JournalStar.com - Ground Zero Online

Tablerockers keep sound fresh

Thursday, Jun 17, 2004 - 10:59:32 pm CDT

l. kent wolgamott column

Generally, CDs come in the mail accompanied by bio sheets, photos and, if the disc is promoting a show, a handful of articles that have been written about the band or the artists.

A few weeks ago, however, I got the shortest, most effective pitch letter I've ever received:

"Kent,

"Here's our CD -

"Truly a Southern project. -

"Recorded in Fayetteville, AR.

"Mixed in Memphis

"Mastered inNew Orleans

"And pressed in Virginia

"Our Lincoln CD release party is at the Zoo on Fri., June 18th

"Enjoy the disc.

"Larry"

It helps that the Larry who sent the letter and the CD is Larry Boehmer, former owner of the Zoo Bar, who moved to Eureka Springs, Ark., a few years ago.

Tonight, Boehmer's coming back to town with his band, The Tablerockers, which also features another former Lincolnite, Baby Jason Davis, on vocals and guitar.

Recorded live at George's Majestic Lounge in beautiful Fayetteville, "Shake Your Junk"is a solid album of barroom blues played by three veteran performers: Boehmer on bass, drummer David Watson consistently in the pocket and Davis demonstrating his maturity as a singer and player across the record.

Songs like Willie Dixon's "I'mReady," JimmyReed's "Big Boss Man,"Otis Rush's "All Your Love" and"The Thrill is Gone" and Howlin' Wolf's "Shake for Me" immediately identify The Tablerockers as purveyors of the pure stuff. And they play it the way it should be played - with respect for the tradition, drawing strongly on the Chicago style, but with enough variation and personality to keep the music fresh.

It's very likely that you'll hear most if not all the songs on "Shake Your Junk" if you turn up at the Zoo tonight to catch The Tablerockers.If you like what you hear, pick up a disc. If you like blues done Boehmer-style, which is the way Lincoln learned to hear the music, I'll guarantee you'll enjoy the record.

Now for a couple of items from the follow-up file.

n By all reports, Scenefest 2, held last weekend at Duffy's Tavern, was a great success. I was there Friday, and the bar was packed for Charlie Burton and the Dorothy LynchMob, IdealCleaners and TheMezcal Brothers - all of whom played great, well-received sets.

Saturday night, I was in Springfield with the Mezcals.But Kristen Bailey of Suzy Dreamer and Her Nightmares, who performed that night, said there was another large, responsive crowd, and the Star City Scene Web site says that, even with the stormy weather, this year's Saturday attendance was higher than last year's.

By Sunday night, I was too shot to go out - getting home at 2 a.m. and then walking 18 holes of golf at 8 a.m. will do that. However, Mezcals vocalist GerardoMeza made it to Sunday's show and said the crowd was the smallest of the weekend but still good.

In featuring 18 bands, Scenefest 2 had admirable intentions - allowing the depth and breadth of the Lincoln original music to be seen in one place. But the fact that the shows had such good attendance is an even more impressive sign of a thriving local scene.

n A week ago Wednesday (after the Ground Zero deadline had passed), I caught Grand Champeen at Duffy's and came away just as impressed by the Austin rock 'n' rollers as I had been every time I've seen them before.

Romping through about 50 minutes of their original songs, Grand Champeen sounded a lot like Soul Asylum. But things really got fun when the set list ended and it became cover time. Among those covered were: Cheap Trick, Neil Young, The Replacements, Mott The Hoople and Kiss. Any show that ends with "Detroit Rock City" that manages to be both a great joke and great music has to rank up there at the top.

Look for this one on my best of the year list.

Reach L.KentWolgamott at 473-7244 or at kwolgamott@;journalstar.com.