contents IN EVERY ISSUE
Community Showcase..........................................................12 Blues News .........................................................................13 Miss Behavin’s Haven Fall Menu ..........................................21
The Wagner NoĂŤl Performing Arts Center is located between Midland and Odessa at 1310 N. FM 1788 and hosts a variety of talent, including Broadway shows, the Symphony, ballet, country, classic rock and comedy.
Suzanne Vega 7KXUV 2FWREHU ‡ 30
FEATURE
Bear Claw Knife & Shear.......................................................6
Flashdance-The Musical 6XQ 1RYHPEHU ‡ 30
Joe Bonamassa
FEATURE
A Marathon to Marathon......................................................10
:HG 1RYHPEHU ‡ 30
Brian Regan 7KXUV 1RY ‡ 30
Beauty and the Beast :HG 'HFHPEHU ‡ 30
Robert Earl Keen’s Christmas
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNS
Salty Dog .............................................................................8 One Man, One Moment: No White Flags
7KXUV 'HFHPEHU ‡ 30
A Christmas Carol 7XHV 'HFHPEHU ‡ 30
Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas :HG 'HFHPEHU ‡ 30
Art @ Work .........................................................................14 The Craft of Cosplay: Confessions of a Nerd Blues Notes ........................................................................16 James Cotton Superharp
Midland Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker 6DW 'HF 30 DQG 6XQ 'HF ‡ 30
Engelbert Humperdinck 7KXUV -DQXDU\ ‡ 30
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 6XQ -DQXDU\ ‡ 30
Good Eats ............................................................................18 Scotty’s Soul Food & Bar-B-Que Health & Fitness ..................................................................19 What is Reiki?
The Oak Ridge Boys Mon, January 26 ‡ 30 For more info or to purchase tickets for these shows, go to wagnernoel.com.
Creating and Connecting Your Community
FALL 2014 West Texas Blues is a quarterly lifestyle and leisure magazine that explores West Texas communities and creates connections by reaching beyond the music into other areas of adventure such as art, leisure, nightlife, travel, entertainment, food and health. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ronn Reeger EDITOR Lisa J. Grissom CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tim Kreitz CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amanda Hart, Mark Pollock & J.P. Schwartz, Tim Kreitz, Sam Daulong, Beverly Wise, Marcel ‘Mac’ Broussard, Lisa J. Grisson PUBLISHER Promising Projects, Inc. Cover Photo: Danny Self “Gateway to Marathon” ADVERTISING OFFICE 432-618-0705 West Texas Blues specifically seeks advertisers that are offering thoughtful products and services to West Texans. Find us on Facebook at /WestTexasBluesMag Follow us on Twitter @WestTexasBlues. To get West Texas Blues directly in your mailbox, go to westtexasblues.com/subscribe. Copyright 2014 by Promising Projects, Inc. and its affiliates. All content contained herein is copyrighted by its original creator and sources have been sighted where appropriate. All rights reserved.
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this issue’s contributors Tim Kreitz, Feature Writer
Tim Kreitz is a professional musician and producer. He has been recognized by the West Texas Music Hall of Fame and performed on the main stage at Tall City Blues Fest 2014. He has toured ten states so far this year, but when not on the road, he produces a wide variety of audio, video, and published media for a host of regional and national clientele. Visit him online at www.timkreitz.com.
Lisa J. Grissom, Feature Writer
Lisa Grissom is the Producer and Co-Creator of Tall City Blues Fest alongside being the Editor of West Texas Blues. She and her partner, Ronn Reeger, founded Promising Projects in 2006 under which they create and launch new and promising projects. Previously, Lisa has worked as a business coach, a financial planning analyst and investor relations liaison, a mergers and acquisitions analyst, and a state and local tax consultant. In her spare time, she loves reading, riding motorcycles and playing pool.
Mark Thomas Pollock, Blues Notes
Mark Thomas Pollock is the proprietor of TransPecos Guitars in Alpine and lives there with his wife Mary. Previously, he owned Charley’s Guitar Shop and co-produced the Dallas Guitar Show, which he eventually sold to his partner. In the 70s, he played guitar for James Cotton, and also Freddie King while on tour with Clapton. He continues today to jam with friends like Jimmy Ray Harrell as part of the Border Blues Band.
J.P. Schwartz, Blues Notes
John Paul Schwartz is a full time osteopathic family physician. He is also a musician and singer/songwriter; his instrument of choice being the Hammond B3. In his spare time, J.P. hosts the Far Out West Texas Blue Monday Show on Marfa Public Radio. Currently, he lives in Fort Davis and Marfa and can be heard every Monday night from 7:15-9 PM streaming live at marfapublicradio.org.
Marcel ‘Mac’ Broussard, Salty Dog
Marcel ‘Mac’ Broussard is a Louisiana native where he met his wife of 20-plus years. He has traveled the world, served in the Armed Forces and done everything from roofing houses to producing television commercials. His first love though is traveling the continent of his imagination to share adventurous tales inspired by his own experiences. His connection with the blues is a constant in his life whether it be while he is strumming a guitar or closing a business deal.
