Blues explosion

In "Rebirth of the Blues," staff writer Phil Davis observes that with national artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Robert Cray finding commercial success, the Madison music scene is enjoying a blues renaissance. "Blues is the best draw we have," says Club de Wash manager Toni Ziemer. "Blues audiences are a bartender's dream, too. They drink and they tip." Not since the 1970s, when Hound Dog Taylor and Sunnyland Slim packed the Nitty Gritty and the Church Key, have local blues fans had it so good, writes Davis. He notes the surging growth in attendance for drummer Clyde Stubblefield's Tuesday night blues jams at O'Cayz Corral and the rise of new blues-oriented bands such as Honor Among Thieves. "We're trying to use the blues as an influence the way, say, Richard Thompson use Celtic music in his songs," explains Thieves guitarist Andy Ewen. "Blues is incredibly sophisticated emotionally...and deals with strong, adult feelings." Ziemer now works for SRO Artists. Stubblefield is now a fixture on Monday nights at the King Club, while Ewen continues to perform with Honor Among Thieves and other local musicians.