ross neilsen - Roamancing

Ross Neilsen Singing the Solo Blues at the 2012 IBC in Memphis, Tennessee

February 29, 2012 by Emme Rogers 1 Comment

For those of you that have been reading along here and on my site this past Autumn, you might remember this week’s musician from the Sufferin’ Bastards, as in ‘Ross Neilsen & the Sufferin’ Bastards’.

Ross Neilsen

Seems only fitting that Ross should be featured on Tunes from the Road again, as he inspired the diversion of what was suppose to be a road trip to Savannah to Memphis. You see neither Ross or I seem to be all that up on our US geography, other than the fact that both Savannah and Memphis are in the Southern US. Ross was playing in Memphis, Tennessee, and mentioned that if we happened through Memphis on our trip to Savannah, we should come hear him play. I mentioned this to my road tripping buddy, before I bothered look at a map to discover they aren’t exactly close or on-route, rather similar to the distance from Calgary to Vancouver (similarly, both out West – come to think of it, maybe that’s why so many travelers strife to see both Banff and Vancouver on the same trip). By the time I’d discovered this, it was too late, my road tripping buddy had figured out that Ross was playing at the International Blues Competition and being a music lover clearly this was a sign from the heavens that we should be high tailing it down to Memphis instead.

Once I got over any concerns of being perceived as a groupie, I have to admit I was pretty glad for the happenstance, as Memphis is a fabulous town, I met and listening to some talented musicians, and I got to experience Ross performing solo. I like Ross with the band, but I LOVE Ross solo. The man has talent and you see so much more of his depth and his sole when he’s on his own.

Yep, the man has cool boots.

See for yourself, here’s an incredible set DittyTV filmed of him in Memphis. Be sure to watch right to the end, as the last song is my favourite. When I saw him perform this live, it really tugged at my heart strings, and after hearing his introduction to this song here, now I know why.

Not nearly as beautifully filmed or as good sound quality, but nonetheless a video of Ross playing at the 2012 IBC Great Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase that I filmed. I’m rather fond of the boot shot.

Thanks again to the Ottawa and Montreal Blues Societies and the Kooky Canuck for hosting an event to showcase all the great Canadian musicians at the IBC!

Filed Under: All Aboard!, Emme Rogers, Events, Music, Our Travelers, Travel TV, Tunes from the Road Tagged With: 2012, 2012 International Blues Challenge, blues, Blues Musician, DittyTV, Great Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase, IBC, IBC Canadian Showcase, IBC Great Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase, International Blues Challenge, Kooky Canuck, Memphis, Montreal Blues Society, Ottawa Blues Society, Polar Bear Blues, Road trip, road tripping, ross neilsen, Tennessee, tunes from the road

Jesse Roper Roamancing the IBC Great Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase

February 19, 2012 by Emme Rogers 4 Comments

Love the road trip and love our tunes from the road! So why not make the pilgrimage to the heart of rock n’ roll in Memphis, Tennessee to acquire a bit more road tripping music? That is just what we did, in the nick of time to catch the International Blues Challenge and a whole tonne of great blues. Amazing the talent out there, but didn’t really expect to discover so much more Canadian music and talent from a trip to the States. That is indeed what we found, thanks in part to the Kooky Canuck and the Montreal and Ottawa Blues Societies for putting on the first ever Great Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be sharing more ‘Tunes from the Road’ from the heart of music and Canadian blues in Memphis, Tennessee. The first of whom is a young, none to sore on the eyes, whipper snapper, who wormed his way into my heart by making me laugh. Give it up for Mr. Jesse Roper (otherwise known as The Roper Show)!

With any luck, you’ll be seeing more of Jesse here, along with Mr. Ross Neilsen, as I’ve always been a gal for live music, and these two just make me so darn happy that I figure why pack CDs for a road trip, when you can pack a musician or two!

Sultry Blues Kisses,

Emme xoxo

Filed Under: All Aboard!, Around the World, Down South, Emme Rogers, Events, Music, Our Travelers, Perfect Dates, Roamancing, Tunes from the Road, US Tagged With: 2012 International Blues Challenge, blues, blues music, canadian blues, canadian musicians, Going to Toronto, Great Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase, IBC, IBC 2012, IBC Canadian Showcase, International Blues Challenge, Jesse Roper, Kooky Canuck, Memphis, Polar Bear Blues Showcase, Road trip, road tripping music, ross neilsen, Tennessee, The Roper Show, tunes from the road

#CrossCanada Playlist ~ Ross Neilsen & the Suffering Bastards

November 13, 2011 by Emme Rogers 4 Comments

One of the beauties of driving across the country is all the interesting people you meet along the way. This was certainly the case of my solo drive this Autumn. Seems to me that when you are on your own, you are almost more open to talking to other people and meeting strangers on the road, especially if you are like me and a terrible eavesdropper.

I was having one such moment when I pulled into the tiny Village of Rossport, looking in desperation for a non-fast food chain lunch spot, hypoglycemia rearing it’s ugly head, as it was 3 or 4 in the afternoon and I’d forgotten to eat again. Happened upon a real unexpected find, in the weaving bends of Northern Ontario filled with small diners, fast food chains and truck stops. The find? A whimsical cafe that made me feel like I was on the Gulf Islands, with the work of artists decorating the garden path in the form of pottery, mosaics, and the odd sculpture. Opening the front door, I took note of a poster for a band that was coming to rock the joint and was greeted by the work of local artists adorning the walls. The place? The Serendipity Garden Cafe.

An unexpected cafe of an unexpected meeting.

This was definitely a local hotspot for an evening out, when you wanted something a little classier than the local pub, accompanied by a nice sit down meal. Walking in, you’d expect to find a few locals chatting over a leisurely lunch or coffee, just not at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, when most self respecting people were contemplating what to make for dinner. Instead I found the unexpected. Three dark and mysterious men with scruffy hair and unshaven faces, the kind that you knew were trouble in a very good way, and were out of place in this whimsical little cafe. These were certainly not locals, but rather fellow travelers, like myself. I don’t know why, but I suspected they were musicians from the get go. I even wondered if they were the upcoming act at the Cafe.

So what’s a gal to do, sitting all alone at a table waiting for her meal, but eavesdrop on the conversation of three dark, mysterious and handsome strangers. Clearly the one with the piercing dark and playful eyes was no dummy, as he started to tease me by repeating the dessert menu aloud and glancing mischieviously in my direction. Smart, funny, with that rugged scruffy look of an artist, he had me enraptured. Alas I learnt on-route to the washroom we were passersby in the late afternoon, heading in opposite directions. And no, this wasn’t from eavesdropping. Anyone who starts taunting me with sweets clearly needs to be talked to directly.

I was right. They were musicians ~ Ross Neilsen & the Sufferin’ Bastards (Shawn Worden & Karl Gans) ~ and not only musicians, but Blues Men … mmm, mmm, mmm. The one with the piercingly handsome mischievous eyes being Ross. I may not have got to see them play live that night, as I had to keep driving South East, but they did give me their CD, which kept me wide awake and rocking along as I drove through the worst of moose country that night. Not only did I enjoy the tunes, but they kept me safe and sound on the road. Thank you gentlemen!

Here are a few tunes & other sundries from Ross Neilson & the Sufferin’ Bastards: