Welcome to the official USA tour page - GROOVEDOCTORS 2006
LA Confidential:
Arrived on Monday 6th March to a steamy, rainy Los Angeles afternoon. Played at Cozy’s onVentura Boulevade that night. Great reception from an audience packed with some of LA’s finest musicians. Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers and Coco Montoya appearing here later in the month. Several beers and a host of handshakes later, our genial host in the States, Lightnin’ Willie, poured us into the tour bus for a jam at the other end of town at the Reverend Tom’s Blues jam in Pomona. Lil’ Charlie & the Nightcats had graced the stage here 2 days before. We entered the joint to the sounds of a cool, Hammond led,soul drenched groove. Lightnin’ Willie got up for a couple of Numbers & then invited all the groovies up for a couple more. Invited back by the Reverend for a I hour slot on Monday 13th.
Appeared
at the First Cabin in Arcadia on Tuesday. More great players and
good session from the groovies. The Buccaneer in Sierra Madre on Wednesday
was again well received. We got out alive, which was just as well as
the movie “Invasion
of the Body Snatchers” was filmed on this street.
Thursday 9th March:
Big gig for us at Babe’s & Ricky’s Blues Bar in downtown LA. “Mama” runs the house and has seen every blues great through the door on the same deal –“ you play some – if I like it I’ll ask you to play one more – if I don’t like it I’ll get you off”. We played some – Mama said “play one more” – I guess she liked it! The House band a superb harp player from France and several good guest guitarists including Willie. Mickey Champion, a 92 year old blues chanteuse sang with Willie and the House band. She was a big name in LA through the 40’s and 50’s and still performed as if time had stood still. She worked the tables and booths, singing with such power that she didn’t need a mike. Brilliant! Mama invited us back when next in town – this club was the real deal.