SCHEDULE EMAIL MIKE LENZ BAND LESSONS BOOKING INFO LINKS
Mike Lenz is based in the Akron, Ohio area and performs solo on guitar, vocals, harmonica or kazoo, and stompbox. Winner of the Marietta, Ohio based BJFM 2005 Blues Challenge, he is influenced by everything from delta and piedmont blues artists such as Robert Johnson, Son House, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Blake and Tommy Johnson to Jug Band stomps and rags of the 20’s and 30’s to classic 50’s and 60’s electric Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, and Howlin’ Wolf to the juke joint boogies of Hound Dog Taylor and modern North Mississippi blues. His live show includes his originals, classic blues and tastes of just about every genre of American roots music.
From the BJFMS email letter:
THE 13TH ANNUAL RIVER CITY BLUES COMPETITION, Saturday Feb 19,
2005:
Wow again! It was a day of blues and nothing else. Things went off like
clockwork with very little problems what-so-ever. We actually got a little
ahead of schedule at one point and had to drag our feet some to slow it
down, thanks to the efforts of emcee Stevieboy Wells and his excellent BSin'
skills. Had 17 band this year with 1 no-show. This was a very uneasy feeling
as nobody knew why they were not there. And we still don't today. But other
then that everything went very, very smooth. And the winners are...
*3rd Place: "Angel Blue & The Prophets" from Valencia, PA Went
on stage at
8:30pm and had a great set. Angel had some wonderful vocals. Expect to here
from this band again and if you live in the Pittsburgh area be sure to catch
them sometime soon.
*2nd Place: "Black Cat Monroe" from Mogadore, Ohio. These guys play
Rascal's Saloon in Dover quite often. So if you live in that area then you
don't need to be told how good they are! The last band to play before dinner
break and they put on a fantastic show. And more good news...They will also
be able to represent BJFMS next February in Memphis do to the fact our first
place winner was a solo act. So BJFMS will have TWO representatives on Beale
Street in '06!
*1st Place: "Mike Lenz" (solo) from Suffield, Ohio. Mike set down
and
played thru an acoustic Delta Blues set like nobodys business! It was great
to see how the crowd responded to him. He had everybody standing cheering
for him and his acoustic guitar and harmonica. It was also easy to see that
Mike was very touched by them. He will be a wonderful banner carrier for
BJFMS next January in Memphis.
Also, Mike will now kickoff the 14th Annual
River City Blues Festival on Friday, March 18th.
From http://www.dustyblues.com/reviews.html
River City Ohio Blues Competition, 2005:
What a knockout! Mike Lenz is an all natural blues musician. He won the 1st
prize of $1000 and will be going to Memphis to compete in the 2006
IBCs. 2nd place prize went to Black Cat Monroe, from Mogadore, OH, who was
led by Bobby Chesterfield Monroe. Monroe's vocal act mixed John Lee Hooker with
James Brown, the cat's hot. Since the 1st place winner was acoustic, the 2nd
place band winners will represent the Blues, Jazz and Folk Music society at
the 2006 IBCs, also. The 3rd place prize went to Angel and the Blues Prophets,
from Pittsburgh, PA. Angel's vocals are exquisite with a mixture of Janis Joplin
and Maria Muldaur.
Of course, everyone is a winner. All of the bands provided a top notch performance with talent in abundance. It was great to see some young bands entering the contest. They were pulling the blues songs out of the closet and that was quite impressive (Snatch it back and hold it). We can't forget about the Friday night performance by Shaun Booker & the New Breed. An impressive act. Proceeds of their CD sales were donated to the City of Marietta, for the Flood Relief Fund. See pictures below of the donation. Don't forget to check out the evacuation exercise of the hotel! I suppose the BLUES were HOT that night, at least it was a false alarm for the Fire Department!