Upper Lake >> In 1994 blues musician Rick Estrin won a Blues Music Award for Song of the Year. Almost two decades later he won another for Best Instrumentalist — Harmonica. When he fronted Little Charlie & the Nightcats, the band was nominated four times for Band of the Year. It’s obvious Estrin isn’t messing around.
Estrin’s current band, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, will be closing out this weekend’s Blue Wing Blues Festival in Upper Lake, which begins tomorrow at 6:30 with the Ford Blues Band.
Rick Estrin & the Nightcats have been together in their current configuration since 2008, but Estrin has been with the band in one form or another since 1976. Little Charlie & the Nightcats featured guitarist Little Charlie Baty for more than 30 years, until Baty decided it was time to get off the road. Estrin took it from there. “I’m basically doing the same thing I always did, which is sing and play harmonica and write songs,” he said.
Though the Nightcats lost Baty, they didn’t lose steam. They snagged a new guitarist, Chris “Kid” Andersen, a talented and fearless musician who worked with music legend Charlie Musselwhite before joining the Nightcats. “Our guitar player is the undisputed, undefeated heavyweight champion of the guitar,” Estrin raved.
Andersen’s guitar style blends seamlessly with Estrin’s lyrical prowess, which has been lauded repeatedly throughout the years. He’s written the large majority of the songs on the Nightcats’ 12 albums. While he doesn’t say he has a poetic soul, that’s surely where his talent stems from. “I’ve just always been kind of an odd person so I think my point of view is maybe a little bit skewed compared to some people,” Estrin said.
The Nightcats’ success can’t be attributed only to Estrin’s lyrics or Andersen’s guitar skills. Each member of the group contributes to their raved-about sound. Joining Estrin and Andersen are J. Hansen on drums and Lorenzo Farrell on electric and acoustic cass, organ and paino. “I’m just really, really fortunate to have such good guys with me. It’s a great band and I think everybody has a real team player attitude and everybody can play,” Estrin said. “Even other versions of this band, the interpersonal dynamics are kind of a rare, perfect balance.”
There are numerous styles of blues and Risk Estrin & the Nightcats play most of them. It’s not surprising considering Estrin draws from a deep pool of influences. When he was a kid he listened to Ray Charles, Muddy Waters and Little Walter. He’s had eyes only for blues since. “It’s earthy music and it speaks to the human condition,” said Estrin of what attracted him to the genre. “When I heard it, it just moved me and that’s what I wanted to do.”
It was around this same time that Estrin picked up the harmonica. One of his neighbors, who performed in a band, handed over a harmonica and told Estrin to go to work. Estrin sat in a room playing for hours, and while his skills were lacking at the time, he felt he was making progress. From that point on he practiced for hours every day. “[I listened] to a lot of great players that I wanted to be able to have the effect on people that they had on me,” he recalled.
The prospect of becoming a professional musician appealed to Estrin’s sensibilities. “Even as a child I knew I didn’t want to get a job,” he joked. “I would listen to the radio or listen to my older sister’s records and it would just take me to another place. It’s always been a big part of my life.”
According to the 2013 Blues Music Awards, where Estrin was awarded Best Instrumentalist — Harmonica, he’s achieved his dream of becoming a great player. He learned various styles of blues, internalized them and put his own twist on each sound. But despite his obvious talent, Estrin was “pleasantly shocked” at the honor of the award.
Estrin’s music has lead him and the Nightcats to share the stage with big names, including Bob Dylan and Ray Charles. They’ve also traveled across the globe for a number of tours. “Africa is about the only continent we haven’t toured,” Estrin said.
Being a member of the Nightcats is a full-time job, but a life on the road isn’t so bad when you have your close friends along for the ride. “We go on the road together and we hang out together when we’re not on the road. It’s different than a lot of bands, I think,” Estrin said.
This camaraderie just might be a contributing factor to the groups’ success. “I think it translates,” Estrin added. “We really have a good time playing together and I think people pick up on that.”
Estrin is confident this weekend’s show will be a hit. “If they come and they don’t have a good time, I’ll personally give them their money back. I’ve got nothing to lose,” he said seriously. “If they come and they don’t have a good time, I recommend them seeing a doctor because they have medication for that.”
Rick Estrin & the Nightcats perform this Sunday, August 9 for the 9th Annual Blue Wing Blues Festival in Upper Lake. The gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the music begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for each day, which include a barbeque dinner, are available for $50 each at 275-2244 ext. 0. Ford Blues Band with Volker Strifler perform tomorrow and Harriet Lewis and the Family Band take to the Tallman Hotel patio Saturday with the Nightcats rounding up the weekend. Then, the festival continues for a special Labor Day show on September 7 featuring Wendy DeWitt and the Nancy Wright Band.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
Cutline: Contributed photo, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats
