Chicago blues musician Mud Morganfield to celebrate release of new album with a show at Hey Nonny

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

The eldest son of Muddy Waters has plenty to celebrate this month.

Chicago native Mud Morganfield released signed with a new record label, Nola Blue Records and will release his label debut album, "Deep Mud," on Sept. 26.

On Sept. 27 – his 71st birthday – Morganfield will perform at Hey Nonny, 10 South Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are available at heynonny.com.

I had the chance to talk to him about the new record.

Q – Great talking to you again. We last spoke in 2018 about your release “They Call Me Mud,” so it’s nice to talk to you again and get caught up on your latest activities.

 

I’m sorry to hear about the death of your mother, Mildred McGhee. I understand she was a big supporter of yours.

 

She was kind of connected to my hip. My dad was gone a lot of times and she had to be father and mother on any day.

When I scratched my knee, she was the one who put the bandage on it. 

Q – That makes sense, because your dad was on the road a lot.

You talk about wanting to see your mother in your dreams in one of the songs on the new album, “A Dream Walking.”

 

I imagine that was a hard song to write.

 

It was a hard song to write and it was a hard song to sing. But I knew I had to get through it. 

I knew that was something she would want since she was my biggest supporter.

Q – But it's also a song that other people who perhaps lost their parents can connect with.

I am praying to the highest power that it does. Because there's strength in tears.

It's a cruel man who doesn't cry. I don't want to be that kind of person. I want to be able to share tears.

It doesn't make you weak. It's makes you stronger because there's power in those tears.

Q – Of course, you are on a new record label, Nola Blue Records. What made you want to sign to the label and what do you like about the label?

 

Well, I shopped around and I couldn't get the right deal from any other label.  I spoke with Sallie Bengtson, president of Nola Blue Records, who is a fantastic lady.

Sometimes you can meet people and you get a certain feeling about them. I had nothing but positive feelings from Sallie. I felt like I could trust her.

Q  I know that “Deep Mud" is being released on Sept. 26 and then you will perform at Hey Nonny on Sept. 27, your 71st birthday. Does that make it even more special to be able to perform your new songs on your birthday?

 

It is special because I'm a year older, but I don't care when it would have come out. Me and this band, which includes Buddy Guy drummer Melvin “Pooky Styx” Carlisle, we put together some great tunes.

Q – It seems like you really like your fellow musicians on the album.

I love those guys. We have a personal relationship. They have gone with me on this journey from the beginning, especially Rick Kreher, who was my dad's last guitar player along with John Primer before he passed.

Q – I know you have said in different interviews that you wanted to experience the blues before you became a professional musician.

 

How can you have some blues if you've never had no blues? If you've never went through drug addiction, alcoholism, being a cancer survivor or something.

You've got to go through something to get some real nitty gritty blues. 

Q – You were on the main stage at the Chicago Blues Festival this summer singing your dad’s iconic song “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man” in celebration of Chess Records’ 75th anniversary. What was that experience like?

 

It's always great to represent my city, first of all.

Q – What do you think your dad would have said seeing you perform that song?

I do a lot of my dad's work, man, just to try to keep his legacy here. And also, I add my own songs, like "Ernestine" and "She's Getting Her Groove On."

I do dad's songs to always try to keep his legacy fresh. I can be anywhere in the world and people will be screaming at me to play "Got My Mojo Working" and "I Just Want To Make Love To You."

I slide right into character, because he was my father. 

Q – I know that you are trying to carry on the legacy of your dad but at this same time, have your own sound and forge your own path. Is it hard to do both? 

 

Yeah, it is a double-edged sword sometimes. "Deep Mud" features two of my dad's songs, "Strange Woman" and "Country Boy."

And I will never put an album out without at least one or two of dad's songs on there,  just to show respect for my father.

 

I have to honor him. God was just kind enough to give me his lungs and vocal chords and all that.

Q – I know that you perform worldwide. How are the fans in other countries like England, Russia and China?

Outstanding, especially in England. They love American blues music.

The love for blues music is universal. 

 

Musicians Nora O'Connor, Lilly Hiatt and Anne Harris provide riveting night of music at The Venue in Aurora

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

As many of you probably already know, The Venue in Aurora goes out of its way to showcase the best musicians in the Chicago area as well as those from around the country.

A great example of that was when Chicago-based Nora O'Connor opened for Nashville-based Lilly Hiatt on Aug. 28 in what was a riveting night of music.

 

This is the second time I have seen O'Connor perform at The Venue (the first time was in 2022 during The Venue's Americana Music Fest) and her soaring vocals and heartfelt lyrics started off the evening on the perfect note.

 

Even though Hiatt is the daughter of famed singer-songwriter John Hiatt, it is clear that she is forging her own path. 

Her songs refreshingly can't be lumped in one category as she likes to roam in different musical directions.

Adding to the excitement of the night was Chicago area musician Anne Harris, who hosts the music and conversation series She Said at The Venue. The series features performances and conversations with female musicians. 

Given the musicality and energy that Harris displays on stage, it is no wonder that she was touring with Keb' No' and Taj Mahal earlier this year.