Sam Daulong, Good Eats
Sam Daulong is a connoisseur and creator of great food. He is a corporate pilot who has traveled the world over and can often be found indulging his creativity by crafting a new recipe, enjoying an eclectic cocktail, relishing in a good cigar or blowing a few notes on his harmonica. Sam lives in Midland with his wife, Sara, and their two boys.
Amanda Hart, Art @ Work
Amanda Hart is an All-State vocalist, a published writer, and champion drag racer who enjoys family, genealogy, reading and singing in her praise band at church. Serving in education for 14 years, she has a Masters in Educational Leadership and is currently a fourth grade, Project Based Learning teacher at the UTPB STEM Academy. She lives in Odessa with her husband and their two young children.
Beverly Wise, Health & Fitness
Beverly Wise has been practicing energy therapy for more than 15 years, which she began by learning Reiki. She became a Reiki Master in 2001 and currently runs a private practice in both Midland and Big Spring where she practices several modalities of energy healing, including Reiki. Beverly lives in Big Spring with her husband, Morgan, their three dogs and fourw cats. She enjoys spending time with her four grandchildren and traveling to the coasts with her family. 5
Bear Claw Knife & Shear More Than Just a Knife Shop
A quick glance at the exterior of Bear Claw Knife & Shear on Andrews Highway in Midland might be a bit deceiving to the average passerby. Located in one of Midland’s oldest strip malls, the outside appearance and building signage might lead one to believe that it’s a low-key knife shop where old men sit around and drink coffee all day, telling stories and talking about how the younger generation has things going down the tubes. That’s not the case; not by a longshot. Bear Claw is a thoroughly modern cutlery dealer, specializing not only in knives for every application from hunting and hiking to cooking and prepping, but also in everything from self-defense aids and tactical gear to fine kitchen wear. A five minute walk through the store reveals a selection of high-end flashlights, copper cookware, a wide variety of pepper sprays and survival gear, and even dehydrated foods for hiking and long-term storage. 6
By Tim Kreitz
“Bear Claw was originally started in New Mexico by a man named Chuck Giles,” recalled Bear Claw owner Richard Steinberg. “He later moved it to Big Spring, where it thrived for about twelve years. When Chuck passed away, I purchased the business and brought it to Midland.” The move to Midland allowed Steinberg to widen the line of products Bear Claw offers and set his sights on opening new locations in major metro areas such as Houston and San Antonio. “We have no competition right now in those cities,” Steinberg explained. “We do very well in Midland, but numbers matter. Imagine how well Bear Claw locations would do in metro areas with populations in the millions. That’s our ultimate goal; branching out.” To that end, Bear Claw has already opened a branch in
Galveston that, while smaller in scope than the Midland store, is aimed at tourists to the area and is doing well. In the bigger scheme of things, Steinberg and his staff seem to have the right idea, especially with regard to how the Midland store is stocked. There isn’t a single type of legally available cutting tool that Bear Claw doesn’t have or can’t get. The store’s display cases are chock full of every kind of knife you can imagine, from the simplest pocket knife to Japanese katanas and every practical to tactical design in between. “Everyone should have a good knife to carry around with them,” Steinberg remarked. “There’s a reason knives were among the first tools mankind developed. They not only help us prepare our foods and those types of uses, but they can save our lives. For example, what if you roll your car and need to cut yourself out of your seatbelt? Every man and woman should carry a knife as often as possible.”
Bear Claw isn’t just about knives. Keep them in mind when you need high-quality kitchenware such as these teapots.
Bear Claw Knife & Shear carries in excess of 70 different brand names, and still has trouble keeping certain items in stock. “We can’t keep our StreamLight® products in the store,” Steinberg said. “We receive a shipment and it literally flies off the shelves.” Streamlight is located in Eagleville, Pennsylvania and manufactures flashlights powered by various rechargeable and disposable batteries. Their product line features hand-held and weapon-mountable lights as well as a right angle light used by firefighters on their turnout gear.
A variety of hunting and tactical knives in one of the showcases at Bear Claw Knife & Shear in Midland.
There are also plans for Bear Claw to host cooking classes for the public that will be broadcast on local television as a specialty show. “We have a letter of intent from a local broadcaster and are looking forward to beginning work on the show soon,” Steinberg said. “In the meantime, we’re working on designing and building a fully equipped kitchen and classroom area to accommodate both production and instruction.” Steinberg is excited about the future of Bear Claw, and for good reason. Pay the store a visit at 403 Andrews Highway in Midland or call them at (432) 218-6805.
