Guitar legend Larry Baeder to host Wednesday Night Blues Unplugged Concert Series at Island Dogs

Larry Baeder

KEY WEST, Fla. (June 28, 2012) -- Larry Baeder's dynamic musical career as a gifted and virtuosic guitarist, songwriter and producer reads like a who's who of American music over the past 30 years.

Chuck Jackson. Ashford & Simpson. Smokey Robinson. Carly Simon. Bonnie Raitt. Jazz legends Jay McShann, Illinois Jacquet, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, and singer Diane "Mama" Rae. Legendary blues artists Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Junior Wells, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Albert King, and Dan "Elwood Blues" Akroyd. Buddy Guy and James Taylor.

Now in Key West, the legendary Baeder takes on the Wednesday Night Blues Unplugged Concert Series at Island Dogs. Every Wednesday, Baeder will host and perform alongside a different blues artist, either local or visiting.

"The Blues is America's original art form," Baeder said. "Its broad pallet means that it'll be different from week to week depending on the guest, but it'll be just as glorious."

The first show in the concert series kicks off July 11 with Key West's old man of blues, Bill Blue, with two shows at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.

UPCOMING SHOWS:
July 18, 2012: Francois Gehin on acoustic bass tribute to blues great and Chess records writer and bass player Willie Dixon
July 25, 2012: Nashville piano great and vocalist steeped in the blye, Ericson Holt
August 1, 2012: New York Blues Siren and well-known roots DJ, Nikki Armstrong
August 8, 2012: New York piano legend Pete Levin, who has played with everyone over the last 40 years from Miles Davis and Gil Evans to Paul Simon. 
August 15, 2012: Michigan songstress Dora Gholson graces the stage with a voice from the angels and songs from the Devil.
August 22, 2012:  Ravin Cooper, Key West's favorite songbird
August 29, 2012:  The return of Richmond, Va., and Key West Bluesmen Bill Blue.

"We were incredibly fortunate to pin down Larry to work with us on this and to jam with some amazing blues artists right here on our stage," said David Thibault, co-owner of Island Dogs.

Island Dogs Featured Drink: Angry Firebomb

The guys over at Fireball Whiskey loved our Angry Firebomb so much that they're making it a signature drink in bars across Key West. And soon you'll see table tents at Island Dogs with the coveted recipe. But we're giving it to you here, so just remember: you heard it here first!

ANGRY FIREBOMB

1/2 pint Angry Orchard Cider
Shot of Fireball Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey

Pour the cider in a pint glass. Pour a shot of Fireball Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey in a separate shot glass. Drop the shot into the pint glass and pound it like a shot. Rinse and repeat as desired.

Island Dogs Featured Artist: 800 Mile Monday

Founded in 2006 in Lubbock, Texas, by Daniel Payne, 800 Mile Monday draws from a revolving door of touring and studio musicians to keep the wheels turning. In between his friendly smiles and down-home West Texas "hi you all," Payne howls and mourns his savage tales of betrayal, spurned lovers, and low down losers.

Daniel Payne. Photo Credit: 800MileMonday.com

Payne, West Texas tumbleweed that he is, spent a several years drifting from town to town, couch to storage shed, hanging out with winos, running from the law, and honing his craft every night in the bars--if he didn't pass out on the curb and blow the gig.

Sometimes it would just be him and his old Guild flat top guitar. Other times, he'd be backed by his cowpunk cohorts The Dan Family (Dan Hardick and Brett Walker) from the barnyards of Parker County.  The band's first full-length release, "In The Fertile Gardens of Freedom" debuted out of Fort Worth, Tex., in early 2010 to a positive reception among critics and fans. A U.S. tour followed and 800 Mile Monday was on the national map.

Payne spent most of 2011 touring in the U.S. and Europe with Bob Wayne and his "Outlaw Carnies" while writing his own next album "Ancient Tones" which was recorded by Andy Gibson in Nashville, Tenn., and released in January 2012. The record, captured in the traditional bluegrass style alongside Andy Gibson and Daniel Mason (both of Hank III), Chris Scruggs (BR-549), and fiddle prodigy Billy Contreras (George Jones) shocked critics with its plainspoken honesty, hard-living brutality and peerless musicianship.

Three tours into 2012 and with the growing support of loyal fans cropping up worldwide, the band continues to shine while taking its balls-to-the-wall no-let-up two hour live show to fans in the United States and Europe.

"I'm already writing the next one," Payne said with a knowing smile. "Every day when I wake up I am grateful for what I have, and for everyone I have met.  I'm living each day to the fullest because tomorrow's never sure."

800 Mile Monday performs Friday, June 8, at Island Dogs from 9 p.m.


A version of this blog post appears at 800 Mile Monday's bio by Clive O'Malley on their website.