Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Beyond Memphis

This morning, I got the dreaded "Mom can you take me to school?, I missed the bus alarm." The truth is I am not up most mornings. Because I'm an entertainer, my nights are for working and my mornings are for sleeping. I usually start my day around 11:00 a.m.

On the morning of  February 1, 2011, I was up at this time doing the "idiot check" of my baggage. My flight to Memphis was at 9:50, which meant I needed to get to the airport within that suggested two hours before flight-time window. My husband, John, was my chariot and he dropped me off.

I felt good, a little hungry and definitely sleepy. I would catch some zzzs on the plane. We boarded on time, but were 20 minutes late leaving the runway due to de-icing. The weather was getting bad and I had to make my connection in Chicago. The thought of having to make changes in my commute unnerved me, so I said a prayer and within minutes we were off the ground. I exhaled and took a nap.

As we touched down at O'Hare, I braced myself for the cold of Chicago. It was normal for the "Windy City." Once inside, I checked the board, all systems go. My flight's departure status? On time. I breathed a sigh of relief, went to the bathroom, called home and finished a Sudoku puzzle while waiting to board.

All was well, we left on time and now getting to Memphis felt doable. Little did I know, but soon learned, that my flight would be the last to leave Chi-town for the next two days -- the weather was ugly.

After we touched down my mission was to find transportation to my hotel. I stood under the shuttle sign for 10 minutes watching everyone but me get a ride. I asked one attendant, "where is the shuttle to the Crowne Plaza?" the lady told me to go down to the next awning. I waited another 10 minutes, no shuttle. I called the hotel and was told there is no shuttle from the airport. I caught a taxi. It was 62 degrees and very windy. That taxi cost me 30 bucks, the driver was pleasant, but that was an unexpected expense. It was food money, so I was a bit testy when I checked in. I made a comment to the concierge about the hotel not having a shuttle and what it cost me, so Terry gave me a consolation package of two bottles of water and some chocolates.

I dashed to my room, freshened up, and headed to B.B.King's for a late lunch with Anton. We had missed the lunch rush, so there was no waiting to be seated. The emptiness of the room would be a stark contrast to how it was when we hit the stage in the semi-finals.

When I got back to my room this time I noticed something that made the hair on the back on my neck stand up. I hadn't unpacked, yet the closet had clothes hanging in it and there was food everywhere -- tuna ramen noodles, bread, milk in the fridge, peanut butter and jelly. Then I noticed a travel bag that was not mine. "Holy canoli," did someone else have a key to this room? Was this star treatment? WTF? I called the front desk. I was spooked, so they sent someone up to take out the left-over belongings, but I kept the food. I called John to tell him of this strange occurrence and he suggested I ask for another room. I did not.

I showered and instead of going to the mixer with Anton, I decided to turn in early, I was exhausted mentally and physically. The week prior to leaving I had the the worst flu I have had my entire life, my Aunt had died unexpectedly, and I lost seven pounds from being dehydrated by fever and not being able to keep food down.

Still uneasy in the room, I slept on top on the bed in my robe, I was sure the sheets hadn't been changed since the mystery man departed. I would deal with all of that on the morrow. I woke up at nine with a phone call from Gary, our T-shirt sponsor. He was concerned. He had been calling "the guys" and was not getting an answer. The band left Tuesday night in the van. All of the weather reports were bad. I was worried. By the time I got someone, anyone on the phone they were in the hotel lobby. I went down to meet them in my Mom's Mabley outfit, a funky head scarf, the robe I slept in and house shoes. Everyone was accounted for . . .  game on! We set a time to leave for registration and got on the shuttle together headed for Beale Street.

....to be continued

Monday, February 14, 2011

SBB Tonight At Zydeco On High

The Shaun Booker Band is live tonight at Zydeco On High, a great little cajun supper club on South High Street in Columbus, just south of downtown.

The food is flavorful spicy and the music will be hot!

Come see us!

Friday, February 4, 2011

On Stage At B.B. King's Tonight!


Darlings, we will be on stage at B.B. King's Blues Club! Can you believe it,Yeah! The nightclub belonging to the legendary B.B. King!

Its the semi-finals.

The Blues Melting Pot

Blues is an American art form, a music born of hard times, with its origins in the Deep South. But the sound has been adopted by fans -- and musicians -- from across North America, and around the world.

Take a look at some of the hot blues bands, soloists, and youth groups that have travelled to Memphis, the "Blues City," to compete in the 2011 International Blues Challenge.

The Shaun Booker Band is honored to have been chosen by our peers, and to be competing side-by-side in the Beale Street Clubs with such a fantastic group of musicians. Judge us by the company that we keep!

Like they say at the Academy Awards, it's an honor just to have been nominated. But unlike awards for movie performances, we aren't judged on our past performance. That only got us here. We are judged this week by our live performances before hundreds of blues fans filling the clubs here each and every night. There are judges in the audience scoring us. The criteria are complicated, but there for a reason. And I've got to say, so far, WE HAVE HAD IT GOIN' ON!!!

As for where we will finish? We can do this . . .  

Notes From 2011 IBC Memphis, Chapter 2

THE SHAUN BOOKER BAND HAS MADE IT TO THE SEMI-FINALS!!!!

A second straight night at Club 152 on Beale Street, where the weather is lousy, most of the clubs are cold, but the sound coming out of these venues is smoking HOT! 



Memphis has freezing rain today, as does much of Tennessee and the daytime temperatures have been in the 30s. The music, however, has been great and our band was on fire last night. The judges must have seen that. The audience definitely did!

Resting today, for the sem-finals gig this evening. . . .

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Notes From 2011 IBC Memphis, Chapter 1



MEMPHIS, Tenn -- The Shaun Booker Band kicked tail last night in Round 1 of the International Blues Challenge quarter-finals. Focused and on their game! Shaun and the guys are resting before the Round 2 quarter-final this evening.

Its cold in the Blues City -- it has been in the 20s -- but at least most of the entourage was south of the horrendous ice storm that hit home base back in Columbus.

The competition is intense, and there are bands here from pretty much every corner of the globe. For a look at news coverage of the international nature of the International Blues Challenge, here are some feature stories of interest:

- 2011 IBC schedule of events
- Talent pool reflecting global outreach of IBC
- Bluesmen receive honors
- Arkansas gospel band prays prior to IBC performance
- Notes from the Tennessee Jazz/Blues Society
- Television coverage of the IBC
- Live from Beale Street

Stay tuned....!!!