Bear Claw carries a wide variety of pepper sprays and other selfdefense products. 7
The Salty Dog One Moment, One Man No White Flags
by Marcel ‘Mac’ Broussard Hurricanes and disappointing football had long been an intricate part of Louisiana’s annual calendar. The warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico tend to encourage 100-mile per hour winds before making landfall, but the effect seemed to be the opposite on New Orleans football prior to 2006—quality Saints teams never made landfall. As it turned out, two negatives—hurricanes and disappointing football—would come together and give notice to one of the strongest and most courageous men I’ve ever known. This is the story of Steve Gleason. In 1966 the New Orleans Saints ran back the first kickoff they ever received for a touchdown. Barring a few individual moments and an occasional game the next 30 years would be nothing short of painful. Fan frustration was the norm. Paper bags were the headdress of choice for fans that loved their team, but loathed their frustration. Things just couldn’t get any worse. And then Hurricane Katrina formed in the Atlantic Ocean on August 23, 2005 and six days later, on August 29th, she would make landfall just east of the greater New Orleans area. The storm surge was fierce and certainly caused major damage but the real catastrophe began when the levees failed. In the midst of the tragic loss of many lives and livelihoods, residents being displaced and a general state of national emergency, the already bad football team being out of sorts was of low concern. Things are not always as they seem though and sometimes the thing you least expect becomes your saving grace. As the year continued to pass, the city struggled to recover and community morale was at an all-time low. The Saints, unable to play in the damaged Superdome and effectively homeless, would play every game on the road that year. In spite of the bleak 30 year record, fans are still fans so every Sunday, they watched faithfully for a beacon of hope only to remain disappointed as the fourth quarter came to a close. 8
Then in the fall of 2006, it was the third game of the season and the Saints were scheduled for their first home game in the newly reopened Superdome. The NFL made it a Monday night game and featured the Katrina devastation during the pre-game coverage. More than a year had passed already and Katrina’s ghost still controlled the city. The game was against the Atlanta Falcons and the only thing a Saints fan hates worse than the Falcons is, well….the Falcons. Joyous at being back home, the anxiety was high for both fans and the team. With a disappointing history in their wake, and now playing against their most disdained opponent in the League during a nationally televised game—the tension was palpable. Logically, the night had all the ingredients of a perfect disaster and what was about to be another blow of gigantic proportion. But logic is not what prevailed. On the night of this game, Sept 25, 2006, player #37, Steve Gleason, delivered to all of Louisiana a moment that is now referred to as the “Rebirth of New Orleans”. It was a moment so telling that a statue to commemorate the event now sits outside the Superdome in permanent recognition of this moment’s contribution. The Falcons were back to punt in the first quarter after Scott Fujita forced Michael Vick of the Falcons to fumble out of bounds on his own 29-yard line. The ball was snapped and Gleason, safety and special teams player for the Saints, broke free up the middle and blocked the punt driving the ball back towards to the end zone where it was recovered for a Saints touchdown by Curtis Deloatch—their first score in 21 months. Thunderous rapture describes the next few moments. The Superdome, the city and even the announcers erupted in celebration. This was it. This was the moment—the single transforming event. This was the “rebirth of a city”. The Saints went on to win that game not to mention going on to have the most successful season in their history, and the city went on to win back its pride, but the story of Steve Gleason doesn’t end there. After eight seasons in the NFL and playing the 2007 season for the Saints, Gleason hung up his jersey and retired. Then, in 2011, he reveled that he was battling ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to [the death of the neurons]. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.” (Source: www.alsa.org) What I admire so much about Steve Gleason is that even with the clinical struggle of this disease and his increasing immobility, he participates in life as much if not more today than many people without these limitations. Since his diagnosis he has worked on documentaries, climbed mountains (with the aid of friends like Scott Fujita), announced Saints draft picks live during the draft, attended Pearl Jam concerts, been featured in commercials
and even in an episode of ‘A Football Life’, which chronicled his career and battle with ALS. He participates actively on Facebook and other social media, and is a loving father and husband all the while confined motionless to a wheelchair. Steve also has a foundation suitably named Team Gleason and is an avid spokesperson for ALS. What Steve has proven is that ALS does not have to destroy the human spirit as it destroys the body. It’s no wonder that Steve’s motto is No White Flags. #nowhiteflags Last month, in true Steve Gleason fashion, motionless in his wheelchair, he accepted the ice bucket challenge but did it in the uninhibited spirit of nakedness. In his YouTube Ice Bucket Challenge (teamgleason.org), Steve reminded all of us that awareness is awesome but donations are critical. Steve has openly stated his thankfulness to all who have participated in the challenge and donated. w One man in one moment delivered relief to a city in the midst of despair and destruction unlike any it had ever seen before. We don’t know when the moment of relief will come for ALS and those who struggle with it, but Steve Gleason gives us all hope that in a moment, one single moment, one person can be a catalyst for birthing a new future.
