5 Quick Question with Boise’s Billy Blues Band

The Billy Blues Band kick off their Spring 2018 Tour with a performance at Destination 112 in Nampa, Idaho on Friday, April 27. Formed in February of 2017 in...

The Billy Blues Band kick off their Spring 2018 Tour with a performance at Destination 112 in Nampa, Idaho on Friday, April 27. Formed in February of 2017 in the Boise area, this refined group of talented musicians features vocalists Michele Eastland and Becky Blake, who control the stage with their presence and energy.  Lead guitarist, Dana DeVice, plays with the soul of a blues master with his heartfelt riffs.  The band’s organizer/manager, vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Billy Arnold, promotes and espouses a new generation of blues rock, along with the classics in both blues and soul.  The eight-piece ensemble also includes alto and baritone sax player, John Paul Crank; solid rhythms by bassist, Terry Jones; drummer, Brian Sweet; and our newest member, Jack Hale, on keyboards.

Blues-E-News recently interviewed bandleader Billy Arnold for our 5 Quick Questions series.

 

BEN: The Billy Blues Band is an eight-piece with two female vocalists and horn players. What effect do you feel that having a larger, fuller band has on your overall sound?

BA: I think that having this size band offers many advantages, aside from the obvious hassles associated with organizing practices and shows around everyone’s schedule.  I feel that the main advantage is in the variety of vocal ranges that each of the three vocalists provide (two females and one male).  Some songs need to be played in their original key to sound good.  With the different ranges and styles offered by having three vocalists, a large variety of songs becomes more feasible.  Similarly, with guitar, sax, keys, and harp available for leads, there are several songs that can be included in our sets.  And finally, the “glue” holding all these musicians together is a typical rhythm sections that includes drums, bass and rhythm guitar.  We can do songs that are classics as well as more contemporary blues and blues rock.  This strong sound makes for great dancing!

 

BEN: There’s many styles of Blues – Contemporary, Blues-Rock, Swing, Jump, etc. What style(s) would you say the Billy Blues Band most encompasses?

BA: The Billy Blues Band primarily plays classic and contemporary blues, blues rock and some jump songs.  Some of the more classic songs by Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, etc. are found in our sets, as well as contemporary blues and blues rock songs from Tony Spinner, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Eric Gales and Hamilton Loomis.

 

BEN: Who are some of you and your band’s favorite musicians (they don’t have to necessarily be blues artists) that you occasionally cover songs by?

BA: For the most part, our favorite musicians are represented in the songs we perform.  We love the songs performed by Susan Tedeschi, Janiva Magness, Alanna Myles, Tony Spinner, Ham Loomis, and Kenny Wayne Sheppard.  I personally have driven 9 hours to see a one-night show of Ham Loomis in rural Oregon.  I also saw him in Boise on a Thursday evening, and drove to see him at the Walla Walla Guitar Festival the next day.  John Mayer and Alanna Myles are also favorites.  I would say if a musician is creative, “bluesy” and has a sound rhythm and “punch” to it, the band likes it.  Musicians who create driving or funky rhythms with a groove and great lyrics will always be favorites. Also, Tom Petty has always been a favorite artist for myself and a couple of the other members, as well as Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt.  There are hard rockers in our band also who love Heart material and have a history of hard rock in their background.  While we are primarily a blues group, but we also do songs that members enjoy and that highlight the talent of our female vocalists, such as the Heart song, “Straight On.”
BEN: How’s the Idaho Blues scene these days, is there enough work for the bands up there?

BA: In years past there was a well-known local blues club in Boise, the Blues Bouquet.  Currently, there are no clubs that are exclusively blues, with all having mixed venues.  However, when groups that are primarily blues, such as the Billy Blues Band, have a show, lots of fans come to listen and dance.  Also, the Boise Blues Society brings in numerous regional and nationally blues artists that simulate local interest and demand for blues bands.

 

BEN: Speaking of gigs, we saw your schedule and it looks like Billy Blues Band has several good ones coming up. Which ones excite you the most?

BA: I think all the band is excited to play the “First of the Season” monthly Gazebo Concert for the City of Eagle, downtown at Heritage Square on May 31.  It’s a family-oriented “all ages” show that typically draws a large enthusiastic crowd, including families with children…children love to dance with their parents.  Similarly, as far as a local club-type gig, playing at the Riverside Hotel’s Sandbar overlooking the Boise River is an equally attractive venue that has lots of good listeners and dancers, which is scheduled in June.  Both of these events, and other club gigs are posted on the www.billybluesband.com website.  I should also say, if the audience is grooving, dancing and having fun at any venue it excites us.

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