September 27, 2002

It was good to be back at Mamie's again. The people there really like the blues. Our friend and mentor Lee Gates came down and sat in with the band for three or four numbers. Lee and Marty had a nice guitar workout. At the end of the night Lee and Gary sang a duet version of "I've Got My Mojo Working". It was Karyn Ross' birthday, and our good friend Ed took her to Koerper's Five O'clock Club for a fancy dinner before taking her out to hear the band. Tim Smith sang a few numbers from the album with us, and everybody signed Karyn's birthday card. A good time was had by all!

September 25, 2002

The band Old English started the night off with a showcase set. Afterwards Lee Gates gave them a few instructional comments. Wes made his Conway's live performance debut on guitar. Jim Spencer made his singing debut with Bo Diddley's "Road Runner". (Beep Beep!) Jim is putting a band together with John the bass player. They may need players! Later Milwaukee Slim came by and laid some heavy blues on us.

September 21, 2002

Downtown Cedarburg is picturesque and quaint; a perfect place to hold a festival, and Saturday was the perfect day for the Wine & Harvest Festival. It was a beautiful late summer/early fall day with just a touch of color in the leaves. The band set up next to Romano's Pizza and advertised pizza so much during the gig that Mr. Romano bought two CD's and treated everyone to pizza! Gary used his cordless mike to do as much singing as possible from McCarthy's Pub across the street. Barb and Jenny took pictures of the show, so look for them right hereon the web site!

September 6, 2002

Probably the best place to hear Big Johnson and the Thrusters is at Sande's National Pastime, at least it was Friday night. The band was hot! If you couldn't be there Big Mike took pictures. Maybe we'll post them on the web site.

September 4, 2002

The blues jam entered its eighth big year last night with Tim Smith, Big Mike, Wild Bill, Craig and Carol unveiling their new band "Uncalled For" with a showcase set. Be sure to visit Carol's website Doug Raunch made his Conway's live performance debut on background vocals. Acoustic songwriter night is now underway on Thursday nights at Conway's. Remember: if you have too much fun at the jam on Wednesday night and you don't remember what you did, you can always read about it here!

August 28, 2002

Guitar Bo announced that he played his first real gig last Saturday. Congratulations! Tim Snodgrass made his debut on drums. Tim just moved to Milwaukee from Saint Louis and he's a good drummer, who's looking for a gig. Charlie also made his debut on drums!

August 21, 2002

Where can you hear Lee Gates, Milwaukee Slim and Pee Wee Hayes all in one place on the same night? Last night you could have heard them all at Conway's and it wouldn't have cost you anything! Big Johnson and the Thrusters were mentioned in the current edition of Dirty Linen Magazine in the new releases section! Who knows? They might review our record in the next issue! You will see it here if they do!

August 14, 2002

Lee Gates brought his brand new guitar down to the jam and it showed off all the new tricks that Lee Gates has already taught it! Danny Spencer, Jim's brother, came all the way from Phoenix, Arizona to visit Jim and play bass at the jam. Jason the drummer also made his Conway's live debut. A BRIEF STORY: Alexis and I were in line at a Wendy's drive up window in Chicago on Monday night about 11 p. m. when a car pulled up behind us. The driver had the volume on his car stereo turned up loud and a throbbing bass was audible. Alexis said "I hate it when people do that!" Then she grabbed a Big Johnson CD and hopped out of the car. I watched from the sideview mirror as she approached the other car, and after a brief conversation she gave the driver the CD in exchange for a dollar. She got back in the car and we pulled up to the drive up window. Moments later the throbbing bass started up again from the car behind us, but this time I recognized the song as "15 Bucks & A Bottle of Beer" from the CD! It looks like we have a new marketing plan for the CD!

