The CIA Band at The Lobster Trap
Roger, Spencer Davis, Vern Altieri and former John Lennon guitarist Peter Jameison at an inpromptu jam at The Lobster Trap on Wed. Aug. 5th, 2008 with The Catalina Island Acoustic Band AKA "The CIA".
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Out To Sea
On Monday July 21st Spencer Davis and I entertained a boat load of friends on the Shamrock 2 party boat as part of "Catalina Blues" video shoot. Special thanks to Captain Ryan Ramming, Rusty Connelly, Erin, Jake and Jim Brown of Western Destinations for making this trip possible. Also thanks to Tom Modie and Jim Watson of TMO Productions. Photo by Renee Pantoja.
Filming at The Locker Room
On Sunday July 20th The Blues Merchants performed at The Locker Room on Catalina Island for a video shoot for a new Pilot of a realty show called "Catalina Blues". The photo is of the band with special guest Spencer Davis and long time Catalina resident and birthday girl Dar Brown. Photo by Renee Pantoja.
Barnsdall Art Park, Hollywood, CA
April 27th at Barnsdall Art Park in Hollywood. Roger and Laurie Morvan performing with The Blues Merchants for a Lions Club Benefit for the Children's Hospital.
Catherine Hotel Blues Gig
On Saturday April 12th, the island once again came alive with the sound of Blues Music emanating from The Catherine Hotel. The day began with a photo shoot for “Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine” featuring Roger Connelly, Joe Caliva, John Vreeland, Paul Oscher, Vern Altieri and Laurie Morvan. Big City Blues Editor & Chief Robert Jr. Whitall and his wife Sugar Mae were on hand to conduct both the photo session and to celebrate Robert’s 60th birthday. The magazine has been a big supporter of blues events on the island for the last few years and is the #1 Blues Magazine in Southern California.
The evening started out with Roger Connelly & the Blues Merchants as the host band performing their electrifying style of original and traditional blues numbers opening to a full house of eager blues enthusiasts. The next to take the stage was 2 time Handy Award winner Paul Oscher. Paul is also the recipient of Best Acoustic Artist and Best Acoustic Album of The Year Award. When Paul took the stage and began to play his traditional Acoustic Chicago Blues the crowd was utterly captivated you could literally hear a pin drop. It became evident why Muddy Waters asked Paul to join his band as the successor to harmonica legend “Little Water”. Paul began touring with The Muddy Waters Band at the age of eighteen.
But the night was just getting started, after a short break The Blues Merchants reclaimed the stage and got the crowd back on their feet with some old classics like “Sweet Home Chicago”, a song Roger had the privilege of performing with Koko Taylor back in Chicago before the band relocated to Catalina. There was also a cameo performance by Tracy Star on “Stormy Monday” and the Jimi Hendrix classic “Red House”, as well as a great rendition of “One Way Out” with Vern Altieri on slide guitar.
As if this wasn’t enough, blues great Laurie Morvan took time out her busy schedule touring with John Mayall & the Blues Breakers to perform some of her high energy original songs off her new CD “Cures What Ails Ya”. Laurie’s guitar furry and incredible vocal command had the audience glued to her ever word.
After the crowd sang happy birthday to Robert of Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine,
and an impromptu blues number with Paul Oscher and the band, Roger joined Laurie for one last outpouring of raw blues emotion.
Ask anyone who was there, this was a night to remember and hopefully the first of many.
Special thank to the staff at the Catherine Hotel, Janet, Geno, Denise, Cynthia, Angela and Charlie also to Vern Altieri, Paul Allen, Carole & Tracy, Buck and all the musicians and friends that came out to witness this event!
The evening started out with Roger Connelly & the Blues Merchants as the host band performing their electrifying style of original and traditional blues numbers opening to a full house of eager blues enthusiasts. The next to take the stage was 2 time Handy Award winner Paul Oscher. Paul is also the recipient of Best Acoustic Artist and Best Acoustic Album of The Year Award. When Paul took the stage and began to play his traditional Acoustic Chicago Blues the crowd was utterly captivated you could literally hear a pin drop. It became evident why Muddy Waters asked Paul to join his band as the successor to harmonica legend “Little Water”. Paul began touring with The Muddy Waters Band at the age of eighteen.
But the night was just getting started, after a short break The Blues Merchants reclaimed the stage and got the crowd back on their feet with some old classics like “Sweet Home Chicago”, a song Roger had the privilege of performing with Koko Taylor back in Chicago before the band relocated to Catalina. There was also a cameo performance by Tracy Star on “Stormy Monday” and the Jimi Hendrix classic “Red House”, as well as a great rendition of “One Way Out” with Vern Altieri on slide guitar.
As if this wasn’t enough, blues great Laurie Morvan took time out her busy schedule touring with John Mayall & the Blues Breakers to perform some of her high energy original songs off her new CD “Cures What Ails Ya”. Laurie’s guitar furry and incredible vocal command had the audience glued to her ever word.
After the crowd sang happy birthday to Robert of Big City Rhythm & Blues Magazine,
and an impromptu blues number with Paul Oscher and the band, Roger joined Laurie for one last outpouring of raw blues emotion.
Ask anyone who was there, this was a night to remember and hopefully the first of many.
Special thank to the staff at the Catherine Hotel, Janet, Geno, Denise, Cynthia, Angela and Charlie also to Vern Altieri, Paul Allen, Carole & Tracy, Buck and all the musicians and friends that came out to witness this event!