It‘s a Blues Thang

Nov. 16, 2008

For all you blues buffs, guitar heroes and music fans alike, it’s time to support one of the best musical events of the year in Northern Michigan and give the “best” players in the state a rousing send-off to a world competition.
On Friday, November 21 at 9 p.m. the Mid-North Michigan Blues Society will present its 5th Annual International Blues Challenge at Streeter’s Ground Zero in Traverse City. Get ready to raise the roof with Laith Al-Saadi, Larry McCray, Churchill Drive, solo/duo competitions (for the first time ever) and a youth band from Calumet, Michigan called “On The-Spot Blues Band.”
Headlining this year’s benefit concert is Ann Arbor’s own blues king, Laith Al-Saadi, who has already been selected as the 2008 nominee. Laith will represent the Mid-North Michigan Society this February at the international blues competition in Memphis Tennessee. The annual Memphis event runs from February 4-7 and strives to recognize up-and-coming artists by rewarding them with prizes and industry-wide recognition. It all began in 1984 and is the world’s largest gathering of blues bands hoping to launch their careers nationally, which makes this show at Streeter’s so important for our own nominees.

Laith Al-Saadi
After releasing his second CD just this month, Laith Al-Saadi will hit the Ground Zero stage with a form of guitar-playing wizardry that ranks with some of today’s greatest blues guitarists. He continues to impress his followers by attacking the guitar with a deep-rooted feel for his instrument that few guitar players possess.
Al-Saadi is backed by a great band and is always rigged with great guitar tone. He’s animated, intense, and extremely versatile. His deep husky blues voice fits his overall style perfectly, and it’s obvious he belongs.
As a big fan of the Beatles, Laith began singing at age four, strumming a guitar at age 13 and became heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin and many of the classic rock bands. All of the players he loved were steeped in the blues, a bond that led to him discovering other artists such as Buddy Guy, Elmore James, Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters.
“The beautiful thing about the blues is the simplicity of the music itself forces the development of each individual’s voice musically to come out and be expressed,” he says. “You basically have the same three chords -- sometimes a few more depending on substitutions -- and it’s really up to each player to define them and make something unique out of it; which is a real strong test of a true musician.”

Larry McCray
Speaking of true musicians, inter-national blues star Larry McCray will make an appearance at the Bluese Challenge and if you have never seen him live, you are in for a treat.
McCray brings a cool sense of stage presence, strong vocals and a scorching guitar style that’s similar to that of Eric Clapton, Albert King and Jimi Hendrix. In 1990, McCray became the first artist signed by Virgin Records’ blues division – Pointblank Records. He released his first CD, Ambition, which was well received by the U.S. and European press.

More Blues
If that’s not enough, one of the region’s newest bands, Churchill Drive, will be performing. The group includes dueling guitar masters Ray Smith and Jon Archambault, joined by Greg Vadnais on drums and Matt Marsh on bass and vocals. Upbeat blues-infused rock with a splash of sweet soul and sassy swing is what you will hear from these guys.
Mid-North Michigan Blues Society chairman Steve Soviak is excited about the show and expects a big turnout this year. For information, photos, press releases and bios, Steve can be reached by phone @ 989-370-8334 or e-mail: steve@mnmbs.org.

Tickets are $15 in advance or
$20 at the door. The show starts at
9 p.m. November 21 at Streeter’s Entertainment Center, Traverse City. Phone: 231- 932-1300.