HELP RON THOMPSON
BRING THE BLUES
BACK TO BERKELEY!
Nationally acclaimed rhythm and blues legend Ron Thompson and his band The Resistors will perform at Blakes on Telegraph on Friday, January 30th, at 9 pm. Opening for Thompson will be up and coming guitarist/singer/songwriter Matthew Hanson, whose style has been compared to Buddy Guy and BB King. Special surprise guests are expected to join Thompson on stage. Blakes is located at 2367 Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley CA. Tickets may be purchased through the Blakes' website or at the door the evening of the show. Tickets are $15 in advance; $18 at the door.
(It is highly recommended that you purchase your tickets in
advance!)
In 1993, Blakes recognized the need to go contemporary, and began booking other genres of music. This year, the club is bringing back the blues with with style, by booking top national artists such as Thompson and Tommy Castro. Blakes' booking agent, Gary Simmons (Kid Glove Entertainment), stated, "I have been working for the club for twenty years and I remember those nights when Ron Thompson almost blew the roof off! We can't wait to have him back!"
This appearance marks Thompson's long-awaited return to Blakes (formerly known as Larry Blakes). Thompson appeared regularly at Larry Blakes in the 1980's and early 1990's, playing to standing room only crowds. "Larry Blakes was a real mecca for the blues in the East Bay, and I am excited to be playing there again," said
Thompson. Joining Thompson tonight will be the incomparable Kelvin Dixon on drums and the one and only Artis Joyce (AJ)
on bass.
We urge all Bay Area blues fans to come out and support the show! Blakes is testing the waters by bringing blues back, and the
more people who turn out this evening, the more likely you are to see future great blues acts come to Berkeley. We realize there are a lot of wonderful Bay Area shows this weekend and we very much hope you will include Ron Thompson at Blakes on your "must
do" list.
In the intervening years since he was a Blakes regular, Thompson's musical career took off as he picked up a Grammy nomination, an acclaimed BAMMIE, as well as many other awards and accolades..He was recently inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, and will participate in this year's San Francisco Jazz Festival, where he will perform and teach the Discover Jazz “Blues Guitar” session on February 4th, in conjunction with Cory Combs, Director of Education for SF Jazz.Besides touring as band leader with John Lee Hooker for seven years in the 1970's, Thompson has played and/or recorded with Big Mama Thornton, Luther Tucker, Jimmy McCracklin, Pee Wee Crayton, Carla Thomas, Mick Fleetwood, Percy Mayfield, Etta
James, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, Booker T. Jones, Bruce Willis, Chris Isaak, Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, and countless others.
Tom Mazzolini, founder and producer of the San Francisco Blues Festival, the longest running blues festival in the United States, said, “I’ve always felt Ron is the most talented blues guitarist I’ve ever seen. He can do it all. He’s extraordinarily gifted. What many folks aren’t aware of is that Ron was a huge asset in the re-emergence of John Lee Hooker—he was the foundation for that boogie sound.
Matthew Hanson is an electric showman who is now propelling *his* sound through the constructs of a power trio, although he will be playing solo at Blakes on Friday. Comparisons have been
drawn to those he admires most; Buddy Guy, B.B. King, and Jimi
Hendrix. Palpable, vibrant energy fills his performances, spilling from the stage out into the audience. A member of the San Francisco Songwriters Coalition, Matthew has shared the stage with Bay Area favorites: Marc Ford (Black Crowes, Ben Harper), Dan Vickrey (Counting Crows), Dave Rude (Tesla), Elliot Randall Band, Jesse Brewster Band, Pine & Battery, and Mike
Gibbons.
This up-and-coming guitarist/singer/songwriter blends his love
of playing the blues with his natural pop sensibilities, making him easily accessible to a widespread audience. With a distinctive style influenced by many, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Paul Simon, and John Mayer, Matthew's musical goal is to integrate the licks, lyrics, and tone of bluesmusic into a more mainstream sound.
This is going to be a kick ass show! Don't miss it!
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