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A Marathon to Marathon by Lisa J. Grissom
Roberts also runs the local grocery, French Company Grocer, and co-organizes the race with Danny Self of Marathon Motel. In talking with Roberts, it was apparent that community participation and contribution are important objectives of the race. Aside from partial race proceeds helping boost areas of need, such as the library, the school and Post Park, opportunities like hosting a water stop can help generate funds for the hosting organization, because prize money is awarded to the best stop. “Groups really get creative organizing their stops and it’s so fun to watch what they do with them,” said Roberts. It was 1882 and a former seafaring captain by the name of Albion Shepard decided to call the area where he’d just purchased land “Marathon” because the region reminded him of Marathon in Greece, a city situated northeast of Athens. Legend has it that the term “marathon”, commonly used to describe the long-distance endurance race, got it’s name from a Greek runner that was dispatched from Marathon to Athens to inform the city that the Persians has been defeated in the Battle of Marathon. Fast forward 121 years from it’s founding and the little town of Marathon (Texas, that is) started their own marathon, appropriately naming it Marathon2Marathon, or M2M for short. Actually, the town had been the site of informal marathons for three years prior when Texas State Comptroller, Susan Combs decided to make it official in 2003. While the race has been run on several different roads since its inception, currently runners begin the race on Hwy 385 between Ft. Stockton and Marathon at the requisite 26.2 miles out from the finish line at city center, which is situated right in front of the historic Gage hotel. “M2M is a qualifying race for the Boston marathon and attracts racers from all over Texas,” said Marci Roberts, one of the chief organizers for the Marathon. “This year, our racer registrations are up 24% over where they were last year.” 10
The race organizers also make it a point to hire locals to work the race, so the money paid to them vis-a-vis the racer registrations effectively goes right back into the Marathon community. The race can’t help but stimulate the local economy in a town where the race itself doubles the town’s normal population of around 500. Local businesses hold festivities and gatherings and adjust their normal hours to accommodate the influx of racers and their families looking to eat, shop and party. For example the awards ceremony and post-race party are held in the courtyard of the Marathon Motel along with live music, keg beer and food for sale by Marathon ISD. For a town that boasts “the hardest part is getting there”, once you are there, you’ll find the hospitality to be warm and the weather just right, especially the weekend of October 25—the scheduled date for this year’s race. This is an event worth checking out. We did last year and had a blast. Suffice it to say, M2M transforms this otherwise quiet little town into a vibrant vortex of energy and enthusiasm. It’s kind of contagious if I do say so myself. For more info on the event or to register as a racer, go to marathon2marathon.net.
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Community Showcase
ODESSA
Def Con 1 Haunted Warehouse & Circus of the Dead Maze Hailed as the gold standard of terror, these two attractions are housed under a single 8,000 square foot complex located at 2215 W. 2nd Street in Odessa. 2014 Open Dates: Oct 17, 18, 24, 25, 30, 31 and Nov 1 Tickets: $10 Combo Pass or $8/Attraction
MIDLAND
Tall City Roller Betties Monster Mash-Up & Double Beheader (October 25) Watch the flat track women’s roller derby team duke it out on the court at this family fun spectator event that will pit Dem Bones against The Skating Dead and Hocus Pocus vs. Mad Scientists. $10/person general admission. Kids under 10 get in free. Doors open at 6 PM. First Whistle at 7 PM. Located in the CAF Main Hanger at 9600 Wright Drive in Midland. Bring a chair.
ALPINE
Alpine Artwalk (Nov 21-22) This year marks the 21st anniversary of ARTWALK, which is a fantastic weekend of festivities promoting art in more than 20 galleries that line the Alpine streets. Most of the action takes place on Holland Street with festival type fare and free concerts featuring Ray Wylie Hubbard as the Friday night headliner and The Derailers on Saturday night. For more info, go to www.artwalkalpine.com
MIDLAND & ODESSA
H-E-B Feast of Sharing (Midland and Odessa) An annual event hosted in each of the West Texas cities with H-E-B stores—Midland and Odessa. Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal compliments of and prepared by H-E-B staff. Accompanied by live music and activities for children, this event is completely free! Friday, November 7 (Midland County Horseshoe Arena) Friday, December 5 (Ector County Coliseum, Bldgs D & E)
ODESSA
Sprit of the Mask (thru January 12) Masks are much more than just disguises! In festivals and holidays around the world, masks elevate humans into the realm of gods, turn the sacred and mundane into the magical and exude great power. The function of the mask may be to personify spirits, gods, or ancestors, to assume social control, or teach lessons in morality. Currently on exhibit at the Ellen Noël Art Museum in Odessa. Admission is FREE.
MIDLAND
A Christmas Story (November 21-December 21) Presented by Midland Community Theatre, this is one of America’s all-time favorite Christmas movies. Reminisce with Ralphie as he tells a Christmas tale filled anticipation, joy, and eventual disaster. A Red Rider B.B. gun, a major award, and broken spectacles are all part of this delightful and uniquely honest musical about family, friends, and the stressfulness of the holidays. To make revervations, go to mctmidland.org.
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Blues News
nated for a Blues Music Award are deemed ineligible to compete at the IBC.
