Too Slim’s latest hits the charts
Blues-rock fans in the Inland Northwest have long known that Too Slim and the Taildraggers are national-class.
Now, we have confirmation in the form of the Billboard Top Blues Albums chart.
“The Fortune Teller,” the new Too Slim and the Taildraggers CD, debuted at No. 10 on that list.
Not bad, considering they’re sitting there right above Ruthie Foster, Keb’ Mo’ and Etta James at Nos. 11, 12 and 13, respectively.
The rest of the Top 10 contains legends such as the late Stevie Ray Vaughan (a retrospective), George Thorogood, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Joan Armatrading, Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter, James Cotton and various artists on the “Black Snake Moan” soundtrack.
This is especially impressive when you consider that it was accomplished “without retail distribution,” according to Tim “Too Slim” Langford. The band did it on their own label, UnderWorld Records, all through Internet and live-venue sales.
That might change soon – distributors have now come calling.
The Lukenses on radio
Look for one additional Lukens to show up soon on the Morning News show on KXLY-AM (Newsradio 920).
Rick Lukens will join his wife Teresa Lukens in late August or early September as the co-host of the morning radio news program.
He’ll be moving over from the TV side, where he has been co-anchor of KXLY-4’s “Good Morning Northwest.”
Lukens will fill the radio spot formerly filled by Bud Nameck, who will be devoting most of his time to the Cougar Sports Radio Network and to an upcoming talk show on KXLX-AM (700 ESPN The Ticket) titled “Bud, A Fan and The Wingman.”
The couple, by the way, will continue to co-anchor KXLY-4’s Sunday morning show.
The Elvis-ator
Ben “Preslee” Klein, local Elvis impersonator, won first place in the Almost Elvis Competition in Kelowna, B.C., last month.
That means he’s qualified for the Ultimate Elvis Competition, which begins this week in Memphis as part of the ceremonies surrounding Thursday’s 30th anniversary of Presley’s death.
Here’s hoping that the judges love him tender.
Big bookings at Big Easy
A number of big acts – along with smaller, but equally worthy ones – are booked into the Big Easy Concert House in Spokane over the next few months.
Here’s a selected list:
•Ted Nugent, Tuesday – The Nuge himself in all of his camo-encased glory.
•Billy Bob Thornton, Aug. 28 – The movie star and sometime folk-rocker, plus band.
•Tommy Davidson, Aug. 31 – Remember this comedian from “In Living Color”? He’s the guy who did those impressions of Sammy Davis Jr. and Michael Jackson.
•Megadeth, Sept. 8 – Get your late ‘80s, early ‘90s metal fix.
•Built to Spill, Sept. 22 – Idaho’s contribution to indie rock.
•Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party, Sept. 25 – The former Jane’s Addiction frontman’s new band.
•George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Sept. 26 – The slide guitar-playing big dog.
•Henry Rollins, Oct. 27 – The singer and spoken word rabble-rouser.
• Queensryche, Feb. 29 – The biggest act ever to come out of Bellevue, Wash.
Tickets for all of the above are on sale through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).
Festival at Sandpoint
Today’s the last day to catch the Festival at Sandpoint – and it should also prove to be one of the best.
The Grand Finale concert, 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Field in Sandpoint, features fiddle genius Mark O’Connor performing with the Spokane Symphony.
The free wine-tasting (for attendees 21 and over) begins at 4:30 p.m. At this point, the best way to get tickets is to simply show up at the Memorial Field box office, 855 Ontario St. in Sandpoint. The box office opens at 3:30 p.m., and there should be plenty of tickets available. Go to www.festivalatsandpoint.com for details.
According to dispatches called in to Spotlight, the festival has been going swimmingly. The Aug. 4 Lyle Lovett show was a sell-out.