Legendary American Bluesman
Jake LaBotz will play a concert and kick off a blues dance after, come for the concert, stay for the dance. Ballroom Blum, known for it's impeccable acoustics and sprung wood dance floor, is the perfect venue for this intimate Blues concert and dance. La Botz' original and traditional haunting dark blues are crafted to stay with you. This not to be missed event presents a little different fare from our regular, come out and see what FSGW is up to now...
After dropping out of school at 15, Jake LaBotz hit the road, frequenting punk rock shows, hobo camps, and libraries. He found employment as a roofer, boilermaker, graphite factory worker, and obituary writer. In the midst of this he learned how to play guitar. He played on the streets and in the juke joints of New Orleans, Chicago, and the Mississippi Delta, finding kinship with some of the last of the pre-war era bluesmen: David ?Honeyboy? Edwards, ?Homesick? James, and ?Maxwell Street? Jimmy Davis. LaBotz has become known for his ?Tattoo Across America Tour,? where he tours the country performing at tattoo shops and as an actor in films in which he sometimes sings his original songs: RAMBO dir. Sylvester Stallone, ANIMAL FACTORY dir. Steve Buscemi, ON THE ROAD dir. Walter Salles.
Jake has toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe and has opened for Ray Charles, Etta James, Dr. John, Buddy Guy, Jr. Wells, Taj Mahal, Tony Joe White, John Hammond, The Blasters and a host of other greats. He is currently starring as ?The Shape? in the new stage musical 'Ghost Brothers of Darkland County' written by Stephen King and John Mellencamp with musical direction by T-Bone Burnett.
"Jake LaBotz is a creator of dark poetry and haunting song, the kind of music that gets in your bones and rides you for days, a sound and vision only those who've been to the bottom and clawed their way back up can generate. His midnight gifts evoke Hank Williams and Skip James as much as Tom Waits and Dylan. Not everybody will get this music - because not everybody is ready for the truth." -Jerry Stahl (author of Permanent Midnight)
"Jake is the modern day Hank Williams." -Steve Buscemi (Actor/Director)
