Cook Shack House Concert
“The Blues is back at the Shack”

Mel Jones and His Bag O’ Bones -- Thursday, July 10, 2008, 7:30 PM, $10



Hard to believe that it’s been a year since Mel and the Bag ‘O Bones rocked the foundations of the Cook Shack.  But trust the calendar, and it’s time for a big booster shot of the blues.

If you were among the lucky ones at the Cook Shack when Mel Jones performed for us last June, you’re already typing up your email for reservations.  Mel and the boys are just that good and that entertaining, and this is a night not to be left out in the cold winds of July summer! 

For this repeat performance Mel is powering up the full blues ensemble, the Bag O’ Bones Band, and they’ll be packing a sack full of great blues and jazz tunes and songs featuring Mel on harmonica and vocals, plus some mighty great guitar, bass and mandolin.  It will indeed be a foot-tapping, hand-clapping and finger-snapping night of special music and fun.

About the Band . . .

Mel Jones is originally from Chapel Hill where he cut his musical molars on drums and rock-n-roll.  But later he found his true mission in life when he discovered the blues and now finds himself soulfully connected to traditional blues, combining all his musical influences to create well-rounded performances that are spiced with blues, jazz and of course, humor.  Mel has established himself as one of the region’s outstanding harmonica players and has earned a solid reputation as singer, songwriter and showman.   With Mel at the mic you can rest assured that no musical leaf will be left unturned, and there will be lots of good humor, cool songs and funny stories. 

Don Story is from the acoustic music Mecca of Wilkesboro, NC, where he is widely known as one of the finest guitarists in Western North Carolina. A lifelong professional musician, he recorded his first session as a drummer at age fourteen. Since then he has toured the Southern USA with an array of blues, rock, and bluegrass bands, most notably his own group, Split Decision, in the ‘80’s and most recently with Don Story and The Fried Pies, as well as, R.G. Absher and Extra Measure. A Merlefest regular, he is highly sought as a teacher, session man, and stage performer.

Dan Campbell, three time winner of the World Champion Bassist title of the annual Union Grove Fiddler’s Convention, started on a one-string wash tub bass with his Dad, Larry Campbell. Performing on tour soon established Dan as one of the most talented bass men in Bluegrass music, performing alongside legends such as Don Reno, Bill Harrell & the Tennessee Cutups, as well as L. W. Lambert & the Blue River Boys. His romping bass licks have also made it to the same stage as Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs, the Whites, and Jerry Douglas.

Kip Snow, originally from Elkin, NC now lives in Mocksville, NC, where he owns and operates Counterpoint Studios, a music store known for its fine teaching facility. He has played music since he was old enough to hold an instrument and is a master of mandolin, guitar and banjo in a variety of styles from jazz and rock to bluegrass and country. A founding member of Dixie Creek Revival, he has appeared on the same stage with The Country Gentlemen, Doyle Lawson, J.D. Crowe, and Keith Whitley.

This will not be a night of soft, quiet ballads and lofty, sensitive songs.  Be ready for the blues with all its strut, punch and emotion, and expect a lot of just plain fun as Mel and the Bones take us to another destination in the acoustic world.  Nobody leaves a Mel Jones performance without having a good time and the Cook Shack is just the place for getting happy tonight by getting a good case of the blues.

A few words about the blues from Mel…

Why does everybody love the Blues? I’ll tell you why. Cause no matter if you’re old or young, rich or poor, no matter where you’re from, no matter who your daddy is, no matter what you eat for breakfast, no matter what your real hair color is, some where, some how, sometime you’re gonna get the Blues. That’s why the Blues has been the most influential form of music in the world touching jazz, country, rock and roll, Gospel, bluegrass, old time, R&B, reggae...and on and on.

But more than any other genre the Blues is a living and breathing thing surviving through the years by changing and evolving. Mel Jones and His Bag O’Bones take acoustic Blues down the road to the next fork by doing the same thing that the old country blues masters did. They listened to the music around them, paid attention to the world around them, and lived their lives. From these sources they made the Blues well up in a musical spring that became a branch that became a creek that became a river that has now become a flood. The Bones are proud to add a few drops of their own.   -- Mel

Check out the great Bones web page for more Bonesmania and details at: http://bonesblues.com/ 

Reply by email (cookshackshows@roadrunner.com] to reserve seats and tell your friends the joint will be jumping!  And you blues folks already know:  Act now.  We’ll sell out soon.

Special Note . . . The Cook Shack will be CLOSED Saturday, June 28th through Saturday, July 5th.