Thank you for posting this! I appreciate that someone saved some video from the 80s and converted it into a format to share online. It's the only video I've seen so far with Tom Wilson playing back in the 80s (when cell phone cameras hadn't been invented yet). I used to follow Milwaukee blues bands in the 80s when I was a college student at UWM, but I only saw Liban once, and I remember it to this day. A friend and I heard that he'd just returned from Nashville and was playing at the (I think) Up & Under. So we went, thinking it'd be like any other band that plays there, but the place was packed all the way back to the door, and with people that I didn't recognize as regulars. Rather it appeared to be more of a middle class and well-dressed audience. Of course it was great harmonica playing and I could hear the Nashville influences. My friend and I stayed for a few, but left early because it was just too packed, there was no room for us near the door with people coming and going. I don't remember who was backing him up that night, but I like that in this video he's playing with Billy and Tom. I thought that Tom Wilson was the best drummer in Milwaukee back in the day (not to disrespect his brother or any of the other great drummers at the time), and later I'd heard that he took over the open jam at Up & Under for a few years, after I'd already moved somewhere (probably California). I also thought that the Billy Flynn Blues Band (including Tom) was the best blues band in Milwaukee when I was following the scene, even though the band I followed the most (as a reliable groupie they could call to come to gigs) was actually the late Chris Beggan's (another amazing harmonica player, with a style using a little more emotion and volume changes than Liban's). I did appreciate Tom Wilson letting me hang out with him a few times, taking me along with his musician friends to Boobies to see some of the best blues musicians in Milwaukee, and also to see Sunnyland Slim in Chicago. Tom taught me what a back beat was, and other musical insights on how they made the magic. I notice that Billy Flynn is still playing concerts and Tom is still blacksmithing. I'm not in Milwaukee these days, but I have fond memories of the 80s music scene -- they were sane, kind, respectable, and talented, and I've learned to not take any of those qualities for granted.
Thanks Matt! Passing on that music and fitting in those soul shoes of Jim's must be easy. Just take the house down and have a beautiful life. Coming full circle with a lifetime of blues friends is a great journey. Keep these videos coming so many gigs yet so few videos posted. Make me and Little Walter happy. c
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Dynamics, rhythmic call/answer and most of all… ATTACK!!! 2 chords and pure beauty. Simple… but GREAT!
Para mi es un descubrimiento Jim Liban....un fuera de serie!
He's a great musician from Milwaukee. I've loved his music.
I had the pleasure of seeing Jim Liban on stage at the Chicago Blues Fest a couple summers ago and - he sounds more amazing than ever!!
Excellent performance, thank u, good time for you
I'm relatively new to Jim Liban's playing. Enjoying exploring his back catalogue :)
Thank you for posting this! I appreciate that someone saved some video from the 80s and converted it into a format to share online. It's the only video I've seen so far with Tom Wilson playing back in the 80s (when cell phone cameras hadn't been invented yet). I used to follow Milwaukee blues bands in the 80s when I was a college student at UWM, but I only saw Liban once, and I remember it to this day. A friend and I heard that he'd just returned from Nashville and was playing at the (I think) Up & Under. So we went, thinking it'd be like any other band that plays there, but the place was packed all the way back to the door, and with people that I didn't recognize as regulars. Rather it appeared to be more of a middle class and well-dressed audience. Of course it was great harmonica playing and I could hear the Nashville influences. My friend and I stayed for a few, but left early because it was just too packed, there was no room for us near the door with people coming and going.
I don't remember who was backing him up that night, but I like that in this video he's playing with Billy and Tom. I thought that Tom Wilson was the best drummer in Milwaukee back in the day (not to disrespect his brother or any of the other great drummers at the time), and later I'd heard that he took over the open jam at Up & Under for a few years, after I'd already moved somewhere (probably California). I also thought that the Billy Flynn Blues Band (including Tom) was the best blues band in Milwaukee when I was following the scene, even though the band I followed the most (as a reliable groupie they could call to come to gigs) was actually the late Chris Beggan's (another amazing harmonica player, with a style using a little more emotion and volume changes than Liban's). I did appreciate Tom Wilson letting me hang out with him a few times, taking me along with his musician friends to Boobies to see some of the best blues musicians in Milwaukee, and also to see Sunnyland Slim in Chicago. Tom taught me what a back beat was, and other musical insights on how they made the magic. I notice that Billy Flynn is still playing concerts and Tom is still blacksmithing. I'm not in Milwaukee these days, but I have fond memories of the 80s music scene -- they were sane, kind, respectable, and talented, and I've learned to not take any of those qualities for granted.
Thanks Matt! Passing on that music and fitting in those soul shoes of Jim's must be easy. Just take the house down and have a beautiful life. Coming full circle with a lifetime of blues friends is a great journey. Keep these videos coming so many gigs yet so few videos posted. Make me and Little Walter happy.
c
this smokes, great singing, grooving band and hot harp - killer!
Short Stuff back in the sixties seventies at the Pines Ballroom in Bloomer Wisconsin wild times.
Miss their guitar player.