Happy New Year everyone! As you all know I emceed the New Year’s Eve Countdown at the famous Club Sultana in Williams for the Rewired Band, and it was a night to remember. Weather permitted and 2010 went out without a hitch…for a snowplow!
SedonaEye.com contributing writer, Hollywood Jim, and fan
I admit to a tad bit of trepidation after hearing the daytime winter storm warnings issued for Sedona and Williams (believe me, it snows big time up there!). I rarely drive anymore except in gorgeous desert sunshine and, after a night vision of careening off the road and ending my not-so-young life aflame in the snowbanks of higher-elevation Arizona, I called the man in the weather-know, “Chopper” Dan O’Neal, drummer for Rewired, and was reassured that all was good on the highways and my driver should have no problem delivering it’s precious cargo. He proved to be right and the show was on!
Introductions were made to the house with Jason Loomis on lead guitar, Ray Flagg on bass and just Sam, of the one-name tag, singing lead vocals with the group’s main man on drums, Dan O’Neal. Club Sultana was the perfect venue for a kick-ass band with it’s corner stage and old wooden floors ready for some foot stomping and good time dancing. Rewired was welcomed onstage to thunderous applause because the people in Williams and surrounding areas know this band well–and Rewired does not disappoint. I’m not going to go on and on about how each member of Rewired is awesome because collectively the four make Rewired the band to see and hear in this new decade.
It was a great night but four instances struck me as remarkable that evening: The first was recognizing that the people at Club Sultana know how to party down–and I have a feeling not just at a New Year’s Eve celebration either. The second? When the music is so good that I get up and dance! Rewired did that to me. The third happened when The Cat Black Band’s Cat Black and Les D. Argoff joined Rewired onstage for a rendition of “Pouring Rain”– I was blown away with the powerhouse music, and so were the people at The Famous Club Sultana–standing applause for everyone onstage! And last, but certainly not least, Jason Loomis performed a solo Star Spangled Banner on guitar that called Hendrix into the house!
It was fifteen degrees below zero in Williams, Arizona but that night, we blazed in a new year and a new decade. I was honored and flattered to do the New Year’s countdown with talent that deserves widespread recognition and a loyal fan base. I’ll remember this night for a very long time and believe me, no new year will be the same unless Rewired and The Cat Black Band are on hand to bring it in.
Check out Facebook to find where Rewired and The Cat Black Band are appearing next and be there! Give me a Facebook Shout Out at Jim Hollywood and watch the videos of the Club Sultana/Rewired night. A birdie tells me Rewired is playing Hooligans in Prescott soon, and The Cat Black Band is doing The Lumberyard in Flagstaff this month. Be there or be, well….left out in the cold.
By the way, the Club Sultana night was Rewired’s 41st performance of 2010. Can you believe that? That’s almost a show every week! Congratulations, guys! Own it!
As usual, a most excellent & well-written article! It is most comforting to know that Northern Arizona’s music scene is not limited to folk music and punk!
Jim,
It was our honor to have you MC New Years Eve for us. The Sultana is my favorite place to play, so that was a great way to start off 2011. Thanks to all who came out to ring in the New Year with us. Special thanks to Les and Cat from Cat Black for sharing the stage with us. Good friends, good music, good venue. What more can you ask for? Happy New Years Everyone! ,Ray (Rewired)
I was at the Sultana for the New Year’s Eve party and Mr. Hollywood got it pretty much spot on. I could be biased, but I think ReWired is one red hot band! We had so much fun dancing, shouting and letting it all hang out! Hollywood Jim did a fantastic job of emceeing and they even gave out a prize. I’ve been wishing New Year’s Eve could happen every Friday night!
The New Years Eve party at Sultana was definitely one to be remembered. As Mr. Hollywood stated in his spot on article. My wife and I had so much fun.
We had a great time at the Sultana on New Years Eve!
Rewired rocked the house, everyone was dancing.
Hollywood Jim brought 2011 in with excitement and cheers.
Thanks to everyone for a fun time!
Just want to say it was a great night. Hollywood Jim did an excellent job as M.C. It was a lot of fun having Cat Black and Les up there to. Hope we can do it again. Looking forward to the next big to do.