Entering the IBC is not as easy as just signing up or sending in a CD. For musical acts to even be entered into the Challenge, they must be sponsored by a Blues Foundation Affiliated Organization (a.k.a. Blues SociThe place is Memphis, TN in the historic Beale Street ety), which means they must win “an open, judged live district. The dates are January 20-24, 2015. The event is music competition”. the world’s largest gathering of blues acts, commonly known as the International Blues Challenge, or IBC for This Wednesday-through-Sunday Beale Street specshort. tacle begins with two nights of quarterfinals moving into the semi-finals on Friday, and then ultimately the Blues performers from all over the world descend on finalists are showcased on Saturday at the Orpheum Memphis this week in January to compete for cash, Theatre with winners announced. prizes and industry recognition. Hosted by the Blues Foundation as one of their annual signature events to In 2014, Mr. Sipp (a.k.a. Castro Coleman) took home promote and keep the blues alive, this year’s IBC will the title of International Blues Challenge winner with showcase more than 255 acts, both solo/duo and bands. Ghost Town Blues Band placing in second—both of whom performed at the 2014 Tall City Blues Fest, Youth acts are also showcased at the IBC, which in- which takes place in downtown Midland in July and cludes acts whose members are all under 21 at the time showcases award-winning blues performers from all of the competition. Performers who have been nomi- over the country.
International Blues Challenge
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Art @ Work The Craft of Cosplay: Confessions of a Nerd By Amanda Hart
Group photo of the cast of characters from the manga series Mushibugyo taken at the A-Kon Convention in Dallas.
Spandex, capes, masks, thermoplastics, leather, wigs, special effects makeup, sewing, foam, wood, metal, carbon fiber, prosthetics, wire, glitter, super glue, duct tape, neon lights, LED lights, body paint, contact lenses and spirit gum. Well that’s about what it takes to cos-play; that and a whole lotta love...and gumption.
“It seemed like everyone who was in costume was having more fun than me. I spent as much money at the convention as they did, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as them,” McMillan reflected.
Meet Michael McMillan. McMillan is a self-proclaimed nerd and he loves cosplay, which is the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game, especially one from the Japanese genres of manga and anime. He does not want me to tell you that he grew up watching Dragon Ball Z and Pokemon, both Japanese anime series. In fact, he finds it rather sad to admit this is where his love of the art began, but as he put it “that was all was available in the U.S. at the time”. However, when he mentioned Neon Genesis Evangelion, commonly referred to as NGE, it was instantly obvious that this is what caused him to fall head over heels with the dramatic flair and art of anime styling. According to McMillan, “ainme is akin to a soap opera, not necessarily intended for kids since the scope and depth of their stories go far beyond a simple cartoon. In fact, it is quite graphic if you compare it to Western standards.” Upon hearing that there was a quality anime convention in Dallas called A-Kon that has been held annually since 1990, he and several of his friends decided to go and check it out. Regretfully, the first time he attended he did not dress in costume. 14
It was at this point he made two decisions: 1) he would definitely be going back and 2) he would definitely be dressing in costume. For his second excursion to AKon, he chose the character Genma Saotome, a oldman character from the Japanese manga series Ranma ½ (pronounced Ranma one-half) who is the sensei of Anything Goes Martial Arts and cursed with occasionally turning into a Panda. With nervousness, McMillan slipped into his old judo gi and a bald cap. Finally, he felt like he belonged. He felt accepted by a group of perfect strangers who shared the bond of anime. The third year he attended A-Kon, he decided that he would up the ante and design his own costume with the help of a family friend who handled most of the sewing. McMillan took it as a personal challenge to get it as perfect as he possibly could. This was his chance to display his dramatic interpretation of a character.
“There’s so much pressure and responsibility that comes with real life. Sometimes you’ve got to step back and pretend you’re someone else in a part of another world.” This time he based his costume on the character, Jinbei Tsukishima, the main character in a manga series called
Mushibugyo. He found an antique Japanese robe on eBay and poured about $200 and more than 70 hours of work into his design, which included using a Gene Simmon’s wig from the Halloween shop, carving Styrofoam prosthetics that he glued to his face and painting his body blue. McMillan was the first to ever design a costume for this character and the response at A-Kon was phenomenal. He says the interaction with others at the convention is what made it so good. “People come up and ask to take your picture or to take a picture with you. The compliments were amazing; it was such a great feeling. People literally were running across the room to give me a hug. When I came home from the convention, I had like 100 Facebook friend requests waiting on me and tons of messages telling me what a great job I had done on my costume.” I admit, I was impressed with the photos he showed me. In fact, if you google ‘Jinbei cosplay’ McMillan’s photos are the first photos you will see. McMillan said, “You earn more respect if you make your own costume, but at conventions more than half of the costumes worn are actually purchased. You really can tell the ones who hand make their costumes rather than buying them. There is a huge market now for costumes made in Japan. The Japanese have it down to an art; they sell cosplay industry costumes like crazy.” McMillan’s younger sister, Melissa, also an anime lover, saw how much fun her brother was having and decided to join him as the character, Tony Tony Chopper, a toddler-sized human/reindeer hybrid. McMillan says she chose this character because of her small, athletic physique. Many of the female anime characters are drawn as tall and thin women with exaggerated curves, and their proportions just aren’t realistic.
