Register Now: https://www.picatic.com/Live-Musicality-Nathan-James

The next First Monday Blues Lab (Website / Facebook) will be on February 6th. We'd like to bring you something a bit different and a lot more fun and interesting to put these dances in the context of the music it evolved from. We will be going through at least 6 different genres of blues music and with each one demonstrating the accompanying dance(s) and discussing a bit of the characteristics of each style, the historical context, and then you can try them out.

Cost:

$20 presale or $25 day-of for 2 full hours of live music and dancing. Trust me, you will be working hard and getting a lot of information, so it's likely more mentally and physically taxing than a 4-hour show where you take breaks and socialize in-between songs.

The Proposal:

We would like the cap the cost at $25 / person. We can do this with Nathan James and 20 registrants. What we would really like to do is to be able to have the whole band (Nathan James & The Rhythm Scratchers) so that we can get the full range of sound - from solo acoustic to the full band, amplified - and that would require at least 35 registrants. That means more variety in sound and more people for you to dance with! If at least 25 of you register by January 15, we will make this happen.

What We Need:

Your input, feedback, and cooperation. Will you help us bring this idea to life (and learn lots in the process)? How many of you would commit to attending? How many people will you tell? How many will do the presale?

Details:

• Date: Monday, February 6, 2017
• Time: 8:00pm till 10:00pm
• Cost: $25 regular / $20 presale till 1/31 • CASH ONLY after 1/31
• Location: Dancing Unlimited / Folk Dance Center in North Park

Presale tickets are available until January 31. To pay by debit card or bank transfer without fees, you can pay via Venmo to https://venmo.com/theophila or pay in cash at Blue Note (Website / Facebook) or find Elizabeth or Chris in the blues room at the Firehouse Swing Dance (Website / Facebook).

Dancers:

This is not a dance class where we break down every movement for you. While we will be demonstrating movements from various blues dances as relates to the music, and you will be trying them out, we will not be teaching dance basics. We will expect you to have a baseline understanding of blues idiom dances and be willing to push yourselves out of your comfort zones while exploring the movements with the music. We welcome feedback! If you try out and would like to learn more about some of the dances we demonstrate, please let us know. A post-event survey will be posted and sent out to all who give their emails.

Everyone Else:

You do not have to be a blues dancer to sign up. Feel free to come and learn about the history, music, and culture of of the blues. However, we ask that you be considerate of those who do wish to practice their musicality in blues idiom dances and communicate your lack of experience if / when you ask someone to dance.

Musician(s):

Nathan James Bio:

Never one to follow convention, and always one to think for himself, Nathan James has created a musical identity with his homemade instruments and self taught skills. Whether you catch Nathan James as his true one man band pickin' and scratchin' on his own invention of washboard guitar, stomping out time on his custom suitcase drum set while singing and blowing harmonica or kazoo; or leading his new trio, you are sure to be moved and impressed with the unique energy and soul that he possesses. Nathan James is a well respected and experienced artist in his field. For 15 years now, he has successfully made his living touring and recording, solely specializing on his passion of blues, and American roots music. Starting his career of full time gigging musician at age 18, Nathan is no stranger to live performance.

Video: http://youtu.be/XZVmjPfqAsU

Drawing from a deep well of influences from many early roots artists and styles, James was quickly attracted to the individuality of self made music and artistic expression. While simultaneously discovering the guitar and the blues at age 13, Nathan James has since been in complete focus as to where his life goal would lead. Growing up in the small town of Fallbrook Ca, has been influential in deciding to choose this path. "There wasn't a lot to do here, so you either got in trouble, or found something productive to do!" Having supportive parents that didn't force him into the usual college after high school allowed Nathan to go straight into the 'real working world' of playing music. "Part of it was luck that I was able to get paying gigs right off the bat!" Local San Diego blues bands the Blues Pharaohs and Billy Watson gave Nathan a chance to get his feet wet with enough local gigs to support himself literally a month after graduating high school! This led to also working with well known Southern California blues acts Jamie Wood, and Johnny Dyer. At age 19 Nathan got the call from internationally known blues veteran James Harman to join his band and tour the country. With Harman is where he gained the experience that has shaped most of his own career.

