- From The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, it's The Kate.

(blues rock music) - I was fortunate in that I got to work with Jimmy Reed, Howlin' Wolf, BB King, Big Joe Turner, Freddie King.

♪ She got a roof that don't leak ♪ We were the backup band for guys that came through town.

It was a good time and I knew it.

♪ She's got a place I can sleep ♪ And I got on-the-job training.

The first hit I had off a joint was from Sonny Boy in the bathroom.

(people laughing) I've been foolin' around with a harmonica my whole life.

I've played Dixie on it, and, you know, just little ditties, you know.

(mimics musical rhythm) That kind of thing.

But, when I heard Jimmy Reed play it, I went to the other side of the coin, and learned a lot from him and a lot from Sonny Boy.

But still, I don't think I sound like any of 'em.

I hear a harmonica more like horn parts.

I got to work with Bruce Channel.

♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Hey, baby ♪ - I think we did two takes.

I had no idea what to play, I was just playing something to the chords he was playing, and that's what came out.

I came to have a good time, so I'm gonna make it a good time.

When you inject energetic, live entertainers into it, it becomes a magic place, for a little while anyway.

(upbeat rock music) (crowd cheering) ("Mr. Smith") ♪ Ain't much shakin' in a one horse town ♪ ♪ News travel fast when something good comes around ♪ ♪ Saturday night they gonna be layin' it down ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith and his band of renown ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith is back in town ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith is back in town ♪ ♪ He's heatin' things up ♪ ♪ And coolin' things down ♪ ♪ Smith is back in town ♪ ♪ Guy down at the service station ♪ ♪ Said he bought two tickets last week ♪ ♪ Turns out he can't use 'em ♪ ♪ And he's looking to let 'em go cheap ♪ ♪ What say I buy 'em and you and me go steppin' out ♪ ♪ And find out what this Mr. Smith stuff's all about ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith is back in town ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith is back in town ♪ ♪ He's heatin' things up ♪ ♪ And coolin' things down ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith ♪ ♪ Ah, here he come now ♪ ♪ Now the joint was jumping and we were holding tight ♪ ♪ Darcy danced holes in her shoes that night ♪ ♪ The band tried to stop, the people yelling for more ♪ ♪ The last thing I heard walking out the door ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith is back in town ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith is back in town ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith is back in town ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith is back in town ♪ ♪ He's heatin' things up ♪ ♪ And coolin' things down ♪ ♪ That's what he's doin' ♪ ♪ Mr. Smith is back in town ♪ Oh yeah!

(crowd cheering) All right, welcome to The Kate.

("Lulu") ♪ Lulu's back in town, they say ♪ ♪ Trailing bad juju along the way ♪ ♪ Life's been a pleasure since she's been gone ♪ ♪ I hope she don't stay around here too long ♪ ♪ I find it funny that she's come back here ♪ ♪ I thought she'd burned all her bridges ♪ ♪ When she left last year ♪ ♪ Why don't you do us all a favor, honey ♪ ♪ And just disappear ♪ ♪ Why you wanna come back here ♪ ♪ Lulu, you gotta go ♪ ♪ Lulu, don't want you here no more ♪ ♪ Lulu, let me be perfectly clear ♪ ♪ I don't care where you go but you can't stay here ♪ ♪ Life's tough enough as it is ♪ ♪ I don't need you sticking your nose in my biz ♪ ♪ Why don't you do it baby ♪ ♪ Just be gone ♪ ♪ Why you wanna come back here ♪ ♪ Lulu, you gotta go ♪ ♪ Lulu, don't want you here no more ♪ ♪ Lulu, let me be perfectly clear ♪ ♪ I don't care where you go but you can't stay here ♪ ♪ Lulu, you gotta go ♪ ♪ Lulu, don't want you here no more ♪ ♪ Lulu, let me be perfectly clear ♪ ♪ You can go to hell but you can't stay here ♪ ♪ Lulu, no ♪ ♪ No, we can't still be friends ♪ ♪ Uh-uh, what you talkin' about ♪ ♪ Lulu ♪ ♪ No, you can't use my car ♪ ♪ Ah, I'll see you around somewhere else ♪ (audience clapping & cheering) ("Gotta Get It Worked On") ♪ Well now, when Loretta left me back here in St. Paul ♪ ♪ My head started spinning and my heart hit the wall ♪ ♪ Now I gotta get it worked on ♪ ♪ I gotta get it worked on ♪ ♪ Well, I don't think it's broken but it sure hurts a lot ♪ ♪ Like a macho man I said I'll fix it myself ♪ ♪ I can tell already I'm gonna need some help ♪ ♪ I gotta get it worked on ♪ ♪ I gotta get it worked on ♪ ♪ Gonna have to get me some professional help ♪ ♪ I know I am ♪ ♪ Well now I went to see a doctor and he took one look ♪ ♪ He shook his head and closed his medical book ♪ ♪ Said you better get that worked on, boy ♪ ♪ Better get it worked on ♪ ♪ He said it ain't gonna kill you ♪ ♪ You're not gonna die, no ♪ ♪ Now maybe I should go ahead ♪ ♪ And open up and just let it bleed ♪ ♪ 'Cause if I let it turn to stone ♪ ♪ I'll never find the love I need ♪ ♪ Well maybe I should go ahead ♪ ♪ And open up and just let it bleed ♪ ♪ If I let it turn to stone ♪ ♪ I'll never find the love I need ♪ ♪ I went down to New Orleans to see Miss LaRue ♪ ♪ She said you're too far gone ♪ ♪ There's ain't a thing I can do ♪ ♪ But you better get it worked on ♪ ♪ Better get it worked on ♪ ♪ Said I can give you a number of someone to call ♪ ♪ But ain't nothin' I can do for ya ♪ ♪ Too far gone ♪ ♪ Better get it worked on ♪ ♪ Better get it worked on ♪ (audience clapping) All right.

