Shrimp City Slim: News

Thanks to Linda, WEMU-FM (Eastern Michigan University), for firing up 'Star Marina' and 'Qu'est-ce Que C'est?" on her morning blues program.

As you might know, the SCS band plays live every Thursday on the 'Blues & BBQ Harbor Cruise' in Charleston, SC harbor. Aboard "Carolina Belle" which departs from the Charleston Maritime Center (near the SC Aquarium). Live blues, Home Team BBQ buffet, two-hour harbor cruise, and cash bar make for an unbeatable way to celebrate the beautiful waterfront. A good time guaranteed! We do this all the way through October.

Crowds have been strong and we urge you to book ahead to avoid disappointment. Visit www.charlestonharbortours.com or call and talk to a human being at 843-722-1112. Tickets are reasonable (all-in $39.95 per adult) and group rates are available. Please inquire.

See you on the Belle sometime soon!

Summer, 2013, is packed with fun dates. Please check out "Calendar" on this site. Of special note: 13th annual Greenwood Blues Cruise, July 11-13, Greenwood, SC. www.greenwoodbluescruise.com

Starting to happen...thanks to the following stations already playing tracks from "Star Marina": KPFT (Houston, TX); Radio RCC (Umbertide, Italy); KTEP (El Paso, TX, WQLN (Erie, PA).

"Big Meal at Midnight" from 'Star Marina' now can be heard on 'Rock 'n' Blues Today', hosted by Simone Bargelli on Radio RCC, Umbertide (PG), Italy. Grazie, Simone!

In the May 2013 issue of venerable British blues magazine Blues & Rhythm, Norman Darwen says of "Star Marina": "After last year's impressionistic 'Rio Angie', reviewed in B&R #274, "Star Marina" finds Shrimp City Slim back with the blues - albeit of a quirky and distinctive type...Gary has adopted a far wider remit than most American artists and, with the backing of a tight little band that includes some of his regular accompanists such as guitarist Silent Eddie Phillips and harmonica man Chuck "The Cat" Morris, has turned in a very likeable, enjoyable, entertaining CD!"

Thanks to Doug Lewis @ WVGN 107.3 FM, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, for adding "The Starlite Room" from "Star Marina" to his playlist!

Thanks to our artists: BILLY BOY ARNOLD, Billy Flynn, Frankie's Blues Mission, Shelly Waters Band, and Professor Bottleneck & Harmonica Frank for the spectaculous show Sunday, April 14 at Freshfields. We had one of our biggest crowds; the weather held, and the music was absolutely spellbinding. Thanks in particular to the legend BILLY BOY ARNOLD whose impeccably-crafted deep blues at low volume was almost trance-inducing. Kudos to Frank Lee Robinson (guitar), Kurt (bass), Al (drums), and Billy Flynn (guitar) for being so beautifully understated behind Billy Boy. A day to remember! Mark your calendar now for our next one...10th annual - Sunday, April 13, 2014!

Thanks to Chris Haire & the City Paper (Wed 4/3 edition) for mentioning March 27's "Gary Erwin / Shrimp Slim Day" in Charleston and the proclamation given by Mayor Joe Riley on that day. Thanks to Bill Blizard, Solange Belle for organizing the award and to all the friends who came down to City Hall for the rite of passage. I'm still floored.

Acclaimed blues deejay Vicente Zumel and his program "La Hora del Blues" now has both "Star Marina" and Shelly Waters' "Swamp Pop Princess" and has given both 3 1/2 stars (out of possible five).
Airplay soon.

Check it out
www.cdbaby.com/shellywaters I think you will like it!

Solo and back at the Med Bistro in South Windermere. 6-9 pm, no cover.
Venue info: www.themedbistro.com Resumes Monday March 25. See you there!

South Louisiana siren Shelly Waters' debut "Swamp Pop Princess" (12 original songs; SCS, keys; Clam Chop Etheridge, drums, and lots of guest musicians) will be in and available next week. Watch for on-line sales at Amazon and CD Baby. We KNOW you're gonna love this one :)

Now available at all gigs. On www.cdbaby.com and www.amazon.com within days. Thanks!

