Rod Piazza Lights the Candle
By T.E. Mattox

Piazza plays 'Pin the Partiers to the Back Wall!!!!'

s we close out yet another year, and you're in the process of filling up your dance card for the Holidays, here's a solid party favor. Flip over your calendar and draw some big red lips around Sunday, December 15th that way you won't blow the opportunity to attend Rod Piazza's 5th Annual Birthday Blues Festival. This yearly Riverside, California celebration will once again light up Lake Evans at the American Legion Hall in picturesque Fairmount Park. The first family of West Coast Blues, Rod and Honey Piazza are inviting all their blues friends and fans out to the Inland Empire for what is guaranteed to be a monumental day of partying and non-stop music.

The festivities begin at 2PM and will feature old friends Lynwood Slim, Billy Watson, Little Barry G and of course, the Mighty Flyers. Never willing to rest on their laurels, the Piazza's have added two outstanding musical twists to this year's merriment. They've laced the bill with a 'live-wire' L.A. blues band called the 44's and for the very first time have plugged in an International component from Brazil's best, The Igor Prada Band. And as is tradition, it just wouldn't be the Piazza birthday blues celebration without an unannounced 'surprise' guest or two.

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"It's a reward in itself to expose other people to new acts and it's a reward
for me to hear them as well."

Rod's annual event is truly the closest most of us will ever get to experiencing some of those early, legendary blues gatherings during Chicago's heyday. Rod says he thought the same thing when he first spotted the American Legion Hall. "I noticed what a cool little stage they had, just like the 40's and 50's. I looked at it, it looked like a place that you would see a Muddy Waters or a Little Walter or somebody, you know? It's got a short stage and a wooden dance floor that flexes. The vibe was just so period and everything, I go, 'Man I'd love to put on a gig in here and have a little blues party.'

The Mighty Flyers with 'the Icepick' James Harman back in 2010. Photo: Yachiyo Mattox

With preparations underway for Party # 5, Rod talked about this year's lineup. "Billy Watson you know, he's a good friend and he plays real great, so I can't do it without him. And Barry is not only a great player, but the MC on the show." And about Lynwood Slim… "Lynwood… I've been knocking around with him since the 60's and we just did this thing in Brazil together with Igor Prado's band backing us up."

Lynwood and Prado also have a history. Slim collaborated with Prado and his band back in 2010 on the Delta Groove recording 'Brazilian Kicks,' so it seems the International connection was destined to be. "I decided to get the Prado Band over here," Rod said, "because they did such a good job in Brazil and I thought everybody would enjoy hearing them, so it worked out."

You've gone global? "Yeah, I'm telling you, man. On a small little show, it's nice to bring in somebody that nobody around here has ever seen."

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Local surfer and one of Southern California's most respected harp players, Billy Watson said he loves this party. "This will be my third year at Rod's Birthday O'Rama. It has been a real twilight zone feeling being asked to hang out with all these harp heavies. When I first heard Rod, he had already been into it (the blues) like 30 years. I was floored by his attack on the instrument… and his voice was mysterious."

How did you guys run into each other? "I met Rod through Mark Hummel's former drummer Marty Dodson." Billy said. "We all went surfing together at Old Man's in San Onofre and it was like meeting a mafia don and becoming connected. Being a harp player, who surfs and has the same sense of humor (sarcastic and dry) and appreciation of old movies, we hit it off right away." And about this annual Birthday celebration, Billy adds, "Yes! It is like a Chicago blow down thing. When we perform together I feel like Don Rickles, and Rod is Johnny Carson. I will always be grateful to Rod and James Harman for their friendships and encouragement. They are like great uncles when we get to hang out. It's very special and hard to put into words."

Watson, Harman and Piazza blowin' up in 2011….

The 44's

The Forty-Fours. Photo courtesy of the 44's

New on the musical playlist this year is a Southern California band called the 44's. "They're a local (LA) group and they've made some real headway in the last few years." Rod said. "They've been at my shows and then they've been on shows with me up in Modesto this year and the Irvine Blues Festival a couple of years ago, so I'm no stranger to hearing them. A good harmonica player and a good little tight band and I think they'll bring their own crowd in as well."

Johnny Main, guitarist and vocalist for the 44's said he remembers all too well where he was when he met Piazza and exactly what it meant to him. "I first met Rod at a Blues Festival we were billed on together... We had to go on just before Rod and the Flyer's. I recall being a little nervous before we went up, so we went up and just played our set with some serious energy. After our set we were walking off stage and that's when Rod and I first met, he said in a cool but yet jokingly manner.... 'Y'all gonna' have to make us work on this set.' I laughed and he laughed and we went backstage and had a beer. I proceeded to tell him how much I appreciated what he has done for the West Coast scene and what an honor it was to open for them." Johnny added, "Rod is an icon for a lot of upcoming harp player's and is a class act. Rod is the REAL DEAL!!! And after all these year's is a good friend."

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It's rumored that the Mighty Flyers will be onstage a little bit longer than in past years; they're going to make you WORK… on your birthday!!??? "Yeah, that's right, I haven't been playing enough and we're definitely going to get the band and make 'em work, and Honey and myself… and it should be pretty dang good, I think."

Other than it being your birthday, what makes this show special for you? "I like it because I get to hear music that I like, you know? I don't put anybody on it just because they can draw people. I just want to put people on who are talented and play the same kind of stuff that I like and have been playing for years. It's a reward in itself to expose other people to new acts and it's a reward for me to hear them as well."

Remembering that Rod once told me, he too was invited up onstage, at the Ash Grove in L.A. by a man who would become his mentor and friend, George 'Harmonica' Smith. It seems with the blues what comes around…. comes around. "Yea, that's exactly what it is, man. You know, shoot, these guys have been coming to watch me play for so long, they're ready to get up there and do their thing."

This is year five; you think you've still got a few more Birthday shows in you? "Oh, I don't know, I'll probably do another… 5 or 10!" (laughing)

So we don't have to worry about you retiring? "No, not talking about retirement, yet?

You think music may keep you young? "That's the truth, you know? When you're playing you don't feel any older than when you started. The only time you know you're old is when you get on them airplanes."

Jump Start your Holidays – Sunday December 15th with Rod and Honey Piazza, the Mighty Flyers and some of the hottest blues talent on two continents. Come out for a full day of party fun and great music at Rod Piazza's 5th Annual Birthday Blues Festival.

The show starts at 2PM inside the American Legion Hall, Post No. 79, 2979 Dexter Dr. on Lake Evans in Fairmount Park, Riverside, CA. It will definitely set the tone for your entire December. Not that you need additional incentive but Christmas does come early since the event still only runs you $20. Just goes to show, Santa can't hold a candle to Blues and Birthday Cake!

Lake Evans – Fairmount Park in Riverside

Related Articles:
Rod Piazza Birthday Blues Party; Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers; Life on the Road (with Charlie Musselwhite); Frank Frost; Mark Hummel