August 7, 2002

It was one of the most beautiful nights of the summer and a great night at the old Blues Jam! Tim and Susie Smith were on hand to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary! Our congratulations go out to them! Ed Sr. Gerber is moving to Tokyo permanently, and he came by one last time to say "goodbye" and blow harmonica. Several new jammers joined us including Robert from Rockford (guitar), Misha (guitar) and Ken (guitar and vocals). Misha is putting a band together and he's looking for players. If anyone's interested please come down to the jam next Wednesday. Conway's will be inaugurating a new Songwriter's Night starting Thursday, September 5. Further details will be forthcoming.

July 31, 2002

It was the Wild Bill's Birthday Jam! Everyone signed the birthday card and had a piece of birthday cake in honor of our good friend Wild Bill! Luminaries in attendance included Lee Gates, Reverend Raven, and Pee Wee Hayes each of whom played a stellar set. Brent made his Conway's live performance debut on guitar, and he brought a table full of friends all the way from Germany with him! Wilkommen!

July 24, 2002

Last night we had a couple new fans all the way from Knoxville, Tennessee come to Conway's for the jam. Apparently people in Knoxville know how to party! We were glad to have them!

July 17, 2002

Many thanks to Mighty Studly Richard from the Sore Back Brigade! Richard has agreed to help set up and tear down equipment before and after the jam! We had a group of blues fans that came down to the jam for the first time last night. They sat up front and requested Magic Sam and Howling Wolf numbers all night. It's always good to see new faces, particularly when they like the same music that we like!

July 10, 2002

There was so much talent present last night that Conway's could barely contain it! Where else can you hear so much great music for free? Our friend Joe looked resplendent in his backwards-black soft cap, his high sheen red shirt and his two-tone spectator shoes! He used to be a baseball cap and tee shirt guy, but there he was jamming with Lee Gates, sounding good and looking cool! Joe recommends Goldman's Department Store as a source for those who are seeking to "bluesify" their image. Damon White lead the performance highlight of the evening: "Them Changes", featuring Craig on guitar, Mike from Green Bay on bass and Wild Bill on drums, but there was outstanding music all night long! The always-wonderful Milwaukee Slim was wonderful again! He will be appearing Thursday, July 18 at Jazz in the Park on Cathedral Square. Admission is free, and it's a beautiful setting to hear some great music. Thanks to everyone who came down and thanks to Conway's for having us!

June 26, 2002

A few weeks ago Chris the bass player started trying to put a band together at the jam. This weekend his new band, which is called the "Stack-Edwards Band" will debut at Conway's! Congratulations to Chris and best of luck! Anyone else who wants to get a band together can find plenty of fine talent to pick from every Wednesday at Conway's! This week's highlights included Ron Gilbert singing everyone's favorite song about lady professional midget wrestlers, "Teeny-Weeny Meanie"! Our good friend Pete Ryan came all the way from Kenosha to play for us! Dave made his Conway's live performance debut singing "If You're Looking For Trouble"! There's no jam next week due to the Fourth of July Holiday, but we'll see you again in two weeks. In the mean time buy lots of blues records!

JAM SESSION STANDARDS

Would you like to jam? Here are some standard tunes that might be good to know how to play or sing:

1) SWEET HOME CHICAGO (MAGIC SAM VERSION)
2) STORMY MONDAY (T-BONE WALKER, BOBBY BLAND OR THE ALLMAN BROTHERS VERSIONS)
3) I'VE GOT MY MOJO WORKING (MUDDY WATERS VERSION)
4) HOOCHIE COOCHIE MAN (MUDDY WATERS VERSION)
5) BIG BOSS MAN (JIMMY REED VERSION)
6) HELP ME (SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON VERSION)
7) ROCK ME BABY (B. B. KING VERSION)
8) THE THRILL IS GONE (B. B. KING VERSION)
9) CROSS CUT SAW (ALBERT KING VERSION)
10) BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY (JIMMY REED VERSION)
11) YOU GOT ME RUNNING AND HIDING (JIMMY REED VERSION)
12) TORE DOWN (FREDDY KING VERSION)
13) KILLING FLOOR (HOWLING WOLF VERSION)

June 19, 2002

It was the first real warm summer night of the year and it was a great night to be at Conway's! Celebrities in attendance included noted motorcycle enthusiast Fuzzy Jay and his lovely girlfriend Katie. Alex Wilson, Lee Gates and Wild Bill previewed Alex' upcoming gig at Conway's this Friday with an impressive set of hot tunes! Scott made his Conway's live performance debut blowing some wild blues saxophone! It was good to see our old friends Conway Powell and Steve Vitale! Thanks to everyone for coming and thanks to Conway's for having us!

