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Johnny Dollar on Cool River's stage
I am most happy to report on a new blues venue in the suburbs. As you know, all the world is a suburb of Chicago, and this one is just a bit over the Cook County line. Cook County and I have had somewhat of an adversarial relationship lately, but I can’t let that get in the way of our mission of supporting Chicago’s live blues scene. Cool River Draught House is located in the recently chartered town of Homer Glen. It’s not uncommon to find a venue try to present live blues, only to find that it doesn’t pay the rent. Often times it is because the product is not authentic Chicago blues. For example, the uninitiated barkeep might think that the neighborhood Stevie Ray wannabe will suffice. Marketing, demographics, and the economy be damned, because Mike Maracich actually is a blues fan. Does fandom pay the bills? Of course not, but I’m hoping he will give our genre a fair chance. He sure started out right. So far he has presented the likes of Tenry Johns and Johnny Drummer. Ronnie Baker Brooks will be appearing Saturday, January 24th. I spent some time with Mike and his manager Pat after one of the shows, and they convinced me that they really want the live blues thing to work. You know I’ll do my part, and would certainly like to see this venue succeed with the blues.
Cool River is a large open space. There is a large centrally located bar flanked on one side by pool tables, darts, bags and arcades. There are plenty of clear flat screen TV screens visible from anywhere in the bar, I mean draught house. The other side features a large raised stage. The lighting is professional, and they plan to add a pro house sound system for live blues. The musicians play to a comfortable room with plenty of tables and seating.
Johnny Drummer & the Starlighters are authentic. This R&B troupe has been the house band at Lee’s Unleaded for years. They have several recordings on Earwig Records (what’s a record?) and they can be seen at Legends as well as other joints about town. Coincidentally, he is smiling at me from the cover of a recent (two years old) copy of Big City Rhythm & Blues. I bet there was some time-sensitive project for which that issue had to be on my desk. Oops. I plan to tell you more about Johnny Drummer in another report covering his recent gigs at Cool River and Buddy Guy’s Legends. Singer Vivian Vance Kelly and the great Eddie C. Campbell were in the audience and stepped up to enhance our live blues experience. How’s that for venue validation?
Johnny Drummer
Please check the Chicago Blues Beat calendar, to watch for Cool River’s blues nights. If you’re in one of the Southwest suburbs like Orland Park, Missouri or Mexico, be sure to check this place out. If you play the blues yourself, you may want to consider their Thursday night blues jam, hosted by Twist & the Groove Machine. Whether you get to Cool River Draught House or another venue, please make it a point to the management that you came for the blues.
Cool River Draught House & Eatery is located at 12622 West 159th Street, Homer Glen, IL 60491. You can call them at 708-301-8006.
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