01 Apr Interview to Big Al of BIG AL & THE HEAVYWEIGHTS
INTERVIEW TO BIG AL of BIG AL & THE HEAVYWEIGHTS BY MONTE ADKISON, “THE BLUES STALKER”
MONTE ADKISON’S BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Monte Adkison, aka “the Blues Stalker,” has been listening to the blues for over four decades. Along with many other teenagers who grew up in the southern United States in the early 60’s, she listened to powerful Nashville, Tennessee WLAC radio deejay “John R’s” popular blues radio show after midnight every night. Currently a high school social science teacher in Florida for over thirty years, Monte was the recipient of a scholarship in 1995 from the Florida Humanities Council to study blues music at the University of Tampa where she met the late Tampa Bay harmonica, Rock Bottom, and the late “Diamond Teeth” Mary McClain. Amazed that “Diamond Teeth” Mary had been written up in European blues magazines but not in American, she vowed to change that.
Taking a summer pilgrimage to the Delta to study at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, she spent time researching Mary in the Blues Archives and met David Nelson, then editor of Living Blues which is based there on the Ole Miss campus. She asked David if he knew Mary and he said he had seen her perform at the W.C. Handy Awards in Memphis in ’92. When asked if indeed his magazine was true “Living Blues”, if she wrote about Mary performing on her 95th birthday, would he publish it? The answer was yes and Living Blues did and then went on to write an article on Monte’s Blues in the Schools program in a ’97 issue. Monte began writing a regular column for the Suncoast Blues Society newsletter, the Twelve Bar Rag under the moniker “the Blues Stalker.” Five years later, the “Blues Stalker” is still writing about talented blues artists who are under appreciated and often ignored by the mainstream press. She also covers other aspects of the blues music industry besides the musicians themselves. Her photographs can be viewed on the Suncoast Blues Society web site www.suncoastblues.org as well as photographs of the popular annual Tampa Bay Blues Festival.
Monte’s commitment to keeping the blues alive is evident in her article, her photography, and in her classroom in Ocala, Florida where every inch of her walls are covered with snapshots and autographed posters of blues musicians that she has met. As she puts it, “It’s my way of sneaking the heritage in—-when you’re bored with the lessons and look up on the walls and see a Kenny Neal, or Eddie Kirkland, or Sista Monica—you might just give a listen later in live and fall in love with the music just like I have. It is another small way of keeping the blues alive.” You can visit her site at www.bluesstalker.com
this is the reason why I am really satisfied and proud to have at “La Hora del Blues” staff, directly from USA, the valuable support, help and collaboration of this great blues expert and lover, known as “The Blues Stalker”. I am sure you will enjoy this page with all her interesting and juicy interviews and photographs, so I can only encourage you to visit it regularly. Welcome aboard! Monte….
Vicente Zúmel
Al Lauro was born and grew up in the Crescent City and as a percussionist, was easily influenced by the rhythms and grooves that only a city like New Orleans can produce. Al spent his early years touring in Europe and the United States as the drummer for David Allan Coe where he shared the stage with many of the greats in the outlaw/country music scene. In 1993 he fortuitously met guitarist Warren Haynes and discovered their mutual love of blues and Southern rock. In 1996 they formed the Unknown Blues Band with Rick Gergen and opened for many stellar acts in Nashville as well as performing at festivals throughout the U.S. Warren went on to play with the Allmans and Gov’t Mule and Al founded Big Al and the Heavyweights.
They recently toured Florida hitting all of the major venues promoting their 7th CD entitled “World Full of Trouble” featuring guitarists Bob Margolin and John Lisi and harmonica ace and former Heavyweight, Jason Ricci. Their set list includes a mixture of zydeco, blues, funk, rock and everything with something to please everyone. Gumbo Heads should be ready to party another quarter century with these guys once the virus clears. Get ready to boogie.
Blues Stalker: Al, what was it like to tour back in the early 90’s with David Allan Coe?
Big Al: It was a BLAST! Definitely a rolling circus full of drugs, sex and Outlaw Country! I could write a great book. I appeared on Austin City Limits, The Grand Old Opry and numerous TV shows with him. We toured all over Europe in 1983. David was then based in Big Key, FL. This is very near Key West which was then still full of hippies and smugglers (not so many t-shirt shops). David did a free street concert there and we backed up his special guests Greg Allman and Bertie Higgins. David is one of the most underrated true country artist and songwriters. Hopefully one day he’ll be in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
B.S.: How did you meet Warren Haynes and discover your mutual musical tastes?