June 12, 2002

This week at the jam Jim Richards unveiled his brand new conga drums! Guy made his Conway's live performance debut on guitar and vocals, and Galen made her Conway's live debut on background vocals! The Quote of the Week award goes to the boss man, Gary Lee "Big" Johnson (he actually said it at the Homeless Blues Festival): "Big Goofy Mike may have a six-pack stomach, but that's nothing! I've got a whole quarter barrel!" Look for pictures from the Homeless Blues Festival have been developed and will be on the web site soon! (As soon as the little old webmaster gets around to it!) Thanks to all the fine musicians who came down Wednesday, and thanks to Conway's for having us!

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon in West Milwaukee for Sande's National Pastime's 3rd annual Homeless Blues Festival! This year's all star jam was hosted by Big Johnson and the Thrusters and featured wonderful guest appearances by an enormous array of talent including Tommy Blood and his sweet slide guitar, the ebullient Blues Harp Jimmy, talented bassist and vocalist Carol Hanzel, the outrageously unpredictable Jammin' Jimmy, Shufflin' Don Amby, Chicago Dave, Jimmy Kay, the legendary Lee Gates and his red hot guitar, Jim the Boogie Man, Manfred the harp player, Tina Michaels, our good friend Tim Smith, California Red, Little Jimmy from the Blackbirds, Warren Ziech and his down home harmonica, Founding Father of the Blues Jam Steve Nitros, Steve-O and Jeff from the 50 grit blues band, our good friend Big Goofy Mike, Rex the bass player, Jim the bass player, Alex and Tom Wilson. Whew! Everyone played great, and the music was consistently wonderful for eight solid hours! The highlights of the afternoon were a young unknown vocalist named Carol who brought the house down singing an incendiary version of "Steam Roller Blues", and the House Rockin' Blues Revue with Dave Connelly, Kevin and the one and only Kenny Arnold laying down some Hound Dog Taylor and Elmore James favorites in the old Chicago style. (Big Johnson and the Thrusters played a tasty set too, if I may say so!) The music was great, and all those Harley Davidsons shining in the sun looked like works of art! Mike and Linda from Second Day Productions did a yeoman's service running the sound. It was great to see everybody! Thanks to everyone who helped to make it a wonderful afternoon, and thanks to Clyde and Sande for having Big Johnson and the Thrusters as hosts to such a splendid collection of talent. Look for pictures of the Homeless Blues Festival in the photo section of the web site soon!

June 5, 2002

Thanks to everyone who came down and made it another great jam, and thanks to Conway's for having us! It was good to see Ed Gerber Sr. who came all the way from Tokyo, Japan to blow his smoking blues harmonica! Vocalist Ruthie from Chicago made her Conway's live performance debut singing the old Gloria Gaynor hit "I Will Survive!". Come back anytime Ruthie, but please learn some blues songs! The best-dressed award goes out to Ed Ross for that lovely tiara. Remember to come out to the Homeless Blues Festival this Saturday, June 8 at Sandes National Pastime, (51st and National in Milwaukee). There will be lots of great blues talent and Big Johnson and the Thrusters are the host band! The music starts around noon and goes on all day! Don't miss it!

May 29, 2002

Happy Birthday Debbie Thatcher! "P" made his Conway's debut on bass and keyboards. Damen White brought in his impressive collection of vintage vacuum tubes. Tom Harger came all the way from Colorado to play his guitar and sing for us! He took pictures and he invites everyone to see them by visiting his web site at www.BluesClown.com. The finest of many great musical performances was Milwaukee Slim and Lee Gates closing out the night together. How about that? Where else but Conway's can you see this kind of talent for free? If you play or sing or just want to hang out come on down to Conway's every Wednesday night!

