Allen Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas, Lawrence KS

Allen Fieldhouse is located on the campus of the University of Kansas in Lawrence KS. It is home to the Kansas men's and women's basketball teams with a capacity of 16,300. The classic Kansan building is made of lime stone from the nearby prairie. It is named after legendary Kansas basketball coach Dr. Forrest Clare "Phog" Allen. "Phog" Allen coached at KU from 1919-1956 winning national championships in 1922, 1923, and 1952. As a student at KU Allen played for the inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, beginning in 1904. Allen coached players who would go on to become Hall of Fame college coaches in their own right, among them Dean Smith (North Carolina) and Adolph Rupp (Kentucky). Between Kansas, North Carolina, and Kentucky, the three schools are members of an elite club to have notched 2,000 wins each. In that light, it seems like the fundamentals of both playing and winning were taught at Allen Fieldhouse. Allen also recruited Wilt Chamberlain to Kansas, and even coached former United States Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. Allen was instrumental in basketball being accepted as an Olympic sport in 1936. Allen Fieldhouse was dedicated on March 1, 1955 when the Kansas Jayhawks defeated their in-state rival, the Kansas State Wildcats, 77-67. The actual playing surface at Allen is the James Naismith Court

Allen Fieldhouse has hosted several NCAA tournament regional and NBA exhibition games. Occasional concerts there have featured The Beach Boys, Elton John, Sonny and Cher, Leon Russell, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top, Tina Turner, Harry Belafonte, Henry Mancini, The Doobie Brothers, Kansas and Bob Hope. It has also hosted various speakers, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 2004, U.S. presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy (which drew over 20,000) in 1968, and activist Abbie Hoffman in 1970. More recently a group of American Indian singers and dancers from nearby Haskell Indian Nations University performed at half time of a women's basketball game.

Just getting to the Allen Fieldhouse location on campus can feel like a pilgrimage completed. Basketball fans from all over the United States seek this gym out, to look around and breathe the air; they travel just to touch the hallowed walls. Stepping into a non-game day darkened arena is like entering a basketball shrine. It's so quiet you might think you have to take your shoes off. When you walk around the concourse there is a palatable mystique that is hard mistake. With such an aura you might expect to see votive candles burning quietly in the corner. Allen is very clean and mostly untouched since the early days. Residing in the nondescript campus building underneath the vintage architecture of curved iron roof supports are the spirits of former players like Chamberlain, Jo Jo White, Danny Manning, Paul Pierce, and Kirk Heinrich. So much so you can almost feel their presence standing next to you.

The nearest top flight collegiate facility that is comparable in stature would be the now-retired Jenison Fieldhouse (MSU, East Lansing MI). Others in proximity include Hinkle Fieldhouse (Butler University, Indianapolis IN) and Welsh-Ryan Arena (Northwestern University, Evanston IL). Allen Fieldhouse is one of the few classic structures still hosting basketball games today.

North Mississippi Allstars 3/11/10 at The Bottleneck, Lawrence KS

The all-encompassing hybrid music of the North Mississippi All Stars is good bet for today's roots music connoisseurs: one part Southern blues band, one part jam band trio, the rest rock-n-roll kids just having fun. Imagine if the Jelly Roll Kings with Junior Kimbrough strung together their favorite songs into one complete barrage; that's what you get with NMA. The multifunctional band appearing at The Bottleneck in downtown Lawrence KS on March 11 featured lead guitarist and singer Luther Dickinson (who also gigs with the Black Crowes); bassist/vocalist Chris "Big Cheese" Chew; Luther's brother, drummer and washboard player Cody Dickinson.

Entering the stage to the theme song from Sanford & Son, the plaid work-shirted Luther Dickinson began the night authentically enough by running through a series of R.L. Burnside-inspired tunes on slide guitar. Early on Dickinson implored the audience to "shake what yo' mama gave you" and many happily obliged. Next up was the bluesy "I'd Love to Be a Hippy," from the NMA release Hernando featuring the rich vocals of Mr. Chew. About midpoint through the show, just after the drum solo, members of opening act Hill Country Revue hopped onstage for some jamming. "Shake Em On Down" spotlighted the singing of tattooed (and apparent Lucero fan) Hill Country Revue vocalist Daniel Coburn. During the later portion of the set, Luther got behind the drum kit for a spin on the sticks while Cody emerged to strum the washboard. The noticeable thing this night was how NMA looked to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, almost like it wasn't just another Thursday night in the heartland. So much fun was had that Luther Dickinson at one point gave a holler and said, "Man, I feel like cussing," and proceeded to do just that.

