Playin' the blues

In the ’80s and early ’90s, local Bloomington band the Ragin’ Texans performed with such guest acts as John Mellencamp, Lou Reed and R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. For about six years, this Texas-toned rockabilly/blues group entertained folks at historic music haunts like the Bluebird and the Vogue. The regionally renowned band broke up in 1995, when member Jim Bracken left to move out West. However, the Ragin’ Texans, alongside local bluesy groups Nine Below Zero and The Mizfits, will reunite this Sunday during this year’s Blues in Bryan Park music concert.

The concert will kick off Bloomington’s summer music series in its third year at Bryan Park.

“The blues theme was hugely popular last year, and we had a lot of people who wanted us to bring back the blues theme this year,” Becky Barrick, Bloomington Parks and Recreation Community events manager, said. “People of all ages come to dance and have a good time at this outdoor summer tradition.”

About 800 people were in attendance at last year’s concert. Although this year, the three local bands (The Mizfits, Nine Below Zero and the reuniting Ragin’ Texans) are based around “playin’ the blues,” each band promises to offer a unique twist of the genre — performing a variety of covers and original music spanning the long history of blues music.

The Ragin’ Texans play a diverse set of rockabilly and Texas blues classics ranging in format from Eddie Cochran and Little Richard to Stevie Ray Vaughan. The Mizfits feature saxophone and clarinet player Mel Chance, who just so happens to be in his mid-70s.

“We’re gonna go out there and play a mix of jazz and blues standards from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s,” folk singer and Mizfits frontman Lou Stant said. “We typically play a very interactive type of show; our saxophonist (Mel Chance) often goes out to the audience to play for people up close and personal — we always try to make it a fun show for everyone.”

Kristy Levert of the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department also encourages guests to bring their deserving dads to the concert, since Sunday is Father’s Day.
The Mizfits will play from 4 to 4:30 p.m., Nine Below Zero will play an hourlong set from 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. and finally the Ragin’ Texans will close things out for the evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

So whether it’s a band reuniting to play classic shuffle-blues beats, or a 70-something-year-old man wailing on his saxophone, the blues will make a comeback in Bryan Park.

“Everyone brings something special to the group and to our music,” Ragin’ Texans member and local favorite Craig Brenner said. “It’ll be really fun to have all the guys back together again, and I hope a lot of people come out for a good show.”