Wrapping the year up at the Bull Run in Shirley MA

Bees Deluxe wrap up the year with a New Year's Eve show opening for Roomful of Blues at the renowned Bull Run Inn, Shirley Massachusetts.

Music: Lots of buzz around Bees Deluxe

By Jay N. Miller/For The Patriot Ledger Posted Nov 22, 2018 at 6:10 PM

Bees Deluxe is a band that set out to yank blues into the 21st century, with guitar inspired by Jimi Hendrix and music influenced by a panoply of jazz, blues and rock artists. Last summer Bees Deluxe released their latest album, and their first one of all original material, “Voice of Dog,” and they’ve just returned from a tour through the Midwest.

Saturday night the Newton-based band headlines the Haymarket Lounge at City Winery in Boston.

Bees Deluxe delights in blurring any genres or categories people might want to assign to their music. They were in regular rotation at the Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge, which closed last June, but most venues are not as familiar with the wide horizons of their music.

“When we play blues clubs they say, ’Hey you guys sound pretty jazzy,” noted keyboardist Carol Band. “Then when we play a jazz club, they’ll say, ‘Hey, you sound pretty bluesy.’ What we do is not easily defined, but blues can be sung or played in a lot of different ways, with many musical approaches. Of course we’ll get occasional requests to play “Johnny Be Goode” or ‘Mustang Sally’ or something like that, but we just say, ‘yeah sure, we’ll get to it,’ and then ignore them.”

A quick perusal of the material on the three previous Bees Deluxe albums shows how widely their music ranges, as they have covered a mind-boggling variety of tunes. There are traditional blues like J.B. Lenoir’s “Talk to Your Daughter,” treated respectfully but with guitarist Conrad Warre’s inventive use of Hendrixian effects. There’s sizzling rhythm and blues like the easy groove of Bobby Blue Bland’s “I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog the Way You Treat Me.” There’s a more subtle Crescent City feel to a dance-friendly take on The Meters’ “Jungle Man.” Conrad Warre’s guitar work is set in stark relief on a dazzling cover of jazz titan Charles Mingus’ “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat,” showing the melodicism and sheer virtuosity that underlies everything the quartet tackles.

South Shore fans should check out the Youtube video of Bees Deluxe doing B.B. King’s “Downhearted (How Blue Can You Get?),” from the 2017 North River Blues Festival at the Marshfield Fair (as recorded in sterling video and sound by the ubiquitous MoeJoe Vision), where they preserve the character of the original while also artfully exploring new tangents.

Considering that’s the kind of stuff they covered, an album of all Bees Deluxe originals is really intriguing, to say the least. One tune “Industrial (Espionage)” has the surreal atmosphere of a film noir soundtrack, as Warre mysteriously intones “the spies look for me, and they look for you, at the end of the world...”

Probably the song on the new album that will get the most attention is “Imaginary Conversation Between Bjork and Buddy Guy,” since the Scandinavian folk-pop singer and the legendary Chicago guitarslinger seem to have little in common musically. But as Band creates an otherworldly framework of floating soundscapes, Warre crafts a marvelous guitar instrumental that is both concise and expressive, and you can almost imagine Guy and Bjork really jamming.

“What can we say about the components or that song?” Band, said laughing. “I’m playing a warped kind of keyboard progression, really a duet between my organ and synthesizer, all ethereal and a little bit whacked out. And then Conrad and his Buddy Guy solo comes along over the top of it.”

One can’t help but wonder how this quartet – with Allyn Dorr on bass, and Paul Giovine on drums – got its start and initially found an audience.

“We are not your average blues band, playing the classic 1-4-5 progression all night,” said Band. “It is challenging music to play, but we try to take the road less traveled. Even when we do covers we aim for the songs that are not expected. We might do a Billie Holliday song, for instance, and after we finish someone may request a Billie Holliday tune – well, we just did one, but it wasn’t one they expected. That kind of thing is a point of pride with us. We’ve covered all the Kings for guitar fans – B.B., Albert, Freddie – and we also even do Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog.” We just don’t do them like people might expect them.”

We mentioned that many of today’s younger and most exciting blues acts are actually rocking harder than most of today’s supposed rock bands, and noted Tinsley Ellis as a prime example.

“Oh sure, we are big fans of Tinsley Ellis, and sent him one of our previous CDs where we covered his song “A Quitter Never Wins,” said Band. “He gave us some really good feedback and liked it. But it is always a challenge to get young people to hear new music these days. There’s so much that is computer-generated, and it all seems to be about the beat, which is fine. I went to see Flying Lotus, which is John Coltrane’s nephew, and it was all electronics...just not my type of music.”

Bees Deluxe, despite their tendency to veer far afield, also generally keeps a solid groove underneath everything they play, so that audiences may not know what they’re hearing, but they like it and can usually dance to it.

“We’ve gained some fans around the area and around the country now,” said Band. “We have a lot that do come out to see all the time, a small but rabid following. Those who haven’t heard us before often come up to us afterwards and tell us we sounded amazing, so that’s gratifying. We play Grumpy’s in Falmouth a lot, and that’s more of a traditional blues and roadhouse rock place. But the last time we were there people were coming up and saying they felt our music was so cool. I think that the fact that most of it is very danceable is a good thing.”

“If people are up and dancing, they’re generally going to enjoy the music,” Band added. “We are careful not to alienate people by playing too much of any one thing, so if we play something that is very thought-provoking, we will follow it up with something more fun and danceable.”

There are also ways that even the Bees Deluxe originals can be accessible to new ears.

“With our originals, if the audience hears something that sounds comfortable, or seems somewhat familiar, they can become attuned to it very easily,” Band noted. “Even when we do something like the Bjork/Buddy Guy tune, fans can latch onto some of the parts of it. It may be strange, but we try to make sure it’s never off-putting, or too foreign for them.”

Bees Deluxe consists of musicians who’ve played in all sorts of styles. Warre is the conceptual leader, and his omnivorous musical tastes permeate their songbook. Bassist Dorr came from a similar variety, blues bands, country bands, and the reggae group Loose Caboose. Drummer Giovine studied at UConn and Berklee School of Music, and has played everything from heavy metal to wedding bands, and a stint with blues and soulman Keb Mo.

“I come from a more basic coffeehouse, and then jazz background,” said Band. “Blues was new to me when I started with these guys, but I had fun with it as a learning experience. We all have very varied musical backgrounds, and I think that comes through in our music with Bees Deluxe.”

Bees Deluxe bills itself as an “acid blues” band, but that’s a term that might, indeed, include almost anything and everything, but best of all, constant surprises.

By Jay N. Miller/For The Patriot Ledger
Posted Nov 22, 2018 at 6:10 PM
Original post: https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/entertainmentlife/20181122/music-lots-of-buzz-around-newtons-bees-deluxe

We capped off the tour with a live on-air performance at WUML' "Blues Deluxe" Saturday afternoon show with John Guregian. Next weekend we celebrate our return to Boston with a debut appearance at City Winery Haymarket Lounge. Advance tickets here: http://bit.ly/BeesDeluxeBOS112418

DEPPILF

THANK YOU. Greetings from Bees Deluxe & everyone at Flippin’ for the Blues As the mid-term election looms, we want to thank everyone who helped support Bees Deluxe’s “Flippin’ for the Blues” tour. From New Hampshire to Ohio we met amazing candidates, talented musicians and wonderful people who came out, dug deep and renewed our faith in the power of acid blues. Thanks to the Maura Sullivan campaign, Brett Anders and the Jugghead Band who graciously shared the Cisco Brewery Stage in Portsmouth. Then it was onto Syracuse where Congressional candidate Dana Balter and her campaign manager, Mike Arnold greeted a group of devoted brunchers at the Empire Brewery. The next stop was Allentown where Gary and Kathy hosted us and we played at the Pig Pen Fun Bar for Susan Wild. Paul rode the animatronic pig and we were thrilled to play with Brian Brazil and Dana Gaynor’s band. Gary toured us around Allentown and we feasted on Allentown’s unique Lehigh Valley (not to be confused with or eclipsed by the Philly-style) Cheesesteak. Next stop Harrisburg and the Midtown Arts Center where Congressional candidate George Scott packed the house and Dana Gaynor and Brian Brazil again provided the perfect counterpoint to our acid blues. From Harrisburg, we drove to Cleveland and the House of Blues where we were honored to play with the Sam Hooper Band to benefit IndivisibleCLE. Carol’s childhood friend Grace showed up and brought her 90-year old father. Proof that you’re never to old for acid blues or political activism.

