The Cleveland Blues Society welcomes its inaugural Hall of
Fame class on Sunday, May 24, at an induction and fundraising
concert at Wilbert’s (812 Huron Rd.). Starting at 6 p.m., the show will
feature performances by Madison Crawl, the Nightwalkers, Miss
Butterscotch, the Juke Hounds and the Real Deal Blues Band. Admission
is $10.
The class of 2009 includes ’20s/’30s boogie-woogie pianist Cow
Cow Davenport and ’40s singer/saxophonist Bull Moose
Jackson, in addition to Robert Lockwood Jr. and Bill “Mr.
Stress” Miller. Mr. Stress (pictured), a 43-year veteran of the
scene, is the only living inductee. A blues purist and historian, he’s
one of the renowned local musicians who will perform a traditional
blues set. Others include Crazy Marvin, Wallace Coleman and Blue Lunch
guitarist Bob Frank, who initiated the HOF.
Keratoma will show off new material at the Phantasy Nite Club
(11802 Detroit Ave.) on Saturday, May 23. Guitarist Tom Shaffner says
the electro-thrash band’s third CD is in progress. “It’s kind of split
in half between really brutal stuff and really odd industrial/techno
kind of stuff,” he says. “It’s not a new direction. We’re just trying
to see what else we can accomplish while still pissing off every other
musician and club in Cleveland.” Feargrinder headlines. Doors at 7
p.m.; admission is $7. Shaffner also just joined Jason Popson’s
Pitch Black Forecast as the band’s second guitarist. The metal
group is currently recording its second album at Galahad Studios. “The
new stuff’s really fast and a lot more technical than the last
record, but still maintains the groove and brutality of [2008’s debut] Absentee,” says Shaffner.
Metromix.com is partnering
with Radio 92.3 FM local-music showcase Inner Sanctum and
the Beachland for a series of free summer concerts. The shows kick off
Thursday, May 21, at the Beachland Tavern (15711 Waterloo Rd.). Doors
open at 6:30 p.m.; admission is free. The first lineup reaches from
rock to country to reggae, with Leah Lou, Adam Heart,
Lawless and Carlos Jones. WKYC is taping the performance,
to be showcased on its Friday morning show.
This article appears in May 20-26, 2009.