NEW YORK BLUES: The Beat Goes On- Blues Underwater?

Well, not quite underwater but it's sure starting to feel that way with all the rain we've been getting here. I think sometime soon I should finally learn how to swim...just in case! Today I'm posting a couple of photos of guitarist Arthur Neilson. I first met Arthur years back at blues jams in New York run by Big Ed Sullivan. The first time I saw Arthur he was actually playing bass and I thought he was a bass player but he was just filling the bass slot for Big Ed. When he played a few tunes on guitar I thought to myself, "man, what's this guy doing playing bass?" Of course I found out later on that Arthur is a guitar player, and a damn good one at that!

I went to the blues jams because I play drums and I wanted to jam with other musicians. I have jammed with Arthur on several occasions and my last band, Motel Soap, used to play an instrumental tune we heard Arthur do called 'Fenderbender'. Along with being a great guitarist Arthur is also one of the nicest guys you'll meet. He is currently holding the guitar chair with Shemekia Copeland.

If you listen to blues then the name Coco Montoya should ring a loud bell. I can't tell you how many times I've played air guitar to the song Maydell from John Mayall's Wake Up Call CD. I think Coco nailed the lead on that song. The shots below are from a few years back. I've also added a few more shots of Michael Powers. This time he was playing with his band, Frequency.

If all goes well on June 25th I'll be at Terra Blues getting some shots and enjoying the great guitar playing of Melvin Taylor.
Until then...keep on diggin' them BLUES!

oh yeah, if you want to hear what I sound like on drums check out these tracks-

http://electriceyes.us.seanic17.net/mp3/tramp.mp3 (from a Motel Soap demo)
http://electriceyes.us.seanic17.net/mp3/too_hot_to_handle_live.mp3 (Motel Soap live)
http://electriceyes.us.seanic17.net/mp3/if_you_love_me.mp3 (Motel Soap live)
http://electriceyes.us.seanic17.net/mp3/when_gods_collide.mp3
this last track has absolutely nothing to do with the blues but it adds a little contrast and shows where I came from on drums. Enjoy!

Nelson G. Onofre
nelson@electriceyes.us

Arthur Neilson
http://www.arthurneilson.com/
photo: Nelson G. Onofre
"Arthur Neilson born and raised in New York City, taught himself to play guitar on an electric Teisco Del Rey at age fifteen. Arthur was schooled in New York City bars and clubs, such as Dan Lynch Blues Bar, Lone Star Cafe, Manny's Car Wash and Tramps. This has led to sharing the stage with many of his influences, most notably B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Roy Buchanan, Danny Gatton, and Albert King, who upon hearing Arthur, said, "That boy sure can play!"."

Coco Montoya
BB King's Blues Club
http://www.cocomontoya.com
http://www.myspace.com/cocomontoyaband
photo: Nelson G. Onofre

Arthur Neilson
http://www.arthurneilson.com/
photo: Nelson G. Onofre

Coco Montoya
BB King's Blues Club
http://www.cocomontoya.com
http://www.myspace.com/cocomontoyaband
photo: Nelson G. Onofre

Coco Montoya
BB King's Blues Club
http://www.cocomontoya.com
http://www.myspace.com/cocomontoyaband
photo: Nelson G. Onofre

Michael Powers
Terra Blues, June 2009
http://www.michaelpowers.com/
http://www.myspace.com/powersblues
photo: Nelson G. Onofre

Michael Powers
Terra Blues, June 2009
http://www.michaelpowers.com/
http://www.myspace.com/powersblues
photo: Nelson G. Onofre

Michael Powers
Terra Blues, June 2009
http://www.michaelpowers.com/
http://www.myspace.com/powersblues
photo: Nelson G. Onofre

Michael Powers
Terra Blues, June 2009
http://www.michaelpowers.com/
http://www.myspace.com/powersblues
photo: Nelson G. Onofre

Michael Powers and Pinky Mendez
Terra Blues, June 2009
photo: Nelson G. Onofre

Michael Powers FREQUENCY
Terra Blues, June 2009
http://www.michaelpowers.com/
http://www.myspace.com/powersblues
photo: Nelson G. Onofre

bassist Pinky Mendez
Terra Blues, June 2009
http://www.myspace.com/pinkymendezbass
photo: Nelson G. Onofre
"I live, breathe, eat and sleep Bass Guitar. I'm one of New York City's "feral" bassists. I'm a street musician ....street born/bred/taught....I'll probably die in the street. Music is the sound of the universe. Tonality is the essence of existence. Even STRING THEORY lends itself to music....the vibrations of Nature. Bass is THE foundation. Without a foundation, no house can stand."