Leon Laudenbach: NEWS 1/4/2012

I just upload a new disc to ITunes. There is a Tunecore player on the front page of this site. Please check it out. It is a collection of tunes that we used for the Head Water Blues Opry. Some of the songs did not make it in the musical because the script did not require them. With the help Of Andy Berg engineering the sound of these tunes are great.

We are are cancelled for New Years Eve, our friends Preston and Paulsen will be playing the Pearl Lake Lodge, they are a great band. Check them out.

What’s Going On
It been a month of Sundays trying to figure out how the recording format that I purchased a while back actually works. I had a light bulb moment happen to me about three months ago. That would be the thought that I didn’t know what I was doing. This has a lot to do with the lack of any formal education with ProTools and the mystery of equalization. Well I studied hard (googled) and discovered a few things that needed to be put in order. With that being said I have three projects that are going to be released with one that will be delivered in a CD format and the rest online. The first is a project that Steve Shifsky and I worked on in 2009 that was recorded at Hutchinson Community College, with the help of Andy Berg engineering we came up with a selection of tunes that where going to be used in a theatrical performance that ran in the Summer of 2010. This will be titled Beggars Dance “The Hutch Sessions”. This turned out to a very dynamic set of songs that were recorded from older releases and a couple new ones that are added to it.
A project that we worked on during that same time was called, “Somebody’s is going get there Ass Whooped”. This went under the Sucker Punch band name. That was a very fun project with a friend of mine from St. Cloud, (Curt Blaising) helping us play a few gigs and giving me moral support. Getting back to the recording processes that I was able to somewhat get under control, these recordings came to life and I am excited to give this a proper release. The original idea was to record Steve’s tiny drum kit with slide guitar and Sparky Andersons harps. With the remix this stuff in my opinion is great. We recorded a couple covers to it; one is called Big Bijou that I first heard on a Ronnie Wood album that he released in the 70’s, and Walking with a Mountain, (Mott the Hoople) which has a bluegrass feel to it. This will be released under the Beggars Dance band logo also.
The Mother Pearls Love Letters audio book is in production with Randy Mickelberg, we are up to chapter 11 (sound's pretty ominous) I am doing the dialogue and Randy is adding the sound bed and effects to the story. We started this a long time ago but it is the most labor intensive to do. The book was finished in Feb. of 2011 but the time to make this come together was more than I thought. It will have ten tunes that will intersperse with the story. It is going to be very cool.
Along with that Willie West and I completed the project from Finland a retro soul album that will be released in 2012 on vinyl.
If this all sounds like I have ADHD, I probably do. I like the Beggars Dance logo so I will forever from this point on go by that when releasing new material. As far as a band name who knows it’s too late to try to make anyone figure that out. Right now we have been using the Leon Laudenbach band at the clubs we play in, sounds as German as you can get, let me know if anybody cares.

The manuscript of a book I am writing is just about in the can. That is where people will read this thing sitting on the can. It will start as a audio book with songs that intertwine with the story. The music will come seperately as an audio Cd.

Timmion records is preparing the release of a new Willie west single called Lesson of Love. The High Society Brothers from Helsinki wrote the music and we supplied the lyrics.

WILLIE WEST & THE HIGH SOCIETY BROTHERS
“LESSON OF LOVE” PART 1 & 2 Timmion#023
Written By: Willie West, Leon Laudenbach & The High Society Bros.
The tag of Soul Survivor may be over-used;
but it is well-suited to Willie West, another
gifted singer and songwriter from the New
Orleans area who has never gotten the breaks
he deserved or credit he was due, despite a
long and active career in music. Willie West
made some outstanding records with Allen
Toussaint for labels like DEESU, JOSIE,
WARNER BROTHERS and many others.
He even recorded a movie Soundtrack with
The Meters for the Blaxploitation film
“Black Samson” and toured heavily with the
band, but he never could get a career
established in the music business.
Nonetheless, he has never let undeserved
professional disappointments or relative
obscurity to the general public get in the way
of his ability and drive to entertain, and still
has faith that he can reach a wider audience.
Last year, Willie West & The High Society
Brothers recorded their first single for
Timmion Records, “The Devil Gives Me
Everything”. Its aching, melancholic vocal
delivery over a heavy downtempo rhythm
section with bounding beats and punchy
horns made an impact from the West Coast
low-rider scene to the UK “Deep-Soul”
circles and also turned the heads of the
younger generation. Due to the surprising
success of the first 7”, Timmion Records pushed Willie & the band back to the studio to cut another 45....and here they are with their new 7” single entitled “Lesson Of Love” part 1 & 2 (Timmion #023). This
fresh waxing from the frozen North lays down a lilting midtempo groove with a tremendous Southern feel,as long-suffering Mr. West laments the conduct of a fickle female who’s playing a wayward game with his heart. But although this Siren-like seductress blows hot and cold on the stormy seas of love, the Southside
Brother stays cool, navigating a rock steady rap before riding out through a maelstrom of tremulous organ and surging horns with his head held high. The lesson of love has been learned.

Thanks to everyone that came out to the Opry shows. It was a bucket list thing for me. We are planning more shows at different locations, and that part is a lot of fun. The work we put in it makes it easier now to refine the show and take less time to do it. I think John Mellencamp and Prince had it right when they say the internet is dead, There will be no more Mick or Keiths or Robert Johnsons just a bunch of useless megabits floating in cyberspace including mine. Oh yeh that's right, I forgot my coffee this morning.

I always wonder if putting your personal laundry out on the web to dry is a good thing. Its been a while so here goes, A Grand Old Stearns County Blues Opry is going in to production for this summer's opening. We dont have dates but we are shooting for sometime in June. Rex Veeder is putting together the script right now and that will be presented to a theater in St. Cloud. The premise of the story is how does a farm boy from Stearns County get heavily immersed in the blues. Well this time around it happens in a dream, where the boy encounters dream charcters that guide him good or bad, bad to worse to the final outcome. It will be all orginal music, Iron Cat beat poetry and soul food. What more would you need. Also I am working on an album (the old kind) with Willie West and a band out of Finland called The High Society Brothers. Its retro soul music right out of the early 60's. We are working on the next vinyl single that will be put on the full length album. I guess vinyl is giving CD's a run for the money. Who would have thought.

I worked up a bunch of songs for a disc called Beggars Dance. We will play some shows with that as the name of the group, solo, duo, whatever. Whatever works. I am also looking at booking a date for this Blues Opry that I have been working on called A Grand Old Stearns County Blues Opry. Its about a youg boy from Stearns County that gets heavily influenced by the blues in a dream (it certainly would not come from any where else) The premise of the musical would be that he encounters several beings in his dream that shapes his attitude and self worth to awaken to the realization that he is a white caucasion blues man. Some of the tunes that we recorded in Hutchinson are going to be released as the music that goes along with it.

Steve and I play duo gigs, drums and guitar; we will be going under the name Beggars Dance. Early part of Oct. we recorded 12 Tunes at the Hutchinson Community College that turned out great. We will have them at our gigs by December, please ask for one. These same tunes will be used in a musical that is in the making, called A Grand Ol Stearns County Blues Opry. It will consist of four singers that will share lead vocals for the characters they are playing. Plus a beat poet that ties the whole thing together. Hopefully by March of 2010 we will present it at a local theater.

I finished recording a disc by Annie and Kathy from the duo called Tetroploid. The recording turned out beautiful, there spirit shined through the music. They do play around St. Cloud, so if you happen to see them, please pick up a copy, you won’t be disappointed.

Taboo Blue From the Mood Swing era, will be playing a one off gig at the White Horse Thurday Dec. 17th, 8 oclock start. That band included Johnny Schwartz, Aaron Virnig, Sparky Anderson, Doug Field and Chris Schuette.

I added a picture of the 45 that we did with the company from finland, on the front page. Itis being played in Europe on like minded programs. They sent us 3 more tunes to work on. It is very retro soul music, which is what Willie did plenty of back in New Orleans.

I changed the front page to a picture Casey Weber took at his last deck party. There was 400 people sitting in his backyard, there where fire eaters and hoola hoops, you missed it.

I had to switch the gig with John Wilbur to Thursady the 10th of Sept. I will be playing earlier with Jake Larson at the Tav.

I have been recording two wonderful musicians Annie and Kathy from the Tetroploid Duo. They have a very nice sound that I am sure you would enjoy. Try to catch them in St. Cloud if you have the chance.

Down Town Art Crawl

I added new gigs on this sight that are coming up. Check them out. I wrote a song with Willie West for an outfit out of Finland called Soul Sides. They are putting out 1000 7 inch vinyl records to be played in dance clubs in Europe. That was fun, its called "The Devil Gives ME Everything Except What I Need".

Willie is booked at Bayfront in the acoustic tent. We are also doing a gig at the Electric Fetus in St Cloud so come down and help the store out.

Upcoming Shows ( view all )

May 9 2009 8:00P
Applewood /Willie West Burnsville, Minnesota
May 15 2009 8:00P
Piggys Blues Club/ Willie west Lacrosse, Wisconsin
May 23 2009 8:00P
Cones Blues and Ribs show Sucker Punch St Anna, Minnesota
May 24 2009 4:00P
Friends Bar/Sucker Punch Waite Park
May 27 2009 9:00P
White Horse/ Leon St. Cloud, Minnesota
May 30 2009 8:00P
Civic Center Private St. Cloud
Jun 11 2009 7:00P
Electric Fetus Sucker Punch St. Cloud, Minnesota
Jun 20 2009 2:30P
Shake Down Blues Festival Willie West Santiago, Minnesota
Jun 20 2009 8:00P
Craguns/ Private Brainard, Minnesota
Jun 27 2009 9:00P
Rochestor TBA Willie West Rochestor, Minnesota
Aug 9 2009 8:00P
BayFront Blues Festival Willie and Leon Duluth, Minnesota

I changed things up once more , I am licencing music that might show up in an elevator near you. Also all dates are going on the Sucker Punch Myspace including Willies dates. Ask me for a copy of Whooped which is the new recording of Sucker Punch, I usually have them at gigs. Go to the links dates tab for gigs.

I updated some new tunes on this site. I have a live version of Midnight Rambler with Taboo Blue 2000 from Brad Beckers Barn Party

We just completed a new disc called Simple. We will have them at our upcoming shows.

Upcoming Shows ( view all )

Jun 7 2008 1:30P
Famous Daves Barbeque and Blues Fest/ Willie West Mnpls, Minnesota
Jun 7 2008 7:00P
Stone House/ Sparky and Leon Band St. Joe, Minnesota
Jun 10 2008 12:30A
Target Music Fest / Willie West Mpls
Jun 11 2008 7:00P
Stone House / Sparky and Leon Full Band St. Joe, Minnesota
Jun 12 2008 9:00P
Famous Daves Willie Show MPLS, Minnesota
Jun 14 2008 8:30P
Pearl Lake Lodge/ Sparky and Leon Full Band Marty, Minnesota
Jun 20 2008 8:00P
The Dakota Willie Show MNPLS, Minnesota
Jul 2 2008 8:00P
Pioneer Place, Leon music with full band St. Cloud, Minnesota
Jul 3 2008 8:00P
The North Coast/ Willie West Wayzata, Minnesota
Jul 9 2008 7:00P
Stone House / Sparky and Leon Full Band St. Joe, Minnesota
Jul 18 2008 8:00P
SCHOOL OF THE WISE/ Willie West Victoria, Minnesota
Aug 2 2008 8:00P
Grand View Lodge/ With Willie West/ Private Brainerd, Minnesota
Aug 13 2008 7:00P
Stone House Sparky Leon Full Band St Joe, Minnesota
Aug 31 2008 1:00P
Minnesota State Fair/ Willie West Band St. Paul, Minnesota
Sep 1 2008 1:00P
Minnesota State Fair/ Willie West Band St. Paul, Minnesota
Sep 10 2008 8:00P
318 Club/ Willie West and Leon Mpls, Minnesota
Oct 4 2008 8:00P
Private

I change the look of this thing a few times, I am going to leave it like this. The painting is a Rex Veeter piece. Amazing artist and neighbor.

I will be doing all the updates to the Myspace site, so information on new gigs and recordings can be found there, check out the videos we did in the past.