It is still pretty unreal...the guys are in the finals!!
Like I said last night there were some really great performances at the 152 and I'm sure it was the same in the other clubs....every band here wanted to be in the finals and they played like it.....

There was a pretty long lag between the end of the last performance in the competition and the announcement of the winners (they announced the winners from every club at the same time so everyone waited til the last act in the last club was finished and the results were tallied)...but even though they were all "competing" for the same prize, the jam session while we waited for the results was just a bunch of musicians having fun....Ty, Hank, Milo and Davis all got up there and jammed with a bunch of different players from the bands that competed at the 152 plus a few musicians who just wanted to jam...Hank's dad, Bill Shreve got up and played bass while Hank played keys!

The guys are still sleeping, we have to be at orientation at noon...and I know they'll be ready to go at 2pm when the finals start at the Orpheum....most of the clubs on Beale are like clubs everywhere...there is a lot of history in these clubs, but they are clubs...the finals are in the Orpheum ...it's on Beale, but it's a whole different kind of venue...it's like the Schnitz in Portland (.http://www.orpheum-memphis.com/index.cfm?section=theatreinfo)

Last night's set was the same set they played on Thursday....and they ripped it up.... lot's of energy, great solos from Ty & Hank. and Milo and Davis were locked in on the rhythm...they stepped up the "entertainer" part of the show and the audience was into it...not just the travelling support team....

Today it will be all new judges and the top ten bands from the past two days...we haven't seen the other acts because we've been at the 152 most of the time...

Here is the list of finalists:
Sacramento Blues Society--The AcesPolish Blues Association--Boogie BoysOttawa Blues Society--MonkeyJunkCascade Blues Association--Ty Curtis BandSouth Florida Blues Society--JP Soars & the Red HotsBoston Blues Society--Delta GeneratorsDiamond State Blues Society--The Roger Girke BandSanta Barbara Blues Society--Pryor Baird & the DeaconsCapital Area Blues Society--6 Hands DownPhoenix Blues Society--The Mikel Lander & Meridith Moore BandThe Solo/Duo Finals begin at 8:30 pm (doors one hour earlier) at the Orpheum. The final six are:Blues Society of Tulsa--Little Joe McLerrranCrossroads Blues Society of Mississippi--Alphonso & RichardTriangle Blues Society--Jon Shain & FJ VenreBlues Society of Western Pennsylvania--Bubs McKegBlues, Jazz and Folk Music Society--Austin "Walkin' Cane"Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola--L.C. Ulmer & Chase HolifieldWe haven't heard most of the bands but I'm sure we're going to hear some great blues.....and no matter how the judging goes, the guys have accomplished something that very few bands get nto experience...and they are loving every minute!

One side note, yesterday afternoon we wandered over to the Gibson factory...with so many musicians in town we couldn't get tickets at a time that would work for us so we just went into the display area where you can sit and try out all of the Gibson guitars, acoustic and electric...we ran into Don Haupt, CBA winner in the solo/duo category. So he and Ty did what  musicians do, sat and jammed a bit ...it sounded pretty good.

I'll post a few photos and I'll try to blog more later  

Gary