Here is a review, by Tom Austin, from my first club gig in 10 years. I am going to be getting back into playing clubs I feel good about, if they will have me. My hope is to get 1-2 gigs a month in the area.

by Tom Austin

Just a quick report from the field: I went to the Lagunitas Brewery tonight to sample Tony's fine Kronik brew and to check out bluesman Walter Tore and his band. With Doug Mackenzie of Pulsators fame on bass and a substitute drummer whose name escapes me (I'm hoping Walter will check in and supply the info), Walter had the house in the palm of his hand.

He was playing a cherry red ES335-style, whose actual maker I could not quite espy. With that and his battery of harps, he had the crowd GOING. I took the liberty(you never really get to to this while you're actually playing) of roaming the room, watching the people. They were digging it.

And for good reason. I was truly impressed. Walter says he was rusty from not playing a "proper" gig for ten years, but the miles he put in on the road were fully in evidence. Walter was all about taste and tone and sitting deep in the pocket - or as he put it, "I got the time to take my time". He really put on a clinic in "it's not how many notes, it's what you put in the notes you play."

I might also add that Walter was lookin' sharp in that suit and that tie and that red guitar. And the boots. The showmanship was all the way there.

Well done, Walter. Those of you who can get up to Sonoma County should really make an effort to check him out.

Last night I played my first night club gig in 10 years. It was at Lagunitas Brewery. They have a small tasting room, and on Thursday nights, it is $2.00 pints. The owner had contacted me to play, so I was really excited to not have to go through all the "catch, hogtie, plead" trip, to get a gig.

Really enjoy the vibe in this room. It reminds me of the original Black Cat Lounge, in Austin, Texas, where I was the house band for about 10 years.

We were to start at 5, so I rushed home from work, eating a burrito on the way, got to the club, with my friend Dave, carried the stuff upstairs to the room, and found a bunch of 20ish rockers setting up. I asked what the deal was, and they said they were to play till 6. They had about 9 million cords and whatnots all over the place. I took a breath, and went to find the manager. He apologized. Life in the club scene......

I had to go up to the young-uns at 6, and point to my watch. They would have still been playing if I hadn't stopped them. They had good hearts, and it was nice to see young people playing music.

We got set up. Tom Willard was subbing for Katherine, my regular drummer, and Doug was on bass. We got started about 6:20, and played straight through to around 8:30. Man, it was good to be back in a club. The beer was flowing, the place was wall to wall, people dancing, grinding, and I was walking the crowd playing, more than sitting in front of the mic.

I had my new Tokai copy of a 335. This guitar smoked through my deluxe reverb. The manager came up to me, and said, turn it up! I said ok, but didin't touch a thing. I was as loud as I wanted to be. I was dancing with the crowd, and singing some good songs. People couldn't believe I make it all up as I go along. We sold 8 cds too.

I did get confused at times though. I was tripping back in time/emotions. At one point I was singing about being confused. I really didn't know where/when I was. I thought I was in Norway, Austin, France, NYC, etc. It all bled together. I was able to ride that song out, and the rest of the night went well, emotionally. This club is set up with couches, throw rugs, and big overstuffed chairs. It is like playing in my living room.

At the end of the night, the management came up and said we were the best band to play there to-date, and we were the perfect volume. The band before was so loud, that I had to wait outside. Luckily, it was clear, and 70 degrees (that's California weather for you). I was telling people walking in, I was a modern day lawn jockey - I had on a nice suit, and had my guitar on.

I have been playing a lot of private parties the last 4 years or so, and often we were just backround music. Last night, we were front and center. That is my element. This is as good as it gets.

Walter