing on Friday night around 11pm when his handlers began getting off the elevators.
I mean, it looked like the President of the US was coming in to play the penny slots. Dudes with headsets in black suits all combed the floor and set up positions at least 15 minutes before he even showed up. We were in the middle of ending the set with a Jimi Hendrix jam when they rolled his bed out onto the floor. I was midway through the Star Spangled Banner with my eyes closed when I heard one of the guys say "He's here!". I opened my eyes and this man in a wheelchair bed is right in front of the stage with all this security and entourage around him. It was really strange. We finished and took a break. I thought for sure they all thought it was noise. We came back the next night to play and he showed up again, this time before we started the second set. He sat right in front of me and listened to the entire set. As I walked off stage, a handler came and got me and told me that Mr. Neilsen wanted to see me. I thought I was probably going to be fired on site for being to loud or not playing appropriate "Casino" music! I met him in the Bottleneck Blues Bar. He was very quiet and polite. He told he loved my voice and mu music. He asked how long had I been playing guitar? He wanted to buy a cd from me! He asked me if I was interested in playing at all of his properties full time?
I said YES! He said he would take care of everything. He told me this was what he was hoping to find.
Some real entertainment in his casinos. The next day I received a call from the corporate office and they offered to fill up my calendar for the year. This was the break I was looking for, a chance to begin touring full time and get my music out there across the country, and the pay to make it worthwhile.
Most touring original acts do not do it this way. They play for the door every night, share motel rooms every night, eat cheese sandwiches..... At 34 years old and with 3 kids, one on the way, I could not afford to chase my dreams in the usual manner. This was a dream come true.
Because of Mr. Neilsen, I met David Hughes at the Vicksburg Ameristar who told me about a friend of his that had a record label, Delta Groove Records and was starting a new division, Eclecto Groove.
He told me I should send him my new cd "Superman" and he would put in a good word for me.
Rand Chortkoff was looking for new artists, but they needed to be touring full time to be considered.
Because of Mr. Neilsen I was touring full time. Maybe just casinos at first, but we began booking the blues clubs around our casino engagements. I thank God for Craig Neilsen giving me that break.
I believe it was his efforts that help me to land my first recording contract with Eclecto Groove Records.
Within months after meeting Craig, he passed away unexpectedly on November 19th, 2006.....
my birthday.
So, I am not complaining about touring all summer with my new band Royal Southern Brotherhood.
It's a dream come true, something I've worked for all my life.
Yes, I will miss my family, but they understand and are very supportive.
I am truly blessed to be able to take care of my responsibilities while doing something I love.
Thank you Mr. Neilsen.
Peace, Love, Zito
I've been lucky enough to have a few weeks at home with my wife and kids for some quality time
before I never see them again! I'm certainly not complaining and lucky enough to have been used to this routine for some time now. When I cleaned up and was ready to become a productive member of society I began touring hard thanks to Craig Neilsen, owner of the Ameristar Casinos. His father was a partial owner in the 1960's of Cactus Pete's in Jackpot, Nv. Craig became sole proprietor in 1984. In 1985, Craig was in a horrible auto accident and was left a quadriplegic. He ran the company from a wheelchair/bed.
He expanded the one casino to 5 across the country by 2006. They have a huge Ameristar Casino in Saint Louis, though I had never played there before. Because of his disability, he didn't travel much. He had camera's and computers installed in his home where he could watch over all of the properties 24 hours a day. In 2006, his board of directors told him they were needing to put an end to most of the entertainment in the casinos. It was just too much money and they needed to cut costs. Craig loved the entertainment facet of his business and was determined to prove them wrong. He set out to visit each casino and see first hand what he could do to continue the entertainment in his businesses. He had not been to most of the properties in years. I had just begun playing Cactus Pete's in Jackpot, Nevada. They had 2 bands a night.
One band on the showroom floor of Cactus Pete's and another band at the Horshu Casino across the street. If you have never been to Jackpot, Nv.....then you have no idea what I mean when I say, it's a very small town. There are 4 casino's, a Post Office, a gas station, some apartments for employee's of the casinos, a golf course, a small school for children of the employees of the casinos and one road that goes through town, Hwy 93. Jackpot, Nv. is on the northeast Nevada border with Idaho. You can walk out of Cactus Pete's Casino and walk into Idaho in minutes. Jackpot is in the middle of the high plains desert.
