John S. Dykes Saturday at Levon's

Saturday at Levon's

posted: March 28, 2007

Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, N.Y. was a real good time last Saturday, 3/24. If you are a blues fan, or you like any tunes from The Band, or if you just like rockin' live music with ENERGY, smokin' harp, talented musicians doing their thing in a home recording studio and whoopin' it up - this is it. They have special guests showing up, so it's never the same show... My intent was to do as much drawing as possible while there. Even though the furthest seat is less than 30 feet from the stage, we arrived a bit too late to get good seats or a balcony railing from which to draw... so I was looking over shoulders while holding the sketchbook... Most of the drawings I did were blind drawings - (like 'I can't see what the hell I'm doing' blind drawings!...and not technique by choice - but it was fun)... These are all ink line in the sketchbook, scanned and photoshopped... The shows run most Saturdays thru the winter.... A remarkable blues singer, Alexis P. Suter, was singing her last tune when we arrived - so no drawings of her. But listen to this (she's all woman! Holy....): http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=38552357 .... listen to 'Built For Comfort'... For those interested: Levon Helm: http://www.levonhelm.com/index1.htm

Catherine Russell
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Larry Campbell

http://members.cox.net/larrycampbell2000/
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Little Sammy Davis...

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7 comments

randy March 28, 2007

The one above "Little Sammy Davis" is the best......and the last one. I go every year to a local hoot not far from my house (maybe you know Will Tressler from when you lived here) and I wish my drawings came out as well as yours. We had Pete Seeger there last year...it was fun to hang out and chat with him. Will is a good friend of his. Love the abstract quality of some of these.

John Dykes March 28, 2007

Thanks Randy - Will Tressler is in Easton, yes?? The piece above Sammy D. was across the spread of my sketchbook - done at the darkest part of the evening - I realized I could not create anything legible without being able to see - so I just floated with it and let it go. Kind of fun...

Laura L. March 28, 2007

Was Little Sammy Davis wearing one of his crazy electric blue suits?

Dale Stephanos March 28, 2007

That sounds like a good time John. I looked it up last week when you mentioned you were going. Nothing like an all night jam session. Even better if the musicians can actually play.

Zina Saunders March 29, 2007

I agree with Randy, I really like the darkest part of the evening sketch! I really like the overlapping forms creating new forms.

Hal Mayforth March 29, 2007

Nice spontaneous drawings, John. that sounds like a great evening. How was Levon's voice? H.

John Dykes March 29, 2007

Thanks.... Laura - Indeed he was wearing a wild blue suit... I saw him after the show and told him my bro in law (who joined me) has been practicing blues harp - and during the drive to Levon's, he was playing some new stuff he has learned - while steering with his knees - he loved that! I think he said he is 89 yrs old... Levon's voice was great - strong as ever, considering he had a bout with throat cancer (I believe) and could not sing for some time. Which certainly adds to the great spirit of the night.