The Bottleneck is non-smoking club in downtown Lawrence home to some of the best live music anywhere and features a sizable wooden dance floor plus two sections of flat board bleachers for convenient viewing or standing.

TMGR EXCLUSIVE: Organissimo last gig in GR 4/10 at Founders

TMGR has just learned that Lansing-area jazz funk jam band Organissimo will play their last gig in Grand Rapids on April 10 at Founders Brewery. First word is that Hammond B-3 player Jim Alfredson has landed a full-time gig with blues singer Janiva Magness. Stay tuned for further details.

Lee McBee w/Mike Morgan & the Crawl in Europe summer 2010

#TMGR has learned soul singer extraordinaire and harp player Lee McBee will be reuniting with his former band mates in Mike Morgan & the Crawl for a summer tour. Lee McBee says there are two outings on the books in Europe for May and July this year. Joining Mike Morgan on guitar will be drummer Kevin Schimmelhorn and bassist Drew Allain. McBee played with the Dallas-based Morgan & the Crawl for about 10 years beginning in the early 90s. Together they appeared locally at the Rhythm Kitchen Cafe in downtown GR and in Rockford. The Lawrence KS-area Lee McBee & the Confessors can be found most Sunday nights at BB's Lawnside Bar-B-Q in nearby Kansas City MO. He was recently honored as a 2009 inductee into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame.

Listen to the featured track "Twelve Hours From You" at:
www.myspace.com/leemcbeeofficialwebsite

The Kim Wilson Blues Revue at Martha's Midway Tavern & Dancehall (Mishawaka IN) Valentines Day 2010

A nice shot of the bandstand at the historic Martha's Midway Tavern & Dancehall in Mishawaka IN as passed along by South Bend-area photographer Todd Gentzhorn.

A passerby walking down the sidewalk might miss altogether the unassuming storefront of Martha's Midway Tavern & Dancehall. Opened in 1924 Martha's is a Midwest live music landmark having been featured on CNN and in People magazine. Situated between the General Tire Store and a residence, Martha's lies kitty-corner from Maury's Pub which sits across the street from the NAPA Auto parts store and is just three blocks from two train rails constantly crossing the heartland. Nestled in this cozy south-side working-class neighborhood Martha's is as real as advertised: a vintage tavern and authentic dance hall. The tavern out front features the bar area and pool table where on most music nights you pay no cover. The dance hall in the back, unchanged for decades with plaster walls and two rows of antique decorative globe lights running the length of the room, is ticketed however. This place you'll notice reeks with history--musical and otherwise. It's said that Al Capone used to hang here in prohibition days; tunnels underneath the building lend credibility to that assertion. By looking at the many pictures on the walls and the scribbled signatures behind the stage it seems like just about every blues/roots musician/band in the past 50 years has played Martha's.

On stage this night was the Kim Wilson Blues Revue featuring hometown boy "Little Frank" Krakowski. From left, at the piano Barrelhouse Chuck (Little Brother Montgomery) who has studied under all of the famous Chicago blues piano players including Sunnyland Slim; Billy Flynn (guitar) formerly with Mississippi Heat and we hear tell is some kind of phenomenal mandolin player; behind the kit is drummer Richard Innes who is a true legend with world-wide recognition as an innovator of the West Coast jump blues style having played with the Hollywood Fats Band and George "Harmonica" Smith; Kim Wilson, sounding all the more like the late great Little Milton; originally from Richmond CA, Randy Bermudes on bass (Fabulous Thunderbirds) and Little Frank. Also partially obscured at far left is Amanda Wilson, amp hauler for the weekend.

The show at the Midway was the group's fourth gig in two days (as musicians sleep schedule goes it was really only about a day and a half with the early start on Sun). In attendance at the Valentines Day show was singer Tom Moore of Little Frank & the Premiers who bears a striking vocal resemblance to O.V. Wright. Gerry Hundt, also known as a great mandolin player himself (Nick Moss & the Flip Tops) radio guy Ol' Harv and "Big" Frank Krakowski. www.themidwaytavern.com

Boo Boo Davis canceled; Zora Young to replace

According to Pete Bruinsma at WYCE, on Thursday Boo Boo Davis, scheduled for the Cabin Fever show at Billy's on Feb. 27, canceled due to band member illness. Singer Zora Young (left) named as replacement.

Morris Dees rescheduled for April 1

According to Chris Arnold at GRCC the presentation of Morris Dees, originally canceled because of a snowstorm, has been rescheduled to April 1 at 7:00pm in the Fountain Street Church.