A quick visit to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and we were off to Columbus where Ann and Richard Levin opened their home to us and introduced their friends to acid blues. The Knight Ave 5 was a terrific venue. Candidate Danny O’Connor was dynamic and even brought his parents! It was a night of optimism and great music with Keith T-Bone Colbert and Bees Deluxe. We were sad to leave Columbus but piled into the van travelled to Pittsburgh where the Allegheny County Democrats packed the house with Congressman Mike Doyle who introduced candidates running for State Senate, State Rep and other positions. It was great to see so many young women on the ballot and so many Halloween costumes in the audience! Thank you The Monday Blues Review and Stone Throwers for playing sets that had all the bartenders singing along.

From Pittsburgh, we did a marathon drive to meet our friends in Brooklyn and wrap up the tour with a celebration at Rocky Sullivan’s. We were joined by Mike Kramer the Cornelia Street Band who’s lead singer, Jennifer Shane Colthart was simply on fire. Thanks to Joan McCabe for buying everyone pizza and to J.R. Rost for graciously hosting us while we were in Red Hook and for surprising us with his amazing voice and Orbison-esque set.

Then we zoomed to Albany the captial city New York, and discovered the Albany County Democratic Committee waiting for us at Pauly’s Hotel and on stage local legends Honey Suckle Vine and the Wildcat O’Halloran Band throwing their musical hats into the ring. We’re back in Boston now. We had a great time but more importantly, we raised more than $20,000 for the Democrats and met musicians and generous strangers who are now our new friends.

We couldn’t have done it without you. We love for you to join us for a homecoming concert at City Winery on Saturday, November 24th we hope that you’ll be with us this Tuesday at the polls. VOTE! We look forward to a bluer future. Advance reservations for the City Winery show are available here: https://goo.gl/YTBGB5

Our last tour stop in Albany New York, at Pauly's Hotel, featuring magnificent sets of live music by Honey Suckle Vine (top) and (bottom) the Wildcat O'Halloran Band. The Red Sox played till 3:00 am EST and we drove back to Boston switching radio stations as fast as we could to catch the game in real-time. Yet again we survived on a steady diet of cold slices of pizza, ibuprofen, Coors light and MacDonald's coffee.

The Albany County Democratic Committee came out in full force (many thanks Jack and Maureen) and people danced their way to the voting booths furiously. Thanks to everyone who made this tour possible from all of us at Bees Deluxe!

Only 12 days left - this Friday we play at Pauly's Hotel in Albany, NY. If you missed Woodstock. Lollapalooza, Coachella, Austin City Limits and the Montreux Jazz Festival fear not. Now's your chance to make up for it. Come to Pauly's Hotel 337 Central Ave, Albany, NY this Friday evening on October 26th to see and hear the living legends: the Wildcat O'Halloran Band, Honey Suckle Vine and Bees Deluxe. Doors open at 8:00 pm. Advance reservations available here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/flipblue2018

Thanks to the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center we had a great night to benefit George Scott for Congress with Dana Gaynor, Brian Brazil, George Scott, Carol Band, Conrad Warre, Paul Giovine and Allyn "Aldo" Dorr. We stayed up way past our bed-times and played another set with the local musicians, the Democratic Reps stayed up late too - and we all ended up singing campfire songs. We can't wait to get back to Harrisburg next year and meet up with everyone again. Check out Dana Gaynor and her Band here: https://www.danagaynor.com/ and you can find out about the harmonica phenom Brian Brazil here: https://bluesharmonica1.com/

We're Wild About Allentown!