Thank you.

("Blues as Blues Can Get") ♪ I'm gonna sit right down ♪ ♪ In my easy chair ♪ ♪ Pull out a deck of cards, I'm gonna play some solitaire ♪ ♪ I break out a bottle ♪ ♪ And wash me a glass ♪ ♪ To keep me company 'til the feelings pass ♪ ♪ Everybody needs something to do ♪ ♪ Me, I'll just sit here ♪ ♪ And think about you ♪ ♪ It might sound hopeless, but it ain't that bad yet ♪ ♪ It's just the blues as blues can get ♪ ♪ I need to call somebody ♪ ♪ Someone I can trust ♪ ♪ I need the number for Lovers Anonymous ♪ ♪ I'll tell 'em my story ♪ ♪ Hope they'll understand ♪ ♪ Maybe they can explain it to me ♪ ♪ 'Cause I don't think I can ♪ ♪ I take your picture down from the wall ♪ ♪ Try to remember the thrill of it all ♪ ♪ I know it's over ♪ ♪ But it ain't over yet ♪ ♪ It's just the blues as blues can get ♪ ♪ Why fight the feeling ♪ ♪ When I can't fight back the tears ♪ ♪ I stare at the ceiling ♪ ♪ Oh, and I wish that you were here ♪ ♪ I know it's over, but it ain't over yet ♪ ♪ It's just the blues as blues can get ♪ ♪ It's just the blues ♪ ♪ I know it's over, I know it's over ♪ ♪ It's just the blues ♪ (audience clapping) Thank you.

("Oughta No") ♪ Same situation ♪ ♪ I didn't learn a thing ♪ ♪ Too much temptation ♪ ♪ Not enough restraint ♪ ♪ Well I made some mistakes ♪ ♪ But I'm trying not to make anymore ♪ ♪ Still sometimes I say yes ♪ ♪ When I oughta no ♪ ♪ Oh, here comes that sweet thing ♪ ♪ Knocking at my door ♪ ♪ Oh, another night rocking ♪ ♪ Yeah, waking up on the floor ♪ ♪ But when I feelin' young at heart ♪ ♪ And the wine begins to flow ♪ ♪ Sometimes I say yes ♪ ♪ When I oughta no ♪ ♪ Well, I wanna settle down ♪ ♪ Set all my demons free ♪ ♪ There's a fight going on ♪ ♪ Deep inside of me ♪ ♪ Just having too much fun ♪ ♪ Always on the go ♪ ♪ Sometimes I say yes ♪ ♪ When I oughta no ♪ ♪ Oh, well, I wanna settle down ♪ ♪ Set all my demons free ♪ ♪ There's a fight going on ♪ ♪ Deep inside of me ♪ ♪ Having too much fun ♪ ♪ Always on the go ♪ ♪ Sometimes I say yes ♪ ♪ When I oughta no ♪ ♪ Still sometimes I say yes ♪ ♪ When I oughta no ♪ ♪ Still sometimes I say yes ♪ ♪ When I oughta no ♪ Yeah, baby.

(audience clapping) I wanna thank y'all.

Everybody okay?

(audience clapping & cheering) Good.