May 23, 2002

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Congratulations to our good friend Matt Ammens who has been accepted to medical school! Matt is turning his back on a lifetime of drunkenness and starvation as a musician in order to become a doctor. Someday he may cure the rest of us from our lifetimes of drunkeness and starvation! Frank made his Conway's live performance debut singing "Hound Dog"! Thanks to everyone who came down to the jam, and thanks to Conway's for having us!

May 14, 2002

We appreciate everyone who comes down to Conway's and supports the Jam! The Glad to be Alive Award goes to John the bass player who made his Conway's live performance debut playing with the formidable Lee Gates! Debbie Thatcher wins the Fashion Consultant Award for throwing away Lee Gates' baseball cap! Ron made his Conway's live performance debut on guitar and vocals. Bald Mike brought in his collection of rare posters. Celebrities in attendance included pool shark and guitar king Lee Gates, a Milwaukee legend for 40 years Kenny Arnold sitting in on drums, the big boss man Mr. Gary Lee "Big" Johnson, and noted restaurateur, Peter Pitch of Miss Katie's Diner fame. Stephanie the Bartender and her thirsty choir win the Creative Mooching Award for singing this bit of doggerel to the tune of 'The Old Gray Mare Ain't What She Used To Be': "Here we sit like birds in the wilderness, birds in the wilderness, birds in the wilderness. Here we sit like birds in the wilderness. Fred won't buy a shot. Cheap! Cheap!" Wild Bill reports that Sandy Wiskerchen is feeling much better. Thanks to Conway's for having us!

May 9, 2002

Some nights the music is better than other nights. Last night was a religious experience! The Misfits featuring Milwaukee's best bass player, Mr. Thomas "Hump" Humphries got up and played a real nice set of hot blues. Then Milwaukee's best guitar player, Mr. Lee Gates got up along with Alex Wilson on guitar, Andres the bass player from Reverend Raven's band and Bald Mike on drums. Lee Gates "had church" as the old folks say, and it was wonderful! Congratulations to all the graduating Marquette students! Emily sang "How Blue Can You Get?" with her father, Tom making his Conway's debut on guitar and vocals. He did a fine job! Our best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to Sandy Wiskerchen. We had a special showcase of the Marquette band, "Blue Tooth". Thanks for coming guys! In fact, thanks to everyone who came out and made it a special evening and thanks to Conway's for having us!

May 6, 2002

Thanks to WMSE for having us! On Monday, May 6 Big Johnson and the Thrusters were featured playing live in the studio during the 4 o'clock hour of the "Blues Drive" program on radio station WMSE (91.7 FM). It was pledge drive week at the radio station and the band was happy to help raise money. The set list included 5 original tunes from the Big Johnson song book, "You Made Me Cry", "Ooby Doo", "Dayrise This Morning", "I've Been Deceived", and "Fifteen Bucks and a Bottle of Beer". Billy the engineer did a great job mixing the sound, and station manager Tom Crawford was wonderful as the post performance interviewer. In fact, everybody at WMSE made us feel right at home. Check for pictures of Big Johnson and the Thrusters' in studio performance on the WMSE web site!

May 1, 2002

As always thanks to everyone for coming down, and thanks to Conway's for having us! Tim Smith made his triumphant return! Jim the saxophone player made his Conway's debut! The Musical Innovator Award goes to Gary Lee "Big" Johnson for interpolating the lyrics of "Stormy Monday" into the tune of "Hoochie Coochie Man". We call the result "Hoochie Coochie Monday"! The Notable Quote Award goes to Sylvester the harmonica player for saying: "That Lee Gates sure talks a lot of trash, but man can he back it up!" (That's why we shamelessly kiss his butt!) Conway's is located at 2127 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI. The phone number is 414 344-1262. Jam time is 8:00 p. m. every Wednesday. Come on down!

April 24, 2002