NakedCity Wichita

estrin’s cats are off-the-leash

Posted on 09. Apr, 2010 by Carrie in music

words > TONY ROMANO
photo > MARITA MEYER

Over 30 years and 9 albums later, Rick Estrin is completely on fire.

This is a guy that jammed with Muddy Waters when he was only 20 years old.

His gig with Little Charlie & The Nightcats transformed into Rick Estrin & The Nightcats when Charlie stopped touring. Leading the band with new direction, their performance last night was like a cranked up and “Twisted” Blues version of the Pink Panther. Ricks crafty story telling, entertaining wit, along with three additional supercharged musicians (The Nightcats) on stage, bring new meaning to the word masterful.

With Rick Estrin smoking the harmonica and harp, Kid Anderson an animal on the guitar, Lorenzo Farrell on bass and keyboard and J. Hansen on drums there really isn’t anywhere left to go but up for these “cats”.

RICK ESTRIN INTERVIEW
(before the show)

One of the best harp, harmonica, singer/songwriter and Blues entertainers on the planet sat down and got a little personal. There’re times we want to dig deep, go beyond what we see on stage or read about in the paper or on the internet. This is a cool dude. Rick wears movie director Ray Ban sunglasses and sleek very comfortable looking threads. From San Francisco, he’s soft spoken, street regal in a way, passionate about life and the wisdom that came with time.

The weather was perfect. The show opened two hours later.

What do you think about Wichita?
I dig it here.
Use to play with Little Charlie And The Wildcats. Fronting the band, wrote songs and played at the Coyote Club and later on it was the Roadhouse. Oh, that was 20 or so years ago. I’ve played in joints from shotguns to stadiums, from one end of America to the other and overseas. This is a cool joint (Rock Island Live). Didn’t know this place was here. Yeah, cool.

How’s it going with the Nightcats?
The bands like a dysfunctional family (he laughs), but we mesh good together. I’m older than all of them. Don’t know anything else really, no skills, and no education. This is what I do. I’ve been all over the United States and overseas doing what I like. When people come out to see us, that’s how we make a living.

Who would you like to work with?
Someone with talents I don’t have.
I’d really like to be in a Martin Scorcese film.

What’s your biggest achievement?
Getting as far and old as I’ve gotten. I’m 60 now.

Have you ever wanted to be someone else?
No. It took me so long, like over 30 years to be where I’m at today you know. I became all right with myself finally.

Ever since a kid, I wanted to be an artist. I started drawing. Then it was chicks, than Fats Domino and Little Richard music my sister turned me on to.

I never had a plan. Just kind of bobbled through life and kept the interest in what I’m still doing, trying to keep it alive.

I’ve made some stupid choices in the past. I was a character like Mr. Mc Goo.

Maturity is overrated. Responsibility is something to develop.

What’s your favorite food or drink?
I like anything that is bad for me. But, generally try to keep it healthy. Got to give up some things to keep on doing what you love.

Any other passions?
To show my life and maintain the ability to still have some laughs.

This is the most unusual interview I’ve ever had. It’s been personal and I like that.

http://rickestrin.com/

SPECIAL THANKS: Would like to personally thank Don Bean/ Bad Bean Productions for setting up the interview and providing a killer front row table and off the chain venue. Keep doing what you’re doing man. Its greatly appreciated and we feel your passion for Blues.

Tags: bad bean productions, naked city magazine, nakedcity magazine, nakedcitywichita.com, rick estrin and the nightcats, rock island live, wichita blues, wichita live, wichita music