("Two More Bottles of Wine") ♪ We came out west together with a common desire ♪ ♪ The fever we had might've set the West Coast on fire ♪ ♪ Two months later, got trouble in mind ♪ ♪ Maggie moved out and left me behind ♪ ♪ But it's all right 'cause it's midnight ♪ ♪ And I got two more bottles of wine ♪ ♪ The way she left sure turned my head around ♪ ♪ It seemed like overnight she just up and put me down ♪ ♪ I ain't gonna let it bother me today ♪ ♪ I been workin' and I'm too tired anyway ♪ ♪ But it's all right ♪ ♪ It's midnight and I got two more bottles of wine ♪ ♪ I'm 1,600 miles from the people I know ♪ ♪ I been doin' all I can but opportunity sure comes slow ♪ ♪ I thought I'd be a big star by today ♪ ♪ But I'm sweepin' out a warehouse in west L.A. ♪ ♪ But it's all right ♪ ♪ It's midnight and I got two more bottles of wine ♪ ♪ All right, baby ♪ ♪ Well, I'm 1,600 miles from the people I know ♪ ♪ Opportunity's knockin' ♪ ♪ But I can't seem to open the door ♪ ♪ I thought I'd be a big star by today ♪ ♪ But I'm sweepin' out a warehouse in west L.A. ♪ ♪ It's all right ♪ ♪ It's midnight and I got two more bottles of wine ♪ ♪ It's all right ♪ ♪ Midnight ♪ ♪ Two more bottles of wine ♪ ♪ It's all right ♪ ♪ Midnight ♪ ♪ Two more bottles of wine ♪ ♪ Yeah, baby ♪ (music drowns out dialog) ♪ Just me and you ♪ Yeah.

All right.

All right, now we got it goin'.

Good.

(audience clapping) ("Why Me") ♪ I met her in a night club over on the lower east side ♪ ♪ I was workin' with my head down ♪ ♪ Tryin' to keep the groove alive ♪ ♪ She looked like a bunny out of Playboy magazine ♪ ♪ Yeah, I just had to meet her ♪ ♪ She was the cutest thing I'd ever seen ♪ ♪ She had on high heel boots, blonde hair, and big blue eyes ♪ ♪ The way she was movin' to the music had me hypnotized ♪ ♪ I ran up to her said, "Baby, what's your name?"

♪ ♪ Well now, I should've know better ♪ ♪ And I've only got myself to blame ♪ ♪ Said why, why, why me ♪ ♪ Fallin' like this is the very last thing I need ♪ ♪ If I had any sense, I'd turn right around and leave ♪ ♪ I said why, why, why, why me ♪ ♪ Well now, we started drinkin' champagne ♪ ♪ Makin' every joint in town ♪ ♪ Bam, a hundred dollars every time I turned around ♪ ♪ By the time my money ran out, my honey was gone ♪ ♪ And I was cryin' out loud to myself as I was walkin' home ♪ ♪ I said ♪ ♪ Why, why, why me ♪ ♪ Fallin' like this is the very last thing I need ♪ ♪ If I had any sense, I'd turn right around and leave ♪ ♪ I said why, why, why, why me ♪ ♪ Why, why, why, why me ♪ (audience clapping) I've always had this feeling towards Mexico.

It's a magic place.

I got a home in Mexico.

It's high up on a hill, overlooking the city, this great veranda, and we sit out there and go stay a week or 10 days and write songs.

It's very productive every time, so far.

The name of the album is "Tall, Dark, and Handsome".

(laughs) It's rock 'n roll for adults.

♪ Mr. Smith and his band of renown ♪ "Mr. Smith", I wrote that song.

He had a relationship with all of these Mexican families.

And he had cultivated this deal where he goes up and digs up exotic plants.

(laughs) And he's got the right-of-way everywhere to do that.

He would come over to the house, first thing he'd do is make margaritas for everybody.

He would start the whole thing rollin' with margaritas.

And when you drink with him, you don't get drunk, you just have a good time because he keeps everybody movin', all the time.

♪ Tryin' to remember ♪ ♪ The thrill of it all ♪ You know, the whole world's so screwed up right now.

It's not just what's going on in Mexico or what's going on here.

It's all hell, everywhere.

♪ It's just the blues as blues can get ♪ But the Mexican people are the most gracious people in the world; I feel safer down there than I do here.

It gives me a chance at a new start.

I'd have to put up with a lot of people that I don't want to put up with.