McMillan, dressed as Jinbei from the manga series called Mushibugyo with his sister Melissa as Tony Tony Chopper from the anime series One Piece at the A-Kon Convention in Dallas.
vention there is no judgment. All people are accepted, and you can express yourself like you want.”
When I asked McMillan if he had to manhandle any anime fans at the convention on behalf of his sister, he chuckled, “Not really. It feels like you’re amongst people like you and nobody wants to offend anyone. While there are some perverts, mostly everyone is very respectful.”
When asked why he likes cosplay so much, McMillan shared, “There’s so much pressure and responsibility that comes with real life. Sometimes you’ve got to step back and pretend you’re someone else in a part of another world. Cosplay to me is like others who go to a movie, or people who play video games. Cosplay is three days out of the year that I get to be someone else. When it’s over, it’s back to the grind.”
Role reversal is not tabu at conventions either. McMillan said, “Females dress as male characters, and males dress as female characters. To me, cross-dressing is the funniest part of it all. Body size has nothing to do with it either. You’ll see skinny people dressed as heavy characters and vice versa. Basically, once you walk into a con-
When McMillan is not dressing up as anime and manga characters, he spends his time as a 4th grade teacher at the UTPB STEM Academy. He holds a Bachelors in Mathematics, a Bachelors in Computer Science, a Bachelors in Fine Arts and is currently pursuing his Masters in Educational Leadership. 15
Blues Notes Cotton Mouth Man
James Cotton Superharp By Mark Pollock & J.P. ‘Jalapeño’ Schwartz, a.k.a Doc Cactus James Cotton gave his birthplace and date as Tunica, Mississippi, 1935, and explained that that he moved with his uncle across the state line to West Helena, Arkansas. If you look on a map, both towns are within close driving distance of Memphis, Tennessee, which of course is across another state line to the East. In West Helena, he soon met Alex (pronounced ‘Aleck’) Miller, a.k.a. Sonny Boy Williamson II. It was 1947. James was 12, barefoot and ragged. He began learning harmonica licks straight from the source, as Sonny, at that time was one of the best. James would spend hours at Sonny’s place, and kept running away from home to go over there. Eventually, his parents stopped coming for him and let him move in and live there instead. Sonny Boy had a band in Helena, but decided to move north and patch things up with his wife from whom he had been separated. She had moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He left his band to James, only 15 at the time, which didn’t work very successfully. The much-older-than-James-musicians didn’t take too well to his leading. James said himself “I was too young and crazy in those days, and they was grown men, so much older than me.” They were actually only in their mid 20’s. James tried his hand at drums for a while, as Mark Pollock relates, “I’ve seen him play drums, but nothing really to write home about.” Having cut his teeth learning harp from the great Sonny Boy, James quickly became a famous player in Memphis. He did some recordings at the Sun Records studio in 1953. Within a year his first big hit “Cotton Crop Blues” was on the charts. Around 1955, James began working with Muddy Waters, but Muddy was still using his long time friend and bandmate, Little Walter to play harp during all his studio sessions. This become a source of contention between James and Muddy over the ensuing years, as James explained to Muddy incessantly he could play everything Little Walter could play. He would take a recording of “She’s 19 Years Old” or “Got My Mojo Working” and play along on the 16
Mark Pollock (left) with James Cotton (right), circa late ‘70s.
harp solo, note for note, nuance for nuance. Still when recording time came around, Muddy would call on Little Walter for the solos. James continued to play with Muddy however. At the same time, he formed his own band “The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet” featuring Otis Spann on piano, James ‘Pee Wee’ Madison on guitar, and S.P. Leary playing drums. Cuts from that band can be found on old copies of Vanguard Chicago/The Blues/Today Volume 2. There also are various cuts seen on compilations which contain these songs. Finally, in 1957 James got the chance to record with Muddy Waters. You can hear James on the first recordings of “Mannish Boy” and “Honeybee”. He proved to be a big part of Muddy’s sound during his career and this continued up until the gig recorded in 1966 at Bill Graham’s Filmore West in San Francisco. That recording is listed as a “bootleg” and it was one of the last gigs James did with Muddy. San Francisco must’ve opened up his eyes to the world outside of Chicago because soon James was playing with Janis Joplin, and pursuing a solo career. By the following year, he had formed “The James Cotton Blues Band” and toured all over North America. A record was released of the band in Montreal playing at the New Penelope Cafe, dated November 28, 1967. This album is currently available as “James Cotton, Late Night Blues”. It features Luther Tucker on guitar, the famed Italian San Franciscan blues piano player Alberto Gianquinto, Bobby Anderson on bass and Francis Clay on drums. In 1969, James played the Texas International Music Festival outside of Dallas. Mark Pollock remembers, “I would have known who he was from my Muddy Waters albums. I knew guys like Albert King, Freddie King, B.B. King, Albert Collins, and T. Bone Walker, but this would have been my first chance to hear a true Chicago Blues man like Cotton.” Doc Cactus added, “We were all fighting the heat at that Festival, at times you couldn’t keep rapt attention while being hosed off by the firemen. My parents would’ve killed me if they’d known where I was.”