It is extremely dry and windy. There is nothing else around for 60 miles or more in each direction.
I began playing in Nevada in smaller towns casinos where they would put you up for 2 weeks at time. It was the only possible way for a guy like me, with 3 kids at the time, to tour and make money. I would take the one or two nights we had off and go to Reno, or Vegas or Boise or Salt Lake and find the Blues Society and offer to do a show for free or sit in at their Blues Jams. My group was the exception to the rule in these casinos. They were used to cover bands and dance bands....certainly not "Blues" bands!
We played our fair share of cover songs, but blues and old standards that we could make our own.
I'd always play 3-4 original songs in each set and sell my cd's on break. For the most part it worked pretty well. The customers were getting something different, something more original. They were diggin the blues or the band jamming and buying my cd's. But, their were customers and employees alike that thought I was arrogant to come in and play my own music at these places. They expected us to play "Their" favorites, not mine! It took about 2 years to get the gig at Cactus Pete's. It was a step up in the casino gig world. It paid well and fed the band for 2 weeks straight. The manager of Cactus Pete's and entertainment director took a liking to me right away. They could see I was working hard and doing something different. One day the manager saw me walking through the casino and told me he was going to put in a good word to see about me getting into some of the other properties.
We then quickly got booked at the Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg, Ms.
This was much closer to home than Jackpot and was a little more "happening".
They had a main stage their called the Bottleneck Blues Bar.
They had real national touring blues acts like Johnny Lang, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Tinsley Ellis and so on. They had another stage on the first floor and thats where I started.
The second time I played at the Vicksburg property, the owner, Craig Neilsen showed up to check on entertainment. He had not been to Vicksburg in 8 years.
We were performing on Friday night around 11pm when his handlers began getting off the elevators.
I mean, it looked like the President of the US was coming in to play the penny slots. Dudes with headsets in black suits all combed the floor and set up positions at least 15 minutes before he even showed up. We were in the middle of ending the set with a Jimi Hendrix jam when they rolled his bed out onto the floor. I was midway through the Star Spangled Banner with my eyes closed when I heard one of the guys say "He's here!". I opened my eyes and this man in a wheelchair bed is right in front of the stage with all this security and entourage around him. It was really strange. We finished and took a break. I thought for sure they all thought it was noise. We came back the next night to play and he showed up again, this time before we started the second set. He sat right in front of me and listened to the entire set. As I walked off stage, a handler came and got me and told me that Mr. Neilsen wanted to see me. I thought I was probably going to be fired on site for being to loud or not playing appropriate "Casino" music! I met him in the Bottleneck Blues Bar. He was very quiet and polite. He told he loved my voice and mu music. He asked how long had I been playing guitar? He wanted to buy a cd from me! He asked me if I was interested in playing at all of his properties full time?
I said YES! He said he would take care of everything. He told me this was what he was hoping to find.
Some real entertainment in his casinos. The next day I received a call from the corporate office and they offered to fill up my calendar for the year. This was the break I was looking for, a chance to begin touring full time and get my music out there across the country, and the pay to make it worthwhile.
Most touring original acts do not do it this way. They play for the door every night, share motel rooms every night, eat cheese sandwiches..... At 34 years old and with 3 kids, one on the way, I could not afford to chase my dreams in the usual manner. This was a dream come true.
Because of Mr. Neilsen, I met David Hughes at the Vicksburg Ameristar who told me about a friend of his that had a record label, Delta Groove Records and was starting a new division, Eclecto Groove.
He told me I should send him my new cd "Superman" and he would put in a good word for me.
Rand Chortkoff was looking for new artists, but they needed to be touring full time to be considered.
Because of Mr. Neilsen I was touring full time. Maybe just casinos at first, but we began booking the blues clubs around our casino engagements. I thank God for Craig Neilsen giving me that break.
I believe it was his efforts that help me to land my first recording contract with Eclecto Groove Records.
Within months after meeting Craig, he passed away unexpectedly on November 19th, 2006.....
my birthday.
So, I am not complaining about touring all summer with my new band Royal Southern Brotherhood.
It's a dream come true, something I've worked for all my life.
Yes, I will miss my family, but they understand and are very supportive.
I am truly blessed to be able to take care of my responsibilities while doing something I love.
Thank you Mr. Neilsen.
Peace, Love, Zito
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