Right: King Biscuit Festival 2001 performance
(photos on this page by Hairy Larry)
Our next gig:
November 8th at BBs Lawnside BBQ in Kansas City. The sets by Alaska w/ Maddog and Stella Blue at the Dogpatch Biker Bash were so successful that we are already booked for next year!
HAIRY LARRY ADDED TWO TUNES FROM THE NEW "blues/the Twilight Sloan" DOUBLE CD: LINKS BELOW.
Date: Mon, 21 May 2007 11:32:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: Cindy Terwilliger
Subject: Gary Alaska Sloan CD Review for Kansas City blues society magazine
Gary Alaska Sloan and the Kansas City Rhythm Revue
What a long strange trip it has been: no truer words were ever spoken in Truckin' that classic Grateful Dead tune This song came to mind as I gathered my thoughts about Gary Alaska Sloan and the Kansas City Rhythm Revue for this CD review. I have had the pleasure of experiencing Gary Alaska Sloan's musical expressions as well as the good fortune of sharing a friendship with Gary and his wife Sandy and members of the band since 2001. We have had many strange trips together over the years and I have been blessed with musical memories to last a lifetime.
There are many words that come to mind to describe Gary: exuberant, silly but most importantly a rock solid vocalist and harp player with an encyclopedic memory of songs, musical beats and harmonica riffs from every musical genre. Gary's live performances are always a musical adventure leading the listener across the spectrum of rhythm and blues and wherever else his spirit may lead him at the time! This latest two-disc CD is an example of Gary and the band doing exactly that with blues gospel, reggae and straight up old fashioned rock and roll.
The double CD set contains a variety of live and studio performance captured dating from 1996 to the present at a variety of venues including BBs Lawnside BBQ, King Biscuit Blues Festival, Belgrade Serbia and a number of clubs in Alaska. The first disc features the Kansas City Rhythm Revue & Twilight Sloan horns plus the Curtis Cunningham band & Mighty Untouchables. Special guests on some tracks include Lazy Lester and Harvey Mandel plus Serbian band Rawhide. The second disc features "the Twilight Sloan" backed up by a variety of musicians from all over the world performing live big band, gospel, classical and rock songs that did not fit the format of the first disc.
Some of my favorite cuts on the CD are his version of "Raining in My Heart" which has a nice Louisiana R&B feel, "Turn on Your Love Light" slides effortlessly from gospel to reggae and a the classic Sloan tracks "Screaming Skull" and "Lets Work Together". I love the horn riffs on these tracks which are performed by Gary's twin sons Jim and Gary: the Twilight Sloan horns. Jim is featured on saxophone and guitar and Gary plays trumpet and trombone and bass. I remember one of their first live gigs at the Kansas City Speedway when they were just teenagers. Now they are in college studying music and have their own band! Other occasional horn personnel include Tom Mulinix on baritone sax.
As I mentioned earlier, the CD features the Kansas City Rhythm Revue on many tracks. Their last live performance BBs Lawnside BBQ was one of the finest performances I have heard. The band was tight and smoking. Gary's vocals and harp were at their peak, Michael Elrod on lead guitar smoked and seared the barbecue with his electric guitar and Curt Rosy steady and insightful bass playing and Matt Ronan's energetic drumming provided the solid background for a pumping set of music.
You too can experience Gary Alaska Sloan and the Kansas City Rhythm Revue at BBs Lawnside BBQ on Friday December 7th. Bring some extra money and pick up copies of Gary's latest CD for yourself and your friends. You can also buy the CD and learn more about Gary's music at his websites: http://www.deltaboogie.com/garysloan or www.myspace.com/garyalaskasloan
P.S. If you like to buy musicians drinks Gary preferred drink of choice is tequila!
Cindy Terwilliger
The new double cd is now available. $20+1.50 s/h
2 covers
2 discs
over 2 hours of music
only 2 ten dollar bills!
check or money orders only, payable to:
BOOGIE-TIL-DAWN
P O Box 1348
Diamond City AR 72630
The first cd release of the 1981 "Southside Blues" lp (with outtakes & bonus tracks from back in the day plus the 21st century!) is in black and white, and available for $15+1.50 s/h from Boogie-til-dawn. This record is our 2nd best seller after "Blue Shoes".
MICHAEL ELROD's new cd "Michael Elrod & the Roosters" is also available, and it features Gary on 5 tracks.
For information on 35 years of his past recordings on the "Proof" label featuring guitarists HARVEY MANDEL, RICK HOLMSTROM, ABU TALIB ("Freddy Robinson"), CURTIS CUNNINGHAM and LINDY & LARRY RAINES along with biographical information, click the "Delta Musicians" link below the list of new discs.
We received a copy of beautiful a new book by Tim Kennedy: "MIDNIGHT SON: A Tribute to JOHN LEE HOOKER" with photos of John, Gary & band in Anchorage on summer solstice 1975. Visit http://utpress.ut.edu for more information.
We also got a letter from Bruce Iglaur, president of Alligator Records. About our "KING BISCUIT 2005" cd he said: "Very tastefully done. Lovely slide guitar, tasteful harp, and heartfelt and personal vocals." "I can tell you guys are really having a good time." "...lots of fun." "Thanks for a very enjoyable listen." (a copy of the letter is included with the cd) The cover is similar to the first picture in the photo section. Purchase the CD-R for $10.00+$1.50 s/h (check or m.o.) from
Boogie-til-dawn
P. O. Box 1348
Diamond City AR
72630
Photo Gallery updated
9/09/06 w/ Ana Popovic, Springfield MO
5/24/06 w/ Chick Willis & D.C. Bellamy at BB's
10/16/05 King Biscuit Fest pics
8/24/05 Lazy Lester & Gary in Alaska
photos by Sandy except for 9/11/05 by gary
T H E
B A N D S
SINCE 2001 THE ROAD BAND HAS BEEN:
gary "Alaska" Sloan; lead vocal, Hohner harmonicas, guitar. Shaker* harp mic w/ Nady wireless, Shure vocal mics. KBB and Fender amplifiers. Robert Howard custom 'Bo Diddley' guitar.
*Gary road tested several new Shaker mics before they were to be marketed: the prototype crystal cuts right through those guitars!
with "the KANSAS CITY RHYTHM REVUE":
Michael Elrod; guitar & vocal (since 2000),
Curt Rosy; bass & vocal (since 1999),
Matt Ronan; drums (since 2001).
occasionally featuring "the TWILIGHT SLOAN" horns:
Jim Sloan; saxes & guitar,
Gary C. Sloan; trumpet, trombone & bass,
Tom Mulinix; baritone sax.
Curt has been touring for the last few years with legendary bluesman D. C. BELLAMY, and Michael has been on the road with Kansas City bassist/vocalist KING ALEX or R&B singer LINDA SHELL'S BLUES THANG for over 10 years. Matt is now the voice of the Drum Emporium.
In Alaska, gary has played with the same musicians for decades:
guitarists Curtis Cunningham, Lindy and Larry Raines since the late 60's; bassists Jim Wright & Rif Rafson, drummer Jim Fenster and guitarist Robert Howard since the 70's;
bassist/mandolinist Bernard Glansbeek, bassist Dave Arrowsmith & guitarist Mike Lassley since the 80's;
guitarist & producer Stu Schulman since the 90's
drummers Louis Boreguard & John Nyman since the passing of longtime friend & drummer (since 1972) Michael "Pinky" McDonald in 2001.
RECENTLY RELEASED CDs
(*limited editions of 50: sold out, available on CD-R $10 + $1.50 s/h)
"*Sloan & Elrod at King Biscuit 2005" (live #5)
"*Fairbanks to Kansas City 2005" feat. LAZY LESTER (live #4)
"*PROOF #THREE" (recorded in 1972)
"*AK Tour 2004" (live #3)
"*Parkville Festival" 6/19/2004 (live #2)
"*BB's BBQ 6/28/03" (live #1)
"down south" (released Feb 2002) is still our best seller.
("Blue Shoes", "Live:Arkansas to Yugoslavia"++ & "Dedicated to Binky" are pictured on the Delta Musicians link below)
++cassettes $5 + $1.50 s/h
The first two albums "PROOF" (1971) & "PROOF: 5th ANNIVERSARY PHONOGRAPH RECORD" (1972)
These were re-released in 2002 by Akarma Records in Milan Italy. Pressings are available on virgin vinyl or CD, that include the inserts plus liner notes by record historian Clark Faville. The 1972 vinyl is sold out here, but may be purchased from Comet Records, Milan, Italy. 7 vinyl remain of the 1971 release. Both are available on CD-R.
$20.00 each (specify LP or CD) $1.50 s/h.
European shipping is $6.00
TWILIGHT SLOAN t-shirts are also Black w/ white logo or pink w/ black logo (similar to the old TV show logo). sizes vary. Sold out at this time.
All the above cds, except where noted, are $15 +$1.50 s/h per order. Sorry, no credit cards. Money Order or Certified Checks only, payable to Boogie-til-dawn or Gary Sloan.
all the above and more are available from
Boogie-til-dawn
P.O.Box 1348
Diamond City AR 72630.
KING BISCUIT BLUES FESTIVAL
| by the levee | | Helena, AR | | Starts: 10/09/2008 | Ends: 10/11/2008 | noon-midnight | free! | | Gary will be MC of the Heritage stage once again. He has been doing this "job" since 1997 and only missed one year. The main stage only on thursday. On Friday & Saturday 4 acoustic or solo/duo acts are followed by 4 electic bands right by the loading dock of the original home of "King Biscuit Flour". | | Contact: bluesandheritage.org, - alaska@diamndcity.net |
the real deal | BB's Lawnside BBQ | | , | | Starts: 11/08/2008 | Ends: 11/08/2008 | 9-12:30 | $5 | | In August we rocked a 2+ hour set out of the gate: had to take a break because Matt was overheating, needed his radiator refilled. The band broke into uncharted territory much to the enjoyment of the crowd. now, weeee're baaa-ack... | | Contact: , - alaska@diamondcity.net |
Dogpatch Biker Bash | the hub parking lot | | Jasper, AR | | Starts: 09/10/2009 | Ends: 09/13/2009 | 5-8pm | $10-15 for 3 days | | A set by the Stella Blue band will be followed by gary "Alaska" Sloan w/ the same musicians: Steve "Maddog" Call; guitar, Winston Blair; bass and Jerry Stix; drums. A jam set will follow featuring all 5 players. | | Contact: , - alaska@diamondcity.net |
- Gary Sloan on Delta Musicians
- "Get Myself Together" from the new CD "Blues"
- "Main Squeeze" from the new CD "Blues"
- Ain't That The Blues (0.7 meg mp3) (song: down south cd)
- Ain't That The Blues (2.6 meg ogg) (song: down south cd)
- farthest north blues/rock bar in America!
- I Like To Sleep (0.8 meg mp3) (song: down south cd)
- I Like To Sleep (3.6 meg ogg) (song: down south cd)
- in Kansas City: the real deal!
- Workin' Man Blues (1.1 meg mp3) (song: down south cd)
- Workin' Man Blues (4.8 meg ogg) (song: down south cd)
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