Blues musician Glenn Patrik talks about his songs

By Jerry Fink

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 | 5:35 p.m.

A release party for blues guitarist/vocalist Glenn Patrik’s latest album “Nuthin’ but a Thang!” will be held at 10 p.m. June 19, at King Tut’s Pub and Poker, 6138 W. Charleston Blvd. Admission is $5. For information go to 258-6344 or visit www.allsportsbar.com.

“Nuthin’ but a Thang!” is a follow-up to Patrik’s critically acclaimed “Mr. Blues, Jr.,” (which is currently No. 12 on the Real Blues list of Top 100 Blues CDs).

Patrik describes the songs:

-- "4 A.M. Blues" -- "A straight-ahead blues shuffle that reflects on the thoughts of breaking up with my wife.”

-- “Don’t Call Me Daddy" -- "About women that will say anything to get in with you – this is about one of them."

-- “Don’tcha Know” -- “Inspired by a sweet woman that I once woke up with in the morning, on a regular basis.”

-- “Friend Of Mine” -- “About a good friend that had broken up with his woman whom I saw walking home from work when I dropped him off, he said, 'you’ve always been a good friend of mine.’”

-- “Other Side Of Town” -- “Another lady I was nuts about that could never be counted on.”

-- “Thang Thang” -- Featuring saxophonist Pat Rizzo who has worked with War, Sly & The Family Stone and Frank Sinatra. “It’s about have sex with the opposite sex.”

-- “Kansas City” -- “Kansas City is my hometown and when musicians find out, they will often call 'Kansas City’ to jam on.”

-- “The Bossman” -- “Chronicles a woman that didn’t appear to be at work during working hours; suspicious of her and her Bossman.”

-- “Too Blessed To Be Depressed” -- “About Annetta 'Cotton Candy’ Washington, who I had the pleasure of playing guitar with. In later years her bad health resulted in the loss of both her legs. She began performing in sequined gowns from a crystal encrusted wheelchair and took on the motto 'Too Blessed To Be Depressed.’ When she died in 2008, I was moved to write this tune the next day in her memory.”

-- “One More Day” -- “Oppression, which never ends for any people. This is my protest.”

Patrik recently was nominated in the “Best Blues Artist or Group” category for the 5th Annual South Bay Music Awards . He was the winner of “Best Guitarist” at the 2005 Coachella Valley Music Awards. He is featured on the July 2009 cover of Southland Blues magazine.

Patrik first performed in Kansas City at the age of 8, before a crowd of 3,000.

“In the neighborhood I grew up in,” Patrik says, “everyone played soul and blues. I was exposed, starting at about age 6, to live shows and recordings by Freddy King, Albert Collins as well as Archie Bell & The Drells, Count Basie. I can feel Mozart right along with Nat Cole, Django Reinhardt along with some George Clinton. Then, throw in some Hound Dog Taylor, Aaron Neville, the Carter Family with Too Live Crew and Hendrix. Add the influence of K.C. blues guitar legend Leon Estelle and you get a feel of where I come from.”