The End of 2006 with The King of The Blues

Written by Thurman Watts

Lake County News California

Thursday, 04 January 2007

When I walked in to the Joe Mazzola Showroom at Konocti Harbor Friday night Bill Noteman & The Rockets were already on stage, They were smack dab in the middle of “Poison In My Stew,” my favorite track from their latest CD, Cream Of The Crop.

The band laid down some deep blues grooves augmented by Noteman's Chicago Blues harp style and guitarist Larry “Mojo” Platz's well-placed licks. Especially enjoyable was his mean riff on “Cadillac Breakout.”

After a fast-paced, hour-long set, the hometown favorites closed with Muddy Waters' “I've Got My Mojo Working” and left the stage to a standing ovation. Not many acts can open for B.B. King and accomplish that. At the close of his set Master King acknowledged their showmanship.

 

 

Bill Noteman & The Rockets

Written by Thurman Watts

Lake County News California

Tuesday, 08 August 2006

Currently, Bill Noteman and the Rockets are enjoying a huge resurgence as the #1 jump blues party band in the quad-county area of Lake, Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma counties. The band was founded in 1983 by harmonica ace Bill Noteman, guitarist Larry "Mojo" Platz, bassist Dave Falco, keyboardist Dave Neft and drummer Robbie All. With the development of their hybrid blend of Chicago Blues and West Coast Jump, their star ascended rapidly. Within a year they were opening for Elvin Bishop, Commander Cody & The Lost Planet Airmen and Mark Hummel & The Blues Survivors at Northern California venues like the Cotati Cabaret, The Caspar Inn and Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. They were a huge favorite at the Hopland Brewery.

On the first go-round the band enjoyed their strongest period between 1983 and 1986. They continued to gig occasionally from 1986-1990. At that time, Bill Noteman moved out of the area; however, the band never officially "broke up." Guitarist Platz recalls an inside joke that inferred that the Rockets had more reunion shows than the Who.

Platz, Neft and Falco spent most of the 90s in a band called Blue Haze while Bill Noteman spent 12 years with the Ritchie Baron Band in addition to side jobs with Elvin Bishop, Sonny Rhodes, Johnny Nitro, Luther Tucker, Annie Sampson and Scott Joss.

In 2004 the guys got together for two gigs in Lake County. The response was so big, it was if they'd never stopped. This year, with so much positive response, Bill Noteman decided the time was ripe for a CD release.

"We wanted to capture the raw essence, energy and drive of Bill Noteman & The Rockets. I think we succeeded in making a record that legitimizes our legacy."

They continue to roll - working most weekends of every month, with more work each year. No small feat for any band. In July of this year, they closed the Cobb Mountain Jazz & Blues Festival, sharing the bill with the legendary Sugar Pie DeSanto. On Dec. 29 and 30, they'll be opening for B.B. King at Konocti Harbor Spa & Resort.

Recently, Bill Noteman was spotted at a benefit for his blues cohort, Sugar Pie DeSanto, at Biscuits & Blues in San Francisco, further evidence of his commitment to the blues. Sugar Pie recently suffered the tragedy of losing all her earthly possessions, including her husband Jesse Davis, in a three-alarm apartment fire in Oakland.

Noteman told this writer he was proud to represent the Blues fraternity from the other side of the microphone, as a fan and supporter of a great artist who is going through a rough period.

Meanwhile, Cream of the Crop, the Bill Noteman & The Rockets CD, is riding high, receiving great reviews and airplay on more than 30 radio stations globally. For the latest on the group, visit www.billnotemanrockets.com.

 

MO'S MUSINGS & ROLF'S RAMBLINGS:

Bill Noteman and the Rockets at Last Day Saloon 8-29-2008

Bill Noteman and the Rockets go back a long way. I had seen them years ago, and I wanted to see them again to refresh my memory. The Last Day show was a perfect opportunity with a great dance floor.
After the break Bill Noteman and Rockets came out and proceeded to blow past my memories right away. I remember Bill from the 1980s and he sure has that classic “roadhouse sound” that was strong then. The Rockets do it way better than most, and fire out big time on those great dance floor shuffles that get people out
dancing on the floor. The dance floor was packed by the end of the second number. They did a hot opener in “Up the Line” and it was moving all right. Right away Bill showed a tone of harp tone and loads of stage presence
and showmanship that just had that good “Blues Show” quality.

Bill is one fine harmonica player and the whole band has balance with three soloists in Bill, Dave Neft on keyboards, and “Mojo” Larry Platz on guitar.
“Mojo” showed a lot of soul on a slow blues that had lots of dynamics. This band knows how to control their sound and when to step down the volume for effect.
Noteman was hot as a pistol with his stage presence and harp chops. Like everyone in the band, he knows when to lay back and when to get hot for the song.

Song selection and set pacing was just great too with classics and then jump numbers interspersed with rockin’ shuffles. It made you want to stay out dancing
on the floor with the variation in rhythm patterns. A guitar instrumental from Mojo was only part of the way they varied the set. “Hand Jive”, with it’s Diddley
beat, was a change and had people actually doing hand jive moves. Bill varied up the set with some nice chromatic harp work on ”My Baby Caught The Train”. Dave Neft on keyboards had several fine solos and didn’t go long with them. There were a bunch more good songs and this was one fine varied high energy show.

Bill Noteman and the Rockets have been added to my list of bands to go see often. A whole lot of fun and solid musically. Bill sure takes command of the stage too.