Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames

BLUES BLAST 2023

Date:

Saturday, May 27, 2023 – 3:30pm

Venue:

Da Vinci Center

Ages:

19+

Price: 

$50

Bands / Performers:

Mississippi Heat
Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames
Tony Holiday
Brother John
The Chain

Buy Tickets Online

It’s our 25th Anniversary and the Thunder Bay Blues Society is ready to keep the yearlong celebration going!! With this in mind, the Thunder Bay Blues Society (TBBS) is extremely proud to present Blues Blast 2023 Saturday May 27 at our new home of the blues…the DaVinci Centre!

Originally planned for 2020, Blues Blast 2023 retains most of the original lineup!! We couldn’t be happier that headliners Mississippi Heat, Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames and Tony Holiday will be coming all the way from Chicago and Memphis for this show. A huge thank you to local acts Brother John (Ted Hamill, solo) and The Chain for agreeing to perform as originally planned. Doors will open at 3:30pm, music starts at 4:00pm and ends at 11:00pm.

Advance ticket price for this show will be $65 and tickets will go on sale Monday April 24 at locations to be announced at a later date.

To show our appreciation to our TBBS MEMBERS, all members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets at the exact same price as in 2020…$50!! The Thunder Bay Blues Society will once again be holding a TBBS MEMBERS presale from April 8 to 22. During that time frame TBBS MEMBERS will be able to purchase up to 4 tickets each for the price of $50*. After the presale is over, advance tickets will be available at a cost of $65 each. More details on the TBBS MEMBERS presale will be released during the next few weeks! *$15 Single Membership can purchase up to 4 tickets, $20 joint membership (2 TBBS members living at the same address) up to 8 tickets in total.

Not a TBBS member? We would love for you to join us!! A 2023 TBBS membership is very reasonable…$15 for a single membership or $20 for a joint membership (2 people living at the same address). Visit our website at www.thunderbaybluessociety.ca and click “Join” on the home page and follow the instructions. It’s that easy!!

This will be our first show at The DaVinci Centre, which offers increased main floor seating while maintaining a large dance floor (we know our blues fans love to pack the dance floor!). There is also a main floor accessible washroom nearby and as an added bonus…a food menu available to order from during the show!

This event will be rush seating… please plan to arrive when the doors open at 3:30pm for increased seating options!! Round tables with 8 chairs per table will be available to choose from and food will be available to order whenever you are ready.

Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames, an authentic, real deal blues band, high energy with versatile talent, variety, and a cohesive show that includes original driving house rockin’ blues, blues rock, funk, boogie and Soul. Blues originals are classic in nature, the standards are revitalized with striking three part vocal harmony, three vocal stylists, Passionate slide guitarist, Dave Weld mentored from Grammy Winning Master J.B. Hutto and legendary slideman, along with blues diva and two time Rami winner Monica Myhre (Mona Rose), a kicking rhythm section consisting of the smooth voice of Jeff Taylor holding a solid beat on drums, Kenny Pickens blazing on bass, Harry YaSeen, tutored by the famous Art Hodes on piano/organ and the Mississippi saxman, Rogers Randle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjyfSChzQic

Dave Weld Bio

Musican   Singer/Songwriter Producer

Born in Chicago in 1952, Dave was first influenced as a child when he found an old Victrola in the basement and wore out the blues 78’s. In high school the Stones, Clapton and Mayall first came out but Dave traded those records for Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin Hopkins, and BB King.After high school Weld moved to New Mexico, and studied guitar under Kurt Black, a jazz player who worked with Benny Carter, Grant Green and others in the New York jazz scene. Also he drove to Nevada and met and jammed with Gatemouth Brown.

Weld bought Hound Dog Taylor’s first Alligator album, heard Howlin Wolf over the radio in the desert one night, packed up and drove back home in his 67′ Ford, and made it with $10 to spare.

Dave found out the West side of Chicago in the black hood was friendlier than the North side, and started sitting in at clubs, and landed a gig with Hound Dog Taylor’s band, Brewer Phillips, Ted Harvey, at Sweet Peas on 43rd St. While there a year, there were shake dancers and fistfights. The gig ended when Brewer was stabbed in the throat by his wife, but they reconciled.

Weld then moved to the 1815 Club on W. Roosevelt, owned and operated by Eddie Shaw who had Howlin Wolfs band, the Wolf Pack. Dave stayed there and played in the band with Chico Chism, Lafayette Gilbert, Hubert Sumlin, Detroit Junior, and Eddie Shaw. The going rate was $15 per night, but Dave played there with Otis Rush, Maxwell St. Jimmy, Guitar Junior, Jew Town Burks, Doug Macdonald, Boston Blackie, Tail Dragger, Little Wolf, Big Bad Ben, Little Aurthur, Johnny Littlejohn and more. The gig ended when the band was taken to the Maxwell St. lockup because of the nude dancers. Shaw bailed them out.

