Nate Myers and the Aces win blues challenge; blues festival scheduled
Williamsport Sun-Gazette
- David Thompson
On Sunday, the ballroom of the Genetti Hotel was on fire with the blues. The Billtown Blues Association's 2005 Billtown Blues Challenge attracted six regional bands, each vying for a chance to open the association's blues festival June 12 at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville. The winner also is eligible, if they choose, to represent the association at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
When the smoke cleared, harmonica player Nate Myers and his band the Aces were declared the winner, by virtue of ballots cast by association members. Myers, the final act of the evening, opened his half-hour set with the self-penned instrumental "Jawbreaker" - then preceded to whip the crowd into a frenzy with his extraordinary stage presence and musicianship.
It helped that the Aces, guitarist Mark Facazio, bassist Pete Netznick, pianist-vocalist Trent Peechatka and drummer Mike Noll, are all world-class musicians. They proved that Sunday. But Myers is a showman of the highest order. A talented harmonica player, vocalist and song-writer, he is also a towering presence onstage - and off. At one point he played harmonica while laying face-down among a crowd on the dance floor in front of the stage.
Myers could be the new face of the blues. With his shaved head, earrings, tattoos and Chuck Taylor shoes, he's not your father's - or grandfather's - blues musician. But those who are savvy to his work - with the Aces and previously as a member of the Krypton City Blues Revue - know he is a dedicated blues man through and through. His style pays reverent homage to the legends while breaking new ground by occasionally interjecting rap with the blues, and pulling it off with aplomb.
Myers, who professes a deep faith in God, is as humble and gracious off stage as he is confident and swaggering in the spotlight. "We need to prepare ourselves (for Memphis)," he said following the announcement of the winner. "The competition is going to be real stiff. We're going to go down there and give it our best shot."
Although their set was jaw-dropping fantastic, Nate and the band didn't run away with the victory. They accumulated a total of almost 1,200 points in five categories, but less than 200 points separated the winner from third place finisher Octavia and the Earthbloods Blues Band.
In between was competition runner-up Black and Blues - a local three-piece unit comprised of guitarist Sean Farley, bassist Matt Stopper and drummer Rich Cummings. The band, which held the third slot of the night, played a impressive set that transformed the crowd from polite spectators into enthusiastic participants. Although they are youngsters - at least by blues standards - Black and Blues proved they've done their homework by stoking the crowd with well-performed renditions of blues classics, such as "The Thrill is Gone." If not for a band of blues veterans with a flamboyant and talented front man (Myers), Black and Blues would be booking hotel rooms in Memphis.
There were really no weak links in the evening's line-up. Octavia and the Earthbloods Blues Band, fronted by guitarist-harmonica player-vocalist Octavia, played a raucous set to an appreciative crowd.
Other performers included local blues and jazz fixture Doug McMinn, blues-oriented jam band Slaughterhouse Blues, and Midnight Shift, a band fronted by harmonica player-vocalist Mike Mettalia. Each act performed admirably.
Even before the winner was announced, organizers were confident that whoever won would be a fine representative of the association. "It doesn't matter who wins now, because whoever does, we're going to have a strong opening act (at the festival)," Kathleen McQuaid, a member of the blues challenge audition committee, said. The 16th annual Billtown Blues Festival is set to begin at noon Sunday June 12 at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds. Nate Myers and the Aces will join national acts Microwave Dave and the Nukes, The Bruce Katz Band, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Nora Jean Bruso, Michael Burks, and Billy Price. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the gate. Advance ticket locations include Franco's Lounge, and the Genetti Hotel, both in Williamsport, the Lockard Agency, Hughesville, Bookseller of Lewisburg, Senor Frog, Bloomsburg, and Greatest Hits Music, Lock Haven.
Information and advanced ticket forms are available from the association's Web site at www.billtownblues.org.
Section: Entertainment Date Posted: 3/24/2005
As appearing in Thursday - March 24, 2005 edition of The Sun-Gazette