We left Boston this morning with a a Chevy Suburban from Enterprise Car Rental. It was huge. But it wasn't big enough. So we headed to Peter Fuller in Watertown and rented a Ford Transit wagon.  

It is humongous. With gear loaded up, we headed out to Syracuse.  We proudly decorated the van with our custom made "Flippin' for the Blues" magnetic  signs.  They blew off the sides of the van in Framingham. Six hours later 

we arrived at the Travel Inn, the motel that we had booked in Westmoreland. It was creepy. 

So we left and checked into a Super 8. This is the glamour of a band on tour.  We're looking forward to the waffle bar in the morning.

Tomorrow, we'll be at the Empire Brewery for Dana Balter from 12:30-2:30pm.  Joining us are Brian Brazil, savant harmonica player and Dana Gaynor who plays every instrument. Incredibly. Then, we're headed to Allentown and the Pig Pen Fun Bar. With a name like that, they better have T-shirts. We'll be playing to benefit Susan Wild, candidate for Congress. 

For us, it's worth the drive. She's a fighter for workers, for affordable healthcare, for education and for people like us who are looking forward to taking back the country and to making America blue again.  

More tomorrow.....

Bees Deluxe

Cleveland House of Blues

The House of Blues Foundation Room in Cleveland Ohio hosts the "Flippin' for the Bleus" Tour on Wednesday evening October the 17th. This show features Sam Hooper (above) as our special music guest, and the event benefits IndivisibleCLE.

Launched after the 2016 presidential election, Indivisible became a nationwide movement of thousands of volunteer-led local groups that engage in progressive advocacy and electoral work at the local, state, and national level. InvisibleCLE is part of that movement.

The event at the House of Blues Foundation Room is a chance to learn more about IndivisibleCLE and about the upcoming mid-term election and how to get involved to help support progressive candidates.

Bees Deluxe will perform their self-described “thinking person’s blues,” in a set that combines originals from their new CD Voice of Dog as well as innovative interpretations of tunes by B.B. King, Freddy King, the Meters, Billie Holiday, Amy Winehouse and more. Members of Bees Deluxe are: Conrad Warre, lead guitar and vocals, Carol Band, keyboard, Allyn Dorr, bass and Paul Giovine, drums.

Doors open at 6pm. Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door. For advance tickets, visit: http://universe.com

Bees Deluxe hitting the road to Syracuse today - wave if you see our van drive by you! Sunday show at Empire Brewing Co. is an afternoon show starting at 12:30 pm.

The event at Empire Brewing Company is a chance to learn more about Dana Balter’s candidacy. Dana Balter is a fighter and a community activist. A Ph.D candidate, and professor of policy, civics and democracy, she has earned endorsements from the NY Teacher’s Union, the AFSCME (Local 400), Emily’s List and New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Meet Dana and hear great live music from local musicians and from Boston’s notorious acid blues ensemble. Bees Deluxe will perform their self-described “thinking person’s blues,” in a set that combines originals from their new CD Voice of Dog as well as innovative interpretations of tunes by B.B. King, Freddy King, the Meters, Billie Holiday, Amy Winehouse and more. Members of Bees Deluxe are: Conrad Warre, lead guitar and vocals, Carol Band, keyboard, Allyn Dorr, bass and Paul Giovine, drums.

The event goes from 12:30 - 2:30pm with tickets available in advance or at the door.

For advance tickets, please visit https://secure.actblue.com/donate/blueconcert#Deluxe.

Live...from the studios of ACMI in beautiful downtown Arlington.....it's Flippin' for the Blues!

Thanks to James, Jonathan and Jeff for turning a quick visit into a cool video!

We love ACMI. Does this gang look capable of flippin' the entire mid-west?

We think so...