Then in 1973, before the Austin music scene was what it was destined to become, Mark recalls the first time really seeing, meeting and hanging out with James after a show at Castle Creek.
musician living in Austin. Clifford Antoine gave so many blues greats their due persuading many of them, including James, to move there back in the 1990s. So many were regulars appearing at his famous club.
“The club had formerly been known as the the Checkered Flag. The Vulcan Gas Company had closed by then, and the Armadillo was still in it’s infancy. James and the band stayed at the Villa Capri Motor Hotel, which at that time, was the ritziest in town. Long since bulldozed, it was out on what it is I-35 and 19th street today. I met James and Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy of Blues Brothers Fame, but I never got to sit in with him. I don’t even think James or Matt had ever heard me play.
“James has been battling throat cancer since the mid90s, but he scored a critical coup d’etat with this last solo album, “Cotton Mouth Man”. His voice is now very hoarse, so he chose to have others sing on the album but expresses himself over and above the music blowing his harp with life long perfection.
“Then in the spring of 1977, I got this call from James and he explained that Murphy had given notice and quit his band to go to work on “that movie”, and he needed me to replace him. At the time, I had my own band called “Kingsnake”, which later evolved into “Anson and the Rockets”. “James had never heard me play, but he knew that I’d had played with Freddie King, Lowell Fulson and Albert Collins, so that was good enough for him. I remember he was in Iowa or Connecticut or somewhere like that. The next gig for him was Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa and James asked, ‘Can you be there?” “I said ‘I’ll be there!’ Anson filled in for me with “Kingsnake”, and off I went. My friend Hank, a long distance trucker, drove me from Dallas to Tulsa and I was there by sound check. No set list. We got on stage at 9 PM and did the gig. David Maxwell, the piano player, had a set list, but said “be prepared for anything.” “We did that show and it went well. So well, I ended up being on the road with them for almost two years and that tour alone would be a entire article in itself! It was such a big departure from playing with Freddie King. James took an interest in his musicians and took input. There was a lot more freedom here; we were allowed to suggest songs. I could even go up to James and ask how Matt played a particular song and he would give me pointers without hassle. We actually had influence on the music. “One really memorable gig was at the legendary My Father’s Place on Long Island. James had played there many times before with Murphy and one of the guys pulled me aside and said, ‘Mark, if you get booed here, it’s because Matt Murphy owns this place. He is ‘God’ at My Father’s Place.’ When the time came, I did Matt’s solo note for note and no one booed. In fact, to my surprise, I got a standing ovation! “We also played the Bottom Line in New York City, a show that New York Times music critic Robert Palmer came to and reviewed. He noted, ‘There had been a change in the band, Texan guitarist Mark Pollock, simply recreated note for note everything Matt Murphy had ever done.’ All I could think was, ‘Wow!’
“The album was released on May 7, 2013 and features Joe Bonamassa, Gregg Allman, the great Ruthie Foster, Texas standby Delbert McClinton, Warren Haynes, Keb Mo, Chuck Leavell and Colin Linden. On several cuts, James actually sings his raspy, still gutsy voice of a man who has the blues in his soul. “The album is a masterpiece and with all the guest stars, it is a fitting tribute to his stature as a blues player. I play cuts from it quite often on the Far Out West Texas Blue Monday show on KRTS in Marfa, always getting calls admiring ‘that man that sings so raspy and plays that great harp.’ Any fan of blues, especially blues harp should own this one!”
James Cotton Awards Mississippi Arts Commission Governor’s Arts Award (2014)
Blues Music Award for Traditional Blues Male Artist of the Year (2014) Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (2006) Handy Award for 35th Anniversary Jam‚ Traditional Blues Album (2003) Blues Legend Award presented by The New England Blues Society (2002) Howlin’ Wolf Award presented by The Blues Foundation (2002) Lifetime Achievement Award presented by The Pocono Blues Festival (2000) Handy Award for Traditional Male Artist of the Year (1997 & 2001) Premier Harmonica Player Award from the Memphis Chapter of National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (1999 & 2000) Handy Award for “Deep In The Blues” - Acoustic Album of the Year (1997) Down Beat 45th Annual Critics Poll for “Deep in the Blues” Blues Album of the Year (1997) Down Beat 62nd Annual Readers Poll “Deep in the Blues” Blues Album of the Year (1997) Grammy Award for “Deep in the Blues” - Traditional Blues Album (1996) Theresa Needham Blues Award for Outstanding Service to the Blues Community (1994) Honorary and Lifetime Member of the Sonny Boy Blues Society (1993) Handy Award for Instrumentalist of the Year‚ Harmonica (1987 & 1991) Handy Award for “Harp Attack”- Contemporary Album of the Year (1991) Inducted into the Smithsonian Institution (1991) Editor’s Note: The Blues Music Awards were previously called the W.C. Handy Awards, or “the Handy’s”. Today, these awards are commonly referred to as “BMA’s”.
