URL: http://www.abqjournal.com/venue/backstagepass.htm

Friday, February 25, 2005
Nels Andrews back in the West
By Kevin Hopper
For the Journal
    Just a month removed from a successful, albeit ice-cold, winter tour of Scotland, local Americana favorite Nels Andrews and his backing band The El Paso Eyepatch will be embarking on a monthlong tour of the Western states to include a date at Los Angeles venue Lava Lounge and a stop in Austin for the South By Southwest music festival.
    This tour marks the official stateside release of "Sunday Shoes," which was released locally and in Europe late last year on the local Little Kiss Records label. The tour will take Andrews and the Patch up the West Coast through San Francisco and Davis, Calif., where the group will appear on KDVS' "Cool as Folk" show, and on to Seattle and Portland, Ore.
    To kick off the tour, Andrews and band will be performing Saturday, Feb. 26, at The Launchpad. Also performing will be Boris McCutcheon, who just happens to share a European label (Lucky Dice Music) with Andrews and is a pretty accomplished musician in his own right, as well as 100 Year Flood. The show begins at 9 p.m. Cover is $5.
    WAXING POETIC: Though it is not as publicized as it should be, February is Black History Month and there are many local events that celebrate that fact. On Sunday, Feb. 27, local promoter and poet Ejypt will hold "A Heritage Celebration" at Brickyard Pizza, 2216 Central SE. The show will feature poetry and music by local performers and will be hosted by local musician James Douglas of the James Douglas Band.
    "A lot of the celebrations (for Black History Month) can sometimes get very serious," Ejypt said in a recent interview. "We wanted this to be a little more fun and relaxed."
    Ejypt (born Monique E. Clough) released a CD of her poetry and music called "Phases of Life II" last year. It covers topics such as her native Philadelphia, women's independence, seduction and a very touching tribute to her mother. Sunday's celebration begins at 6 p.m. An $8 donation is suggested at the door.
    STUCK ON YOU: Props to The Gluey Brothers on a job well done in reuniting a band (even it was for only two nights) that holds a dear place in my heart.
    Even though the old crew was a bit rusty, its Launchpad performance on Feb. 18 was nothing short of phenomenal in my own very biased opinion.