Fall is Here. We're Seeing Red and Flippin' Blue

One Week 'Til We Hit The Road

We're going to be driving out through the Berkshires, hitting the hairpin turn and passing by Gould's Sugar House but we're not just leaf-peepers. We're headed to Syracuse and the Empire Brewery. Then to Allentown and the Pig Pen Fun Bar for Susan Wild. The message is simple. VOTE.

The future is in your hands.

Arlington Community Media Television very kindly just invited us to be interviewed, to announce the Flippin' Tour and had us play three tunes. The crew were awesome and we celebrated afterwards in the Arlington rain. We'll post a video as soon as can (probably later this week). Many thanks to James Milan, Jonathan Barbato, Katie Chang, Jeff Munro and everyone at ACMI!

Love Those Salt Potatoes, Syracuse!

LOOK OUT SALT CITY...It's Bees Deluxe and Dana Balter!

"It's time to return government and politics to the hands of the people where it belongs."

Our first official  stop on the "Flippin' for the Blues" tour is Syracuse where we are thrilled to be playing for the Dana Balter for Congress campaign. 

We're excited about Dana's candidacy and are honored to be able to work with her campaign (that's YOU, Mike!).  Dana is just one of the incredible candidates and organizations that we are supporting as we flip for the blues. The road ahead goes from Syracuse to Cleveland to Columbus then onto Pennsylvania. Watch this space to see what a diet of day-old donuts, pizza and acid blues does to four grown adults.

We'll be the Empire Brewery in Syracuse from 12:30-2:30. Stop by, meet Dana and have a cold brew with Bees Deluxe.

Just added: Rocky Sullivan's in Brooklyn on Saturday October 20th with JR Rost & the Secret Agents, and the Cornelia Street Band. Advance tickets available here

Announcing The Monday Blues Review.

The Friday October 19th "Flippin' for the Blues" tour stops at the Buckhead Saloon in beautiful downtown Pittsburgh PA and features the live music of The Monday Blues Review.

The Monday Blues Revue perform high-energy, eclectic mix of classic and modern blues music in all its forms: Chicago Blues, Texas Blues, Jump Blues, Blues Rock, Rhythm & Blues, Soul, and Southern Rock.

Their influences include Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bill Withers, The Allman Brothers Band, Jimi Hendrix, & Muddy Waters.

Announcing the addition of the WIldcat O'Halloran Band to our Friday, October 26 at 7 PM – 10 PM event at Pauly's Hotel in Albany NY.

Living Blues Magazine says of the band "The Wildcat O’Halloran Band have been a Massachusetts institution for over two decades. The band’s latest release, "Hot Pulldown" brims with tight musicianship and raucous energy. O’Halloran is an agile guitarist, and his backing musicians have the type of musical chemistry that only comes from sharing the stage for years." Video still photo by MoeJoe Vision.

Announcing the special appearance of Dana Gaynor to the October 15th show at the Pig Pen Fun Bar in Allentown PA, and to the Harrisburg PA show at the Midtown Arts Center on Tuesday October 16th. Dana Gaynor is an award winning guitarist, producer, singer/song writer from the Lehigh Valley, PA., born and raised in NY. and having lived for many years on the California coast. The list of musicians Dana has performed, recorded and/or toured with includes: Dan Hicks, Vassar Clements, John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service), Keith and Donna Godchaux (Grateful Dead), Greg Anton (Zero), JC Smith (Bill Withers, Ike and Tina Turner), Arkansas Larry Davis, Deacon Jones and Jim Guyette (John Lee Hooker Band), Jackie Payne, Norton Buffalo, Don Preston (Leon Russell Band), Buddy Miles, Buddy Cage (New Riders of the Purple Sage), Tommy Castro, Bobby Rondinelli (Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult), Debbie Davies, Greg Smith (Ted Nugent band), Rodney Holmes, Jimmy Leheay and many more.

Brian Brazil performed in the house band at the Palomino Club in North Hollywood, CA. He played harmonica in a 14-piece television orchestra for 22 shows, and spent 9 years touring on the road with 3 consecutive bands. He worked in 18 bands and has fronted 8 of his own. Brian is endorsed by Lone Wolf Blues Company, manufacturer of Harmonica amplifiers and effects pedals. And he's playing with us at the Pig Pen Fun Bar in Allentown PA on October 15th and at the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center in Harrisburg PA on Oct 16th! More superb harmonica playing than you can shake a black cat at!