 

I'm looking forward to taking in more outstanding performances at The Venue this year.

More videos from the night are at youtube.com/@ericschel12/video.

 

Beloved Chicago area band The Bad Examples puts on energetic show at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

Believe it or not, it's been nine years since The Bad Examples celebrated the 25th anniversary of the band's classic album "Bad Is Beautiful" with a show at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora in 2016.

 

The band performed at Two Brothers Roundhouse on July 25 (so that's a weird coincidence, right?) in a show that showed off the timeless nature of the band's music.

Suffice to say, there were plenty of perfect moments during the show. Yes, that is a reference to the band's song "One Perfect Moment," one of the songs off "Bad Is Beautiful."

 

Along with celebrating the band's rich musical history,  the show also provided a glimpse into The Bad Examples' future as the band performed several new songs.

Frontman Ralph Covert has a knack for writing songs filled with infectious melodies that get stuck in your head, such as the new song "It's All Good."

 

And just when you thought the energy level in the room couldn't get any higher,  Covert and company turned in a rousing version of the song "Let Her Go."

The Bad Examples will play next at FitzGerald's in Berwyn on Oct. 11.

More videos from the Two Brothers Roundhouse show are at youtube.com/@ericschel12/videos.

Trailblazing musician Kate Fagan returning to Chicago next month for a couple of shows

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

To say that Kate Fagan is a trailblazing musician is an understatement.

Fagan wrote the song "I Don’t Wanna Be Too Cool” after moving to Chicago from New York in the late '70s. The song became the best-selling single by a local artist at Wax Trax! Records.

In 1980, she co-founded legendary Chicago ska band Heavy Manners. Fagan, who currently lives in New Orleans, will return to Chicago next month for a couple of rare appearances.

Fagan will do an in-store performance from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at Bric-a-Brac Records & Collectibles, 2845 N. Milwaukee Ave, Chicago. She also will perform Aug. 10 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Chicago, as part of a bill that also includes Clickbait, Beastii and DJ Modern Girl.

The show starts at 9 p.m. and tickets are available at ticketweb.com/event/kate-fagan-clickbait-empty-bottle-tickets/14481343.

I had the chance to talk to Fagan about her illustrious career.

 

Q – What do you like about the New Orleans music scene, and what do you miss about the Chicago music scene?

New Orleans is rich in history and community, with a thriving street music scene that gives the city its distinctive vibe. I love the culturally diverse “gumbo”—deep roots in gospel, blues, brass bands, and jazz. The variety of festivals here is truly incredible. 

 

I miss the punk and ska scenes in Chicago, especially the raw energy of those early shows and the original spirit that fueled the new wave bands. I miss seeing major rock ‘n roll acts, as there aren’t many touring in the South.

 

Q – You wrote “I Don’t Wanna Be Too Cool” in response to the hipster movement in NYC. Was that the reason you moved to Chicago?

 

 

Actually, the disco scene and brand-centric consumerism in New York inspired that song. But I moved to Chicago because I was drawn to its vibrant underground music scene and wanted to be part of something young and rebellious.

 

Q – Did you think “I Don’t Wanna Be Too Cool” would resonate so much? Why do you think it’s still relevant?

 

I sensed it connected with many people feeling pressure to fit in or be trendy, but I didn’t expect it to reach so many or stay relevant for so long. It still resonates because those feelings of wanting to be yourself never go out of style.

 

Q – How did you react to the song becoming the best-selling single by a local artist at Wax Trax! Records?

 

It was surreal and incredibly encouraging. Seeing how many people related to my point of view and musical style boosted my confidence.

 

Q – What attracted you to ska music, and what were your goals with Heavy Manners?

 

Second-Wave Ska’s upbeat energy, combining reggae’s earthy rhythms and punk’s political edge, really excited me. With Heavy Manners, we wanted to bring that infectious sound to Chicago audiences and do our part in breaking down racial and gender barriers with our solidarity, and we reveled in the joy of making dance-able songs. 

 

We loved playing together, and the thriving club scene made it even more fun.

 

Q – What was it like working with Peter Tosh?

 

Playing with Peter Tosh was a profound experience – his presence was powerful, and working with him in the studio brought an authentic reggae energy that deeply influenced our band’s music. He produced Heavy Manners' “Say It,” which I am especially proud to have written. 

 

Q – What do you enjoy about collaborating with Jeremy Joyce?

 

Jeremy is an incredibly versatile guitarist and he’s super studio-savvy. His boundless creative range and edgy drive inspire me.

 

Collaborating with him pushes me to explore new ideas and keeps the songwriting fresh.

 

Q – What musical direction did you aim for with “Go Faster”?

 

We wanted punk’s relentless energy to propel the listener forward – sonically, it’s about a driving rhythm that makes you want to GO FASTER! Lyrically, it encourages people to be powerful, act immediately and push boundaries.

 

Q – Is Heavy Manners working on anything new? What’s next?

 

I’m always writing and experimenting, so stay tuned! I plan to release more songs and hopefully tour. 

 

I also have some exciting collaborations on the horizon, including a few surprises for fans.