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The Spring Street Journal

February 25, 2008 - Press Release

"Lady Bird & the Dirty Dirty Earth Worms" Advances to Blues Challenge Finals

Mark Wendel photo

Sunday, February 24 -- Lady Bird & the Dirty Dirty Earth Worms at Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar.

LIMA, OHIO -- Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar enjoyed a packed house of blues fans Sunday afternoon as the 2008 Riverside Bluesfest Blues Challenge traveled to Lima for the second preliminary event in the competition series.

The Blues Challenge is a series of judged battle-of-the-bands competitions that will ultimately select the opening act for the 2008 Riverside Bluesfest, coming to K.C. Geiger Park on August 30. Eight regional bands registered for the Blues Challenge four preliminary rounds.

First up on the stage was "Lady Bird & the Dirty Dirty Earth Worms" from Celina, Ohio. Stephanie Rogers fronts the band on lead vocals, with John Remington (guitar and vocal), Doug Wendel (bass and vocal) and Brad Barton (drums) backing.

Lady Bird's four judged blues songs included Robert Johnson's "Dust My Broom," Susan Tedeschi's "Just Won't Burn," "Little Red Rooster" written by Willie Dixon and "Lord Have Mercy" by David "Junior" Kimbrough.

After the break, "Shootin' Blanks" from St. Marys, Ohio played. They featured Terry Rasche (guitar and vocal), Steve Schwartz (keyboards, harp and vocal), Randy Speckman (bass) and Brian Sands (drums).

Shootin' Blanks' judged songs included "Five Long Years" by Eddie Boyd, "Key to the Highway" by Big Bill Broonzy, Freddy King and Sonny Thompson's "Someday After A While" and "Baby Don't Wear No Panties" by Mean Gene Kelton.

Three judges scored the bands on a fifty point scale that assigns points for Individual Artistic Ability, Band "Tightness," Showmanship, Schedule, Song Selection and overall performance. Both bands drew enthusiastic applause from the large crowd and the scores were close, but all three judges selected "Lady Bird & the Dirty Dirty Earth Worms."

"We played last Friday to open for another band, and that was our first time in front of an audience," Stephanie Rogers said after the results were announced. "We've only been together about six weeks. I've been looking for a band to sing with and this was a lot of fun."

John Remington chimed in by email the next day. "I'm reeling from yesterday, that was totally amazing, I can't believe how well that chick can sing, the PA was kick-ass and I had a total gas... Everybody was so great, St. Marys people are cool."

"Lady Bird & the Dirty Dirty Earth Worms" join "M.C. Blue" (also from Celina) as the second band to advance to the Blues Challenge Finals, to take place May 18 at the St. Marys Eagles Lodge. Eagles Aerie 767 in St. Marys is the largest sponsor of the Riverside Bluesfest.

Two more finalists are yet to be selected. The next Blues Challenge preliminary will take place at C&C Loft and Lounge in St. Marys on Sunday, March 16. The "Jon Justice Band" and "Bigworm and the Nightcrawlers" will compete for the third Finals qualifying slot.

For more information on the 2008 Blues Challenge and the Riverside Bluesfest, visit www.stmarysblues.com.

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