Chicago Kingsnakes Fan Page
My Favorite Kingsnakes Memory
Here are some winning entries form our latest promotion. Winners recieved a copy of the Chicago Kingsnakes "AUTHORIZED BOOTLEG" CD
I saw you guys one Thursday night up at Flatlanders in Lincolnshire. In fact it was October 8, 1998. You'll understand why I remember the date so clearly once I finish my story :-) I had a great time that night. The people I had met up with earlier for cocktails had bailed, but there was a blues band coming up and blues freak that I am, I just had to check them out. It was none other than The Kingsnakes. The music was awesome and I was feeling so good, I was dancing by myself! At the break I went up and talked to Jim and found out we were neighbors. I wound up buying four CDs from him --I just had to turn some people onto this band. He was a little taken aback by it and asked me if I had a request. "Can you do 'Help Me'?". When the break was over they came back and either started the set with it or else it was the next song. All I can remember is thinking it was a great version considering there was no harp. I left after the song and then it happened... I slapped "Blues Island" into the CD player and started heading for the toll road when I decided to turn off and defrost the windows before I went any further. It was the first time I had used them and didn't want to draw attention to myself by possibly swerving a little fumbling with the controls. Well, I was sitting there minding my own business, diggin' the new CD and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, blue lights were flashing behind me. Oh boy. Here we go. I literally smell like a brewery! Well, the long and short of it is, I was arrested for DUI, but the story doesn't end there. No! Even tho I was in a heap-o-trouble, I was charged with blues energy and kept my sense of humor. Luckily the cop didn't mind. In fact, he laughed at most of my jokes. Even when I jokingly asked after being handcuffed, "Does this mean I have to sing 'Bad Boys, Bad Boys' while you take me to the station?". After it was all over, I insisted that he take a copy of your CD. What? Well, he was a nice guy in spite of the fact that he arrested me and we really were having a good time (all things considered). He was a fellow blues lover and I wasdrunk... What can I say?!?! When I saw him in court a few months later he made it a point to come up and say hello and tell me how much he enjoyed the CD. That entire experience was by far the wildest encounter with the law I've ever had. Now, every time I hear "Help Me" I think of how great that night started out.... Deb :)
hi....mine is at lorenzos on 138th in Riverdale......the electricity was out...the place was lit by candlelight...some people were given little instruments...and you guys played and we all laughed .....had a great time...i think you used to play up there every sunday night..many good times there.... beth davis
HI GUYS!!! REMEMBER ME? I WAS THE PUNKY WAITRESS AT LOUISIANNA PUB & GRUB IN PORTAGE? I MISS WATCHING AND LISTENING TO YOU ALL...I HAVE SEEN YOU AT LEROYS A WHILE BACK... TOO BAD THE PUB DIDN'T LAST. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A GOLD MINE..ANYHOW... MY FUNNIEST THOUGHT OF YOU IS HOW I THOUGHT THE SONG GREEN MEANS GO WAS GREEN "BEANS" GO...NO I'M NOT A BLOND... BUT ANYWAY... I MISS YOU ALL... ARE YOU EVER GONNA BE AT THE HOT OR NOT? KEEP IN TOUCH... MARY
It was the first time I seen the Kingsnakes, back in 1993, at a cool place on the South side called P.J or something like that. It has been a long time. It was on 95th and Cicero Ave, Just east of Cicero. Since then, it has been knocked down and replaced by condominiums. I went there to see a popular south side group called the Dancing Noodles. They could really pack them in. I went to the basement where I heard what sounded like the blues being played in the cozy, dimly lit area with a few people who seemed to know all about the band playing. Many were having a blast singing along to some great sounding Blues. I was hooked. Later that week I mentioned that I seen a great sounding Blues band to my father, who said he played and really enjoyed the blues in his younger years, something I never knew. If you knew him, bonding with a man that has seen his fair share of the blues was a real special moment for me. He provided for our family so well, we never had to feel blues. Opening my ears and mind to his blues brought me to a new level of connection and love for my father and what the blues means to me. What a revelation, since then I have seen them play dozens of times and have really learned to enjoy the blues. It always seems to hit a soft spot in my soul. So thanks, you have provide me with more than you could ever know....Russ Glencoe
I really enjoyed the Kingsnake reunion performance at Bottoms Up in Lansing last week. You guys were on fire. I really enjoyed it when Tim(Mazzoni) ended the performance by standing on his set, throwing his sticks in the air, and punching out his cymbals in one last giant orgasm of musical pleasure. And Ang, dare I say that I have never seen you stand on tippy toes, bend strings and do that blues grimmace with your face at any corporate jobs. What a loss for the men and women in their clean white stuffed shirts. Now do I get a free cd for that commentary or what? WIZ
By far the best shows where at the old Westerfields in Riverdale. When Tim and the gang would march out of the bar walk around the block and every one would follow him banging on his drum. Ratman
The most memorable Kingsnakes gig for me has to be a mid-80's performance at Skipper's Marina. The atmosphere at Skipper's was unlike any other venue the band played. Being outdoors, the mood was a lot wilder than being in a bar. It was like the Kingsnakes were playing a private party in your backyard and the cops were paid off. The drink special that night was the Downscope. Fluorescent green and containing only God knows what, this drink looked as if it had just been scraped off the top of the nearby Cal-Sag canal. Needless to say, it was an extremely intoxicating libation. The band really went for it that night. Tim the Bionic Drummer (as my friends and I called him) flailed at his drums like there was no tomorrow while Ang took complete control, imploring the crowd to drink more Downscopes. By the end of the night, my friends and I were taking turns as human surfboards on top of the picnic tables screaming for "Whipping Post". Thanks again for a great time and best of luck always, Steve Tierney
Hi! My name`s Markus. I`m from Russia. Just hear your stuff. Great! Peace and luck Markus (and The Age Of Steamboats)
Since following Ang since 1983, when he changed my life by introducing me to an old man and a guitar at Biddy Mulligans on a cold February night, I have too many great moments involving the Kingsnakes and that old Telecaster and many that only pictures can describe. A wedding on a cruise boat featuring the Kingsnakes was probably most memorable. By the way, Ang introduced this once shy guy to, "John Lee Hooker", my 1st Blues experience. Ang, you changed my life, bless you always. Mean Dean