Here's a video from our March 15 show at the Hideout in Chicago. It was shot by videographer/filmmaker Gretchen Hasse and a Loyola University student to promote the Tamms Prison protest mission, championed by yearten.org.

Ms. Hasse was quite inspired by the evening, saying she "thought the music was so powerful and appropriate to the Tamms cause - the whole blues philosophy of finding beauty in the worst situations, and using that beauty to help you through and inspire others to the same - I was really re-educated that night as to where the blues come from and what they mean."

Nicely said.

The first half of the video is an eloquent, heartfelt speech by Mary L. Johnson, mother of a current Tamms prisoner. The second half is Elmore James Jr. and the Broomdusters playing Cummins Prison Blues.

Enjoy the video below.

--blue dave

Well, it's been a week since our March 15 show at the Hideout in Chicago. Better get some thoughts down while I can still remember it!

Kent Lambert of the TAMMS Prison Coalition organized a great event, and from what I understand, it was a great fund raising success for the group whose mission is to dramatically turn around or ultimately shut down the maximum security prison in downstate Illinois.

One of the best moments was the heartfelt, eloquent speech from Mary Johnson, mother of a TAMMS prisoner.

Our band played two sets of hard driving blues. The musical highlight was probably Cummins Prison Farm Blues, due to its obvious relevance to evening's theme. Elmore James Jr. set up the song with a personal recollection of the Cummins Prison's impact on him and his community.

Rupert, the opening act, performed some amazing avant guard jazz, led by trumpeter Jamie Branch. Cool stuff!

The place was packed all night. The crowd was enthusiastic and appreciative. Thanks to everyone who came out and participated in a truly remarkable event. And thanks to Tim and the Hideout for hosting a most excellent evening. (Great job on the sound, Mike!)

On Saturday, March 15 2007, The Hideout, one of Chicago’s best kept entertainment secrets, will host a benefit for the Tamms Year Ten Coalition. Music includes our own Elmore James Jr. and Rupert.

Tamms Ten Year Campaign is a coalition to publicize and protest the conditions at Tamms C-MAX prison in Illinois. To mark the tenth anniversary of the prison’s opening in downstate Illinois, the group has scheduled a series of events to raise funds and awareness of the prison conditions.

In their own words…

"The Year Ten coalition asks the people of Illinois to join our coalition of prisoners, families and concerned citizens in protesting the IDOC’s misguided and inhumane policies, and in calling for legislation to end the torture of prisoners in Illinois."

Curious, I did a little Google research on the facility. This looks like an awfully bad place. I don’t really know enough to take a position on it, but I thoroughly support the efforts of the Ten Year Coalition to bring attention to the situation.

The Hideout is located just east of Elston and north of North Ave. As they say, “The Hideout is a regular guy bar for irregular folks who just don’t fit in, or just don’t want to fit in.”

They host a lot of benefits there, and definitely have a strong political point of view. That’s so unusual for a commercial operation, but the risk has gained them a strong following of bands and music fans who share this way of looking at the world, and wish to celebrate it together.

We’re looking forward to performing there on the Ides of March.