(laughs) ("Gone to Mexico") (shouts) ♪ I've got to get away from the telephone ♪ ♪ I don't wanna hear it ring anymore ♪ ♪ Mi vida loca is out of hand ♪ ♪ I'm off to be the solitary man ♪ ♪ I take my guitar and a change of clothes ♪ ♪ I leave the rest by the side of the road ♪ ♪ Break these chains and fly away ♪ ♪ To live and love another day ♪ ♪ I'll take my aching heart to a place I know ♪ ♪ And soak it in the sun 'til it don't hurt anymore ♪ ♪ A secret place, a little town I know ♪ ♪ Tell 'em I've gone to Mexico ♪ (shouts) ♪ There are a lot of things that you just can't do ♪ ♪ But you've got to have a dream or two ♪ ♪ And when the sideshow gets you down ♪ ♪ Sometimes it's good just to get out of town ♪ ♪ I'll take my aching heart to a place I know ♪ ♪ And soak it in the sun 'til it don't hurt anymore ♪ ♪ A secret place, a little town I know ♪ ♪ Tell 'em I've gone to Mexico ♪ ♪ I'll take my aching heart to a place I know ♪ ♪ And soak it in the sun 'til it don't hurt anymore ♪ ♪ A secret place, a little town I know ♪ ♪ Tell 'em I've gone to Mexico ♪ (audience clapping) Great.

Here's another one off the new CD.

("Let's Get Down Like We Used To") ♪ Hop up on this couch and bring that Smirnoff ♪ ♪ Come on, scooch on over next to me ♪ ♪ We might even want to kick our shoes off ♪ ♪ Laugh out loud and do just what we please ♪ ♪ Number one, we don't take no phone calls ♪ ♪ Number two, there won't be no TV ♪ ♪ Number three, we tell 'em all to get lost ♪ ♪ Girl, this night belongs to you and me ♪ ♪ Let's get down like we used to ♪ ♪ Let's cook up somethin' we can light a fuse to ♪ ♪ Cop a groove we can bust a move to ♪ ♪ Let's get down like we used to ♪ ♪ I'll make a batch of my famous margaritas ♪ ♪ And we'll get down on our hands and knees ♪ ♪ We'll take turns takin' goofy pictures ♪ ♪ And send 'em out to all our friends on Christmas Eve ♪ ♪ Let's get down like we used to ♪ ♪ Let's cook up somethin' we can light a fuse to ♪ ♪ Hit a lick old Bob can pick some blues to ♪ ♪ Let's get down like we used to ♪ ♪ Stay up all night long if we choose to ♪ ♪ Let's get down like we used to ♪ ♪ Let's get down like we used to ♪ Yeah.

(audience clapping) ("Have a Little Faith In Me") ♪ When the road gets dark ♪ ♪ And you can no longer see ♪ ♪ Let my love throw a spark, baby ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ When the tears you cry ♪ ♪ Are all you can believe ♪ ♪ Just give these loving arms a try ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ Oh, baby ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ When your secret heart ♪ ♪ Cannot speak so easily ♪ ♪ Just come here, darlin', from a whispered start ♪ ♪ And have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ And when your back's against the wall ♪ ♪ Just turn around and you will see ♪ ♪ I will catch you, catch your fall, baby ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ Oh, baby ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ Now, I've been loving you for so long ♪ ♪ Expecting nothing in return ♪ ♪ Just for you to have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ You see, time ♪ ♪ Time is our friend, for us there is no end ♪ ♪ All you gotta do is have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ All you gotta do, baby ♪ ♪ All you go to do ♪ ♪ Is have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ I will hold you up ♪ ♪ I will hold you up ♪ ♪ Your love gives me strength enough ♪ ♪ So have a little faith in me ♪ ♪ All you gotta do, baby ♪ ♪ All you got to do ♪ ♪ Have a little faith in me ♪ That's a John Hiatt song.