B.A.: We met in Baton Rouge. David’s then girlfriend MeMe Broussard’s family was from Gonzales, LA. She and David were there to spend Christmas with her family. David had shows scheduled on Christmas Eve and Christmas night. Wendel Atkins band was from Texas and they were David’s backing band. They wanted to be home during Christmas, so they left in the middle of the night before the shows. David had to put a band together. MeMe and I had a mutual friend Harold Mator who drove one of David’s semi-trucks. Mator called me and said David needed a drummer and would I be interested so I auditioned and joined up. I was wondering who the guitar player was going to be and they said he’s flying in from Asheville, NC and that was Warren Haynes. Through spending countless hours on the bus together listening to music, Warren and I discovered a mutual love for roots music especially blues, southern rock and soul. We had both moved to Nashville so we formed a band the Unknown Blues Band and we performed when David would take some time off from the road.
B.S.: Who currently makes up the Heavyweights when touring?
B.A.: Wayne Lohr who has been with me for 10 plus years and is in the La Music Hall of Fame plays keys, Mark Parsons on Bass guitar and Marcel Anton on guitar. Sometimes my longtime friend and harmonica player, Roguie Ray Lamontagne (Ray Lamontagne’s Dad) joins us on the road. Hard to make money as a 5 piece band so unfortunately I don’t always have a harp player.
B.S.: You recently toured Florida before the music scene was shut down due to the corona virus. I was fortunate enough to see you perform at Skipper’s. Care to share your thoughts and memories of that last touring adventure? Let’s pray that those venues that have been loyal supporters of live music for years can survive this economic fiasco.
B.A.: Well I have been playing Skipper’s for a lifetime over 10 years. The late great Rock Bottom got me in there. Tom White the owner of Skipper’s has been a supporter of the band and a forever friend. We just played there with Unknown Hinson. It was a great FL tour as always. We played the Villages for the first time. Marcia and Mark are great hosts and it’s an incredible gig. We also played The Barrel House in Ft Myers for the first time and for my great friend Vince at the Double Roads in Jupiter. Yes, we have a tour coming that way the 2nd week of May, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen. I’ve never been home this long and I’m so ready to get back on the road. It’s what we LOVE and what we DO. Don’t get how they can just shut it all down.
B.S.: The title of your latest release, “World Full of Trouble” now seems very prophetic. Your home, New Orleans, is a city that thrives on its music and entertainment as well as its culinary reputation and eating establishments. What is it like now living there and how are artists such as yourself coping and surviving?
B.A: It’s like a ghost town. Like FL, all the restaurants and bars are shut down and lots of people are out of work. I keep hearing about this virus all over Nola but it’s actually confined to a certain very unfortunate segment of the population. It’s obviously very contagious especially to the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. I live 60 miles North of Nola in Hammond, LA. I work on the side for a Storage Container co and have now for many years. Old guys like me must have health insurance plus I’m a single parent with a 16 years old son. I’m not coping well at all. I’m very restless but I farm and raise chickens, so it keeps me occupied.
B.S.: Not too many bands have a drummer as a band leader. You perform with many exceptionally talented guitar and harp players who are front and center in talent and ego and command a lot of attention. Is that ever a problem for you as a bandleader?
B.A: Not really. I’m pretty blunt and make sure everyone understands their role. We are a band FIRST! We aren’t about one guy and his ego so one guy don’t make or break Big Al & the Heavyweights. I have been blessed with some incredible harp players, Roguie Ray who I mentioned before who is in his seventies and he still comes out with me. Harmonica Red who also played with David Allan Coe and is freaking amazingly talented. He’s on several of my cds including “Nothin But Good Lovin” produced by Bruce Iglauer, president of Alligator Records. Red now lives in KY. William Howse from Nashville one of my favorites. Of course, my long-time friend and a guy who’s been in the band twice the incredible Jason Ricci. I’m so very proud of him.
B.S.: When this pandemic is all over, life as well as the music scene will certainly be altered. Any thoughts of what may emerge as a result?
B.A.: Jesus, hopefully people won’t be scared to get out and they’ll be some venues left. I mean how long can these places hang on. I think people will realize and hopefully appreciate life much more because you can see how quick they can take it all away from us. Pretty freaking scary to me. Don’t even get me going.
B.S.: How can we as fans best help keep the music we love alive?
B.A.: Come to live music shows, support the venues, bands, buy a CD, T shirt, put something in the tip bucket, tip the bartenders and waitresses. Don’t bitch about a 5-dollar cover. People spend 5 eating crap at McDonalds or in a Walmart but heaven forbid a venue is charging 5 to see a band. Pay it and smile!
B.S.: In isolation, can you tell us what you have been working on? Have you taken this opportunity to write new material?
B.A.: Yes we have been working on songs for a new cd that Luther Dickinson from the North MS Allstars will be producing for us. Always something to look forward to in the Heavyweight World!
B.S.: Thanks, Al, for touring in Florida and sharing your talents with us. Wishing you and your band the best and hope to see you back on the road soon.