Atlantas hottest new blues band is Mike Bourne & Atlanta Boogie -- a musical stew of Chicago, Nashville and New Jersey players who deliver high energy shows that and a different breed of blues/roots music that jumps and gets people dancing and drinking.
Frontman and chicago blues guitarist Mike Bourne got hooked on the blues just after arriving in Kansas City after college. He discovered the music on a Sunday night radio show hosted by Lindsay Shannon (owner of BBs Lawnside Barbecue).Every Sunday, he would listen to the show, gripping his beat up acoustic guitar, and plucking around until he could find the notes and progressions. Shortly after, he bought his first blues record, BB Kings "live and well" and he was hopelessly hooked. Practicing for hours a day in his apartment in the early months, an anonomous listener slipped a note under his door with the inscription, "music is your destiny."Bourne took it to heart. Playing in several busy bands in the midwest, including Recob-Bourne. In 1998, he headed to Chicago and immediately was hired by Delmark recording artist Barkin Bill Smith to play in his band. Bourne developed his style playing at all the famous Chicago clubs: Buddy Guys, Blues and Blues ETC, and House of Blues. He brought his intensity and Kansas City "jump" approach to the music. His trademark became playing his hollowbody behind his head. And his early study of BB King and T-bone made for some dropped jaws on the south side.One night at Blues ETC, a gentelman began bowing at the stage as Bourne was clipping off T-Bone licks, guitar behind his head, almost at closing time. The gentelman was Otis Rush. Otis asked Bourne if he could play. Mike started to hand him his guitar, but Otis said, "No. I want you to play." Blues ETC had to lock the doors because of the city ordinance for bar closing time. But everyone was invited to stay and the blues party ensued til the wee hours of the morning.Mike did a stint with Muddy Waters drummer, Sam Lay, and shared the stage with both Sam and legendary chess Saxman Abb Locke on a few occasions. "It was like blues heaven" he says of that year, particularly sharing Sam's last birthday with him. Bourne's last release from Chicago, Martini Legs, featured the legendary BarrelHouse Chuck on piano and former Howlin Wolf saxist Abb Locke. Lee McBee rythm section Pat Recob and Tim Johnson did the majority of the session, with contributions also by former AC Reed drummer Al Lopestella and talented young bassist Rudy Kleiner.Now located in Atlanta, Mike's Atlanta Boogie band has has cooked up a whole new bunch of fans -- and garned a recording deal for the spring of 2010 that will feature legendary Howlin Wolf sax player Abb Locke. Look out for the Mike Bourne and Atlanta Boogie!
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