Video: http://youtu.be/Gl7KcMgz8fc

After touring and recording nonstop with Harman for 3 1/2 years, Nathan decided to have a go at literally a solo career- that is playing one man acoustic based blues. This was instantly successful, leading to playing over 30 gigs a month at times!! With the strain of carrying the entire show by yourself all the time, Nathan met up with harmonica player/vocalist Ben Hernandez, a like minded young blues roots musician aficionado, and together they started working as a duo. As word spread of these two and their ability to bring back to life the spirit of duos like Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee country blues, they gained international notoriety while traveling all over the West Coast and; In 2007, they entered the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN, and took 1st place! This really has made their reputation spread like wildfire. That year alone the duo traveled to Denmark, Italy and Taiwan. During his career Nathan has worked with other many well known artists including: Kim Wilson, Pinetop Perkins, Billy Boy Arnold, Lazy Lester, Johnny Dyer, Janiva Magness, Rick Holmstrom, Mark Hummel and Gary Primich.

Currently Nathan's three piece band is forging a cumulative sound that combines elements of 1920's acoustic blues, amplified juke joint hill country, and 1950's uptown blues mixed with 1960's soulful R&B! Influences range from Tampa Red, to B.B. King, to James Brown and the Famous Flames. This is not your average blues power trio that leans towards the much abused "blues rock" formula. Instead each member in the band knows all the nuances of the different feels and tones. Knowing how to get people's attention, Nathan will often go out solo from the bandstand and burst into a frenzied ragtime breakdown that can lead to a washboard solo on his custom LED lit 'Washtar Gitboard'! Another unique aspect of a live show is band mate Troy Sandow. He may start off the set on upright bass while Nathan will play an uptown lead guitar style in the vein of B.B. or T-bone Walker. Then he will switch over to amplified harmonica and Nathan will fingerpick a driving groove on his baritone guitar in the style of R.L. Burnside or Lightnin' Hopkins. Although Nathan's band pays homage to these traditions and has the same quality of musicianship, there is an original and fresh new energy coming from musicians of a much younger generation.

Band members consist of:

Marty Dodson (drums, vocals) was raised in a Southern Baptist church, listening to his grandfather's sermons and his mother's piano playing. "I loved the music at church and when we got home, would beg her to play the boogie woogie." Records at home consisted of gospel, country, bluegrass and early rock-n-roll (Little Richard & Jerry Lee Lewis, of course.) "My family bought me a drum set when I was ten and I haven't stopped playing." During his career, as a long time member of Mark Hummel's Blues Survivors, he has toured with virtually every well known blues harmonic player in the world including: James Cotton, Lazy Lester, Snooky Pryor, Kim Wilson, Lee Oskar, James Harman, Charlie Musslewhite, John Mayall, Rod Piazza, and even Huey Lewis! Marty has studied all the nuances of blues and soul drummers including: Fred Below, S.P. Leary, Francis Clay, and Al Jackson. He has been a veteran touring musician for most of his adult life.

Video: https://youtu.be/43Eu1KC-aAQ

Troy Sandow (upright and Fender bass, harmonica, vocals) started playing music after he heard the Muddy Waters "Can't Get No Grindin" LP. harmonica influences are George "Harmonica" Smith, Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, Slim Harpo, Lazy Lester, Whispering Smith and Sylvester Buckley, and James Harman. He later took up the bass and spent many hours listening to Stax, Motown and Muscle Shoals rhythm sections, along with blues upright bassists Big Crawford, Ransom Knowling, and Willie Dixon. Troy joined the James Harman band in 2009, and also works with many other well know bands including a traditional country band he co-founded called "Hello Trouble".

Video: https://youtu.be/nlBCkvBtRh4

Location:

Dancing Unlimited / Folk Dance Center in North Park.

As usual, we ask that you respect the space. Please make sure your shoes are non-marking and CLEAN so that you do not bring in debris from outside and mark the lovely floors! No spiked/narrow heels, please.

Etiquette / Code of Conduct

http://bluenotesd.com/etiquette/

In order to ensure that this event is safe, comfortable, and fun for everybody, please take a moment to read our etiquette page. By attending the dance, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to abide by our Code of Conduct and Grievance Policy.

Terms & Conditions

Because of the size and nature of the event, we will not be able to refund registration fees if you are unable to attend. If you pay and are unable to make the event, you may transfer your registration to someone else.