The Chris Fast Band

“Build it and they will come”! And they did to the tune of a sold out event. They came with water bottles, folding chairs and an excitement in anticipation of the day’s event. There I was, 8:30 a.m. camera in hand. I observed Andy Doty, the events creator, brain-child and Commander in Chief executing protocol to his staff like he has done it a thousand times. Noticing that everyone had their marching orders, it was a well-oiled machine from the get-go. Somehow I knew this was going to be a really great event and nobody was disappointed.

Putting together a festival of this size is no easy task and in fact, you’d have to be completely mad to do so. However, as I stood stage center and viewed the seating area I said to myself, “if Andy fills half or more it would be a success”. Man, was I wrong, not only was it a sell-out event but people were being turned away at the door…..this is what I call a “Blues Festival Grand Slam”, “boom, right out of the park”.

Andy Doty is the proprietor of the Old Town Blues Club on Front St. in Old Town Temecula. (Formerly Lucky Stone Irish Pub) He has upped his game and has set a standard for the Inland Empire Blues scene that is going to be tough to follow. Top Blues bands from San Diego to Los Angeles are standing in line waiting to play at his Blues Club and when they set up and play they know they are wanted and welcomed by both patrons and Andy.

It’s all becoming clear to me why the top Blues bands who flock to his club were now tuned up and ready to play at the “Blues Boss’s” inaugural Temecula Blues Festival and the line- up was extraordinary. Kicking off the First annual TBF was the Stoney B Blues Band who wasted no time in getting the crowd on their feet. I said to myself, man, if this is the appetizer to an eight course Blues feast this is going to be over the top awesome! BackStage360 did a video interview with Stoney and he had me rolling on the floor LMAO! What a great guy and serious Blues Guitarist.

Second to the stage was a local favorite The Tim Cash Band. An ensemble of seasoned musicians that grabbed the torch handed off by Stoney. Tim and company wasted no time showing the crowd that he was not going to let them sit, not on his watch. Mr. Cash is a multi-instrumentalist but today he’s on bass. Flanked by his posse, all eyes were on Tim to produce a flawless set. At this point I have to say, along with event volunteers and security personal, I observed yet another well-orchestrated crew with swift and precise execution moving the bands on and off all day long. I have to tip my hat to those men and women and they most certainly earned my respect.

Next up, JD Priest. Now for those who didn’t know Mr. Priest, by the end of his set they had become huge fans. Signed sealed and delivered. JD Priest is one of the coolest, kindest, catz you’ll ever meet and when he and his compadres walked on stage they meant business. Dressed to the “T” they enter stage left striking the first chord like a match. They started a fire that took the crowd to an even higher level. Man, is this ever going to stop? I mean one band after another.

Shari Puorto

The fourth band on the marquee was a complete surprise. Now hold on, it’s not because I don’t know them. It’s because I’ve played with some of the guys in the band. In fact, at this point I’ve played with at least one or two guys in each band thus far. No, it’s because The Honey Lickers are a straight up no nonsense Blues band. Leading the group is the extraordinarily talented Andrew Gonzales blowing his harp in testimony to his Blues faith. His take no prisoners approach to his craft is well documented. The rest of the band fell in order to produce a stripped down set. Isn’t that what it’s all about? All of a sudden, I hear the historic intro riff of Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Child and said to myself, “okay, you just kick the bar to the highest level”. They did not disappoint. Looking out over the crowd, snapping shots with my trusted 810, I witness the energy from the crowd was not slowing down. Almost in defiance of the bands that are on stage baring the collective souls to prove that they are worthy of being call Blues players. “We will not go down” one musician said. Neither did the enthusiastic crowd, game on!!

Ladies and Gentleman, Shari Puorto! Shari walks out and dazzled the audience with her perfect pitched vocals that launches her ship out on the Bluzzy blue waters to delivers a set of standards and originals that blistered. The Blues Diva captured and held the crowed note for note. Although I couldn’t really tell, it seemed like on one side of her brain she was focused grounded and prepared yet, on the other side, she was wild and free moving from one side of the stage to the other. No doubt, a seasoned pro with a captivating voice.  What more can one ask for? Just at the end of Shari’s set the unthinkable happened “we lost power”!! Yes, the blues train has suddenly come to an abrupt stop and this can be a promoter’s worst nightmare. Remaining calm, Andy Doty and staff kicked into high gear. It was a slight delay, giving the audience a moment to relax and catch their breath. The Doty team initiates Delta Pattern 1 to commandeer three electric generators, a quick hook-up and the Blues turbo train fires up the engines and leaves the station without a hitch. Very impressive.

Next up, a man who is a Blues Icon. A man who has been to the cross roads and beyond so many times, he has his own bench to sit and take rest with a cold drink. It is none other than, Mr. Bill Magee and the Bill Magee Blues Band. Mr. Magee is the elder statesmen of our beloved Blues community. For me to try and pen words that is his music history, it would certainly fall short in recognition of his extraordinary 60 years career. He had lead by his example. From playing with his left handed friend Jimmy James (Hendrix) back in 1964 to that moment when he steps out on stage at the TBF, he has grabbed audiences throughout the years and refused to let go and the TBF was no exception. In fact, he put me in a headlock too. Noticing his slight body movements, his band of world class blues veterans respond to his command with precision that is second to none. The whole experience will be a memorable moment in our local blues history.

JD Priest

At this point I’m singing Sly Stones “Wanna Take Ya Higher” and out walks the Chris Fast Band. Now let me tell you something about Chis. This cat is as cool as the flip side of your pillow. With a confident swagger to his walk, Chris comes out blowing his harp like he just came from the valley of the shadow of death and feared not. The Chris Fast Band continued the traditions of the Blues for the day. Carrying the torch lit eight hours earlier, he blew off some ash with his harp and made it shine brighter. The Chris Fast Band was a welcome treat!

In closing my review of the bands, let me just say this, it takes a certain seasoned pro to close an all-day event. Even after the crowd has been dancing all day, Tad Robinson made it look easy. He took them by the hand and guided them through the path of Blues righteousness all the way to the end. What an outstanding closing performance! Tad’s band blazed through over an hour of straight with up blues that reminded me that “all good blues comes to those who wait”. Backed by seasoned blues veterans that is the rhythm, he adds the horns to round it all out. It just doesn’t get better than that. What an end to a full day of Blues.

Bill Magee

In closing, Mr. Andy Doty has to now accept his place in pantheon of Blues Festival promoters that simply got it right. He took a gamble, placed his bet and rolled the dice or was it something more? Perhaps it was a calculated execution of a well devised plan? Maybe both but, there is no denying, the Temecula Blues Festival put our community on the blues map. I have been to what seems like a thousand blues fests but this one goes into my history books as one of the best. Well done man, well done! I leave you with this: Andy, “Build it and they will come”…….again?

By: Big P Raymond for BackStage360

Editors Note:  More Interviews from the TBF with Bill Magee, JD Priest and Stoney B will be posted in our June Issue……………………………..

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDY DOTY