On Thursday October the 18th, the Flippin' for the Blues Tour Announces the addition of Special Musical Guest Keith T-bone Colbert to the event.

Keith’s musical style is an evolution of modern blues with a firm foundation inspired by the blues styles from Texas, Chicago and the Delta. Both bands will be playing at King Avenue 5 in Columbus Ohio. Stay tuned for a link to advance reservations. This show is in support of Danny O'Connor as Democratic candidate for Congress. See: https://dannyoconnorforcongress.com/

Vote Your Voice

I voted  in the Massachusetts primary today.

I'm lucky that I vote in a beautiful wood-paneled Town Hall, where the poll workers are retired teachers who taught my kids. I'm lucky that we have good old-fashioned paper ballots that you fill out with a Sharpie and that I live in a state where all the names on the ballot—in all the parties—are good, intelligent people who, even though I may disagree with their methods, want to work to make my state a better place.

As Tip O'Neil said "All politics is local," and he's right. What happens at a local level—at the primaries, at the  races for State Representative and Attorney General—affect the national political scene. Yet people don't vote. Today in Boston as of 3pm, voter turn out was at 12 percent. TWELVE PERCENT?! How can we complain about the outcome of our elections when only 12 percent of us vote?

So get out and cast your ballot. If you've already voted, call your neighbors and remind them that the polls are open 'til 8pm. If you haven't registered—register. Voting is your voice. 
It's your patriotic duty and it's your privilege to raise it every chance you can. 

New Hampshire Reeling From Blues Invasion....

The evening was cool...the music was hot...

Wow! Flippin' for the Blues officially launched last night with an event at Cisco Brewers in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It couldn't have been more perfect. Jugghead Band set the mood with their feel good, front-porch style music. Young parents relaxed under umbrella-shaded tables, toddlers danced in front of the stage, dogs lounged in the sun. The food was terrific and the beer was crisp and cold.

Maura Sullivan mingled with the crowd and then spoke from the heart. She talked about her background as a Marine, her position with the Obama administration and her love of the quality of life and the people of New Hampshire. "Get involved," she urged. "When all of us work together, change happens."

For us, this was the first event of a tour that will take us from Maine to Ohio. If every stop is as powerful, inspiring and fun as last night, we'll never going to want to come home. 

Listen up. We're Coming to Flip Your Districts!

We're getting excited about piling into the van and driving into deepest, reddest 'Merika.

Today, we'll be on WUML  to talk about the tour, about why acid blues can save the world and about our new CD Voice of Dog.

Tune into 91.5 at 3pm and listen. Not only will you learn about what Flippin' for the Blues is up to, you'll discover your new favorite radio show—Blues Deluxe with host John Guregian.

Bloggin' for the Blues

We 're Bees Deluxe. An acid blues band from the bright blue bubble of Boston. We play the blues and we got to thinking...Hmmmm...blues...blue..blue states..blues.
And an idea was born.

Hey! Let's take our music on the road and use it to flip red districts to blue. Let's try to save America.


So that's what we're doing...

Check out our route as we add destinations and details and follow along as we scrape together funding for our rental van, gas and day-old donuts. 

We're starting in Portsmouth,  New Hampshire with an event for Maura Sullivan at Cisco Brewers on Friday, August 31st. 

Then, on October 13th, we'll hit the road in earnest. Stay tuned to see if Conrad's antique GPS will direct the band to Mexico and check back frequently to see updates from rest stops and roadside attractions. 

Here we are before the tour:
left to right - Allyn "Aldo" Dorr Conrad Warre, Paul Giovine, Carol Band.

We'll post pics from the road so you can see what a diet of day-old donuts can do to mature, sedentary adults

Trump's mad about his buddies flipping? He ain't seen nothin' yet. Flippin' for the Blues is here.






(