Dave’s first band! Hound Dog Taylor’s group of Brewer Philips and Ted Harvey. They had been working with JB Hutto after Hound Dog’s death, and after they came back from breaking iff with JB in Boston, they had a little house gig at Sweet Pea’s. Weld joined the band and played with them for a year.Brewer Philip and Ted Harvey are well known because their music started Alligator Records, the world largest blues label. Brewer learned from Memphis Minnie, one of the most famous women in blues history! Their recordings and tours with Hound Dog over 16 years signaled an increase in popularity of the blues in

The Garfield, at Homan and Madison was right around the corner from Ed’s house and featured Little Wolf, Hound Dog, and Little Ed’s band stayed there about a year.

Necktie Nates at W Roosevelt was a hotbed of blues and Little Ed and the Blues Imperials stayed there a year, during which Buster Benton came in to play quite a bit. The gig ended when Nate insulted Pookie’s aunt and James jumped down off the stage to give Nate quite a lesson in manners. About $15 a night, until Bruce Igauer from Alligator recorded them in a historic session “Roughousin'” and they started world tours.

Boss Joe’s Lounge on W Lake, where the guys made from $7 to $15 depending on the door, which there never was, but it kept Dave, Ed and Pookie playing

In 1976 Dave Weld was a writer for Living Blues Magazine, this when his life changed forever. He met and wrote an story about J.B. Hutto. The issue was published Nov-Dec and rest is history. They became lifelong friends….

During this time Weld was under tutelage from JB Hutto, a Grammy awarded Blues Hall of Fame slide man from Georgia. He studied at JB’s house for three years until JB introduced Dave to his nephews, Little Ed and James Young. They started the band “Little Ed and the Blues Imperials” and played every joint in the West side for ten years. About $15 a night, until Bruce Igauer from Alligator recorded them in a historic session “Roughousin'” and they started world tours.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/LEKp1pkpqwQ?wmode=opaque

In 1988 Dave decided to start his own band “Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames” first releasomg in 1988′ “Rough Rockin in Chicago” on Blue Sting Records. This band featured the most authenic seasoned blues veterans in Chicago. Such as Bernard Reed, Leo Davis, Daryl Mahon, Donny Nichilo, Mike Scharf, Vernon Rogers and Ted Harvey. They toured countless times around the world, local and national festivals and the best venues in the Midwest and the national. In 1996 Weld was joined by Lil Ed and together the Imperial Flames released their sophomore album “Keep On Walkin” on the Earwig label. Lil Ed rejoined Dave’s band twice for two years each time and the second time they recorded for Earwig Music, “Keep on Walkin'”, and this brought them overseas again, as well as local, regional, and national gigs. When Ed went back to his band he was replaced by the great Abb Locke, legndary sax man They continued working every week since the band was formed and Dave made his first UK tour in 2005, with the second to closing slot at the Maryport Blues Festival, going full circle by opening up for Hubert Sumlin and the Legendary Blues Band!

In 2009-2010 Dave Weld recorded his first Delmark recording “Burnin Love” produced by Bob Koester. Weld featured long time band members Abb Locke, legendary saxman. Jeff Taylor, drums and vocals, Monica Myhre (Garcia) vocals and percussion, Dave Kaye bass and Harry Yaseen, piano.

Weld’s second album for Delmark “Slip Into A Dream” received rave reviews. The band consists of Weld, vocals/guitar and slide guitar; Monica Myhre, vocals/percussion; Harry Yassan, piano; Jeff Taylor drums/vocals and  Dave Kaye, bass. Additional musicians include Graham Guest, keyboards; Bobby Rush, harp, “Sax” Gordon Beadle, tenor and baritone sax. Hank Ford, tenor saxophone, Kenny Anderson, trumpet. The Hurd and Greg Guy (Son of Buddy Guy) Guitar on Too Bad So Sad.  The album noted for the opening overture. “Slip Into A Dream” is the first of five songs co-written by Weld and his partner Myhre. This is a great tune that breaks from tradition as the chorus has more of a group harmony sound. The contrast is fabulous. “Sweet Rockin Soul” is the appropriately named rave that follows. Addition of vocalist Myhre gives the band an additional dimension and four songs of her own. “Looking For a Man” features Rush on harmonica. The slow blues “Walk On Down” is another favorite. Dave and the band are currently working on a new album for 2019 with current members; Dave Weld on guitar, Mona Rose (Monica Myhre) vocals/percussion, Jeff Taylor drums/vocals, Kenny Pickens bass guitar, Harry Yaseem piano/organ and Dudley Owens and Rogers Randel tenor and baritone sax.https://www.youtube.com/embed/W2IawP8_zwk?wmode=opaque

Keeping the blues alive in your hearts