Doc Cactus adds, “James is still around, and an active 17
Good Eats Scotty’s Soul Food & Bar-B- Que (Midland, TX) by Sam Daulong There sits a small place on North Big Spring street in Midland; just a couple doors down from my favorite music store, Guitar Star. It’s not a very big place, doesn’t really catch your eye, unless you’re looking. There’s a good sized yellow sign up high for you to see, but Big Spring street is full of those. Frankly, it was a place I passed by without much of a thought for months while I was traipsing in and out of Guitar Star. What’s any of this got to do with my review? Well, exactly everything. For you old Midlanders, no need to go look up the address. Scotty’s is tucked back where the old 4G’s used to be at 2907 North Big Spring. And as the sign says, they got soul, food and bar-b-que. As usual, my two favorite food critics, Mr. Chase and Mr. Jax (my sons), accompanied me to Scotty’s for lunch. I wish I could have captured their faces when they saw their meals because it was priceless. Mr. Chase ordered the smothered pork chops with mac-ncheese & green beans. Holy Pork Chop Batman! Nothing canned or store bought here. The chops were cooked per-
Photos by Sam Daulong fectly and smothered in gravy. The mac-n-cheese, dripping in you-guessed-it-creamy-cheese was mouth watering; the green beans were old school—full of flavor and not too salty. When I told Mr. Jax where we were going, before we even got there he gave me his order. Chicken Fried Steak with mashed taters-n-gravy, and then he added the cabbage with pepper sauce once we got there and he saw it on the menu. I reckon I might’ve been jealous when I saw his plate if it weren’t for my own two-meat BBQ plate of ribs and brisket. Now, I’m a CFS nut and it has to be old school or don’t bring it. I’m happy to report that this CFS fit the bill. A good-sized portion with flavorful cream gravy, but I could forego it all for just a bowl of their cabbage with a side of cornbread. Their cabbage is THAT good, which brings me to my two meat combo of ribs and brisket. Accompanied by collard greens and yams, the BBQ was true to form for someone of Mr. Scott Berry’s caliber, who is a seasoned caterer. Tender and moist with a tangy sweet sauce that just screams Texas and the greens and yams are in class all their own. The taste of the food here made me feel like a kid all over again lost in the abyss of a soul food soiree. Scott and Miss Ashley (probably da boss), have been on N. Big Spring for a little over a year now. While visiting with them, Mr. Berry mentioned he sings, I reckon probably as good as he cooks. I suppose he just sings that soul right on into the food he makes.
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Health & Fitness What is Reiki? by Beverly Wise
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. So Reiki literally means “spiritually guided life force energy.” Getting a Reiki treatment feels like a warmth that flows through and around you. The recipient lays fully clothed on a treatment table while the Reiki practitioner places his/ her hands lightly on or just above the head and torso. The effects of the Reiki energies are determined by the needs of the recipient’s body and spirit, so a treatment can last as little as ten minutes or as long as an hour.
he was able to relax and experience quality sleep, which helped to promote his healing. That was fourteen years ago and I am still using Reiki for just about everything. Because Reiki treatments help achieve balance on all levels, it helps anyone who is interested in having a treatment. If you are tired, you will feel refreshed. If you are anxious, you will feel calm. If you are distressed, you will feel comforted. Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery. This source and the joys derived from its use are beautifully described by Virginia Samdahl, the first westerner to attain Reiki mastership. She said, “I believe that there is only one great Creative Force in the Universe, which I call God. It is from this source that the Universal life energy is made available to us, for in order for us to be whole and to perform God’s purpose for us here, we must be well. He has made this energy available to us so we can be as He meant us to be: perfect in body, mind, and spirit.” To inquire further or schedule a Reiki session with Beverly, contact her directly at 432-889-0262.
Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Some people seek Reiki to develop themselves spiritually and to experience a greater sense of meaning in their lives; others because they know that achieving balance can help them better cope with a wide range of health conditions including cancer, heart disease, anxiety, depression, fatigue and bereavement. Reiki can also be particularly effective in relieving side effects from radiation, chemotherapy and prescription medications. Suffice it to say, that the Reiki experience is unique for everyone and with continued treatment, profound changes occur. I first discovered Reiki and its benefits at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston where my son was receiving chemotherapy treatments. At that time I was researching everything I could that would help him in his recovery. The hospital was offering various classes in complementary medicine and I felt immediately drawn to Reiki. I wanted to find out more about it, so I picked up a book at a local bookstore and right away I knew I had found the answer for which I’d been searching. I quickly signed up for a class and the results for my son were nothing short of a miracle. For the first time since he had started chemotherapy, 19
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