SCS and Shelly Waters recorded video for 'Balcony TV' today - Charleston branch does production at Morgan Creek Grill (IOP). SCS performed "Big Meal at Midnight" from the new 'Star Marina' album and Shelly (with SCS on piano) did "Living on a Memory" (from "Swamp Pop Princess". These clips should be up & running soon at www.balconytv.com Check it out - cool int'l music video site.

SCS and Shelly (with band) also slated for The Music Initiative's "Eclectic Evenings" series with a show upcoming Tues March 26 at The Royal American in downtown Charleston, SC. (TMI handles BTV in our area). 730 pm show - also being video-ed (with interview)! woo hoo - see you there.

After twenty-two editions (1991-2012), I'm/We're moving on to other projects and interests. Thanks for your interest and attendance through the years...we certainly had the 'who's who' of blues here during Blues Bash times AND in those important years before (1985-1991) with all the great 'early' Lowountry Blues concerts. Too many great and magnificent memories to list here.

See you at the upcoming 'stuff' - don't be afraid to join us in other towns. Ain't nothing but a trip up the road.

And you can count on Shrimp City Slim and everyone I work with...we have a lot of new songs, more things to say, and a lot more miles to go.

Peace Love Blues,

Gary/SCS

Thanks very much to Stephen A. King and the crew at Living Blues for the review of "Rio Angie" in the new Living Blues, received today.

Acknowledging that "Rio Angie" is not really a blues album, King opines "if piano music is your thing, then go ahead and pick up a copy of "Rio Angie". And "pristine piano solos", "beautiful melody on 'Stairs' - you will be moved to press repeat on this one", etc. Nice words! thanks again.

Page 47-48 of aforementioned issue. And a nice color photo of the CD cover.

If you don't already subscribe to Living Blues (America's venerable blues magazine, the oldest in our nation), please do - it is ESSENTIAL. www.livingblues.com
All of us who have been into this music for decades have been steady supporters of LB. Please join us.

A bunch of shows booked April to September, solo and in duo with Shelly Waters, at the Aqua Terrace, Charleston Marriott on Lockwood Dr. Fantastic location, cool place to hang out. Gigs are 7-10 pm, various Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays. See Calendar.

Fourteen songs - all originals, of course. Great band, great singers, great studio. Tentative release date: February 12. We think you will like it!

The new 14-song album should be done this week. Expected release: mid-February. Available at shows, www.cdbaby.com, www.amazon.com

Here are the fourteen (14) tracks that have made the cut for "Star Marina". All are Shrimp City Slim/Gary Erwin originals. *indicates instrumental

STAR MARINA
DESPERATELY OLD-FASHIONED
QU'EST-CE QUE C'EST?
BIG MEAL AT MIDNIGHT
HOUSE OF THE DWARF*
THE STARLITE ROOM
I'M ALL EARS
THE CHICKEN WAS GOOD
ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
MY FAVORITE VOLCANO
LOADED BISCUIT
(WE SHOULD BE) NAKED
TIME TO WALK AWAY
METRO MERCED*

We anticipate a February 15 release!

Going back to Long Island, NY to do a couple or more gigs with Gail Storm (piano/vocals) in a surprising but effective 'dueling blues pianos' format! Tues March 19, Trattoria Grasso (Cold Spring Harbor) and 89 North Music Club (Patchogue, date t.b.c.). Other dates in NJ and upper PA t.b.c.

With a slight let-up in gigging and of course the slowdown during the holidays, we are now working on two new album projects: 1) "Swamp Pop Princess", the debut CD by Louisiana singer Shelly Waters (12 originals) and 2) "Star Marina", a new "band album" for Shrimp City Slim (12-15 originals t.b.d.).

John Clam Chop Etheridge (drums & percussion - bongos, tambourine, claves, house keys, etc.) and I have just finished up nearly a week in the studio tracking the rhythms on almost everything. Laying down vocals and keyboard overdubs now. Other instruments to follow.

Looking at February 2013 release for both albums. Stay tuned!

April 11-22, 2013 dates in South Carolina & Georgia t.b.a.
www.cdbaby.com/professorbottleneck (latest CD: "Slide Rules")

Good to be back. Band gigs, shows with Swamp Pop Shelly and of course solo performances...please check www.shrimpcityslim.com/calendar.html