(audience clapping) ("Shaky Ground") ♪ Lady luck and four leaf clovers ♪ ♪ Won't ease this hurt I feel all over ♪ ♪ My life was one special occasion ♪ ♪ 'Til your leaving dampened the situation ♪ ♪ I'm standing on shaky ground ♪ ♪ Ever since you put me down ♪ ♪ Standing on shaky ground ♪ ♪ Ever since you put me down ♪ ♪ My car got repossessed this morning ♪ ♪ Harder times I haven't seen in years ♪ ♪ You'd better throw me a life preserver ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm about to drown in my own tears ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Standing on shaky ground ♪ ♪ Ever since you put me down ♪ ♪ Standing on shaky ground ♪ ♪ Ever since you put me down ♪ ♪ Well, now I'm standing on shaky ground ♪ ♪ Ever since you put me down ♪ ♪ Standing on shaky ground ♪ ♪ Ever since you put me down ♪ ♪ My car got repossessed this morning ♪ ♪ Harder times I haven't seen in years ♪ ♪ Better throw me a life preserver ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm about to drown in my own tears ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Standing on shaky ground ♪ ♪ Ever since you put me down ♪ ♪ Standing on shaky ground ♪ ♪ Ever since you put me down ♪ (audience clapping & cheering) ("Giving It Up For Your Love") ♪ Givin' it up for your love ♪ ♪ Everything ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love right now ♪ ♪ I'm givin' it up for your love, honey ♪ ♪ Everything ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love somehow ♪ ♪ My heart is aching for you ♪ ♪ I can't stand it ♪ ♪ I need your love ♪ ♪ And am I so demanding ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love ♪ ♪ Everything ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love right now ♪ ♪ I'm Givin' it up for your love ♪ ♪ Everything ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love somehow ♪ ♪ Well I thought about it ♪ ♪ Girl, you know I ain't playing ♪ ♪ You better listen to me ♪ ♪ Every word I been saying ♪ ♪ Hot is cold ♪ ♪ Cold is hot ♪ ♪ I'm a little mixed up ♪ ♪ But I give it everything I got ♪ ♪ I don't want your money, don't need your car ♪ ♪ I'm doing all right, doing all right so far ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love ♪ ♪ Everything ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love right now ♪ ♪ I'm Givin' it up for your love ♪ ♪ Everything ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love somehow ♪ ♪ All right, honey, we can do it ♪ ♪ I know you told me ♪ ♪ That you'd always love me ♪ ♪ And I believed it was true ♪ ♪ I saved the best and I'm ready ♪ ♪ My love only just for you ♪ ♪ Oh, come back here ♪ ♪ Honey, come back real quick ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ My heart is aching, and my body's feeling weak ♪ ♪ But I'll be all right ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'll be okay ♪ ♪ Just come on, baby ♪ ♪ Listen to what I say ♪ ♪ Don't want your money, don't need your car ♪ ♪ I'm doing all right ♪ ♪ Doing all right so far ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love ♪ ♪ Everything ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love right now ♪ ♪ I'm Givin' it up for your love ♪ ♪ Everything ♪ ♪ Givin' it up for your love somehow ♪ ♪ All right ♪ Thank y'all.

Thanks for being here tonight.

We enjoyed getting to come play for you.

Thank you so much.

Dennis Wage on the keyboard.

Let me hear it for him.

Michael Joyce on the bass.

Jack Bruno on the drums.

James Pennebaker back here on the guitar.

Bobby Britt here on the guitar.

Dana Robbins on tenor saxophone.

And Quentin Ware on the trumpet.

Thank you, I love you, see ya.

("Give It For Your Love" instrumental) (audience clapping & cheering) All right, thank you.

("Every Time I Roll the Dice") ♪ She got a roof that don't leak ♪ ♪ When the rain's pouring down ♪ ♪ She's got a place I can sleep ♪ ♪ Where I'm safe and sound ♪ ♪ Got a lock on her door ♪ ♪ But she gave me a key ♪ ♪ She don't walk the floor ♪ ♪ Oh no, but she worries about me ♪ ♪ Her love has no strings, shackles or chains ♪ ♪ But I'm holding on for dear life ♪ ♪ She's like rolling a seven ♪ ♪ Every time I roll the dice ♪ ♪ She's got a big Oldsmobile ♪ ♪ Got a dog that won't bite ♪ ♪ Got a heart I can steal ♪ ♪ Oh, like a thief in the night ♪ ♪ She's got a slow burning fire ♪ ♪ She keeps the radio low ♪ ♪ When she gets inspired ♪ ♪ Man, we let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Her love has no strings, shackles or chains ♪ ♪ I'm holding on for dear life ♪ ♪ She's like rolling a seven ♪ ♪ Every time I roll the dice ♪ ♪ I let it roll like a big wheel ♪ ♪ Her love has no strings, shackles or chains ♪ ♪ I'm holding on for dear life ♪ ♪ She's like rolling a seven ♪ ♪ Every time I roll the dice ♪ ♪ Ah, come on, help me now ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll the dice ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll the dice ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll ♪ ♪ Every time I roll the dice ♪ Thank y'all, I love you, see you later.

Be careful.

("Every Time I Roll the Dice" instrumental) (audience clapping & cheering) - [Announcer] Funding for this program was provided by Whelen Engineering Company.

Whelen is a proud sponsor of The Kate, and wishes to voice its ongoing support for Connecticut Public Television, The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, and the Michael J.

Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

(upbeat music) (moves into soft chiming music)