Nit Wit ~ Hollywood Fats Band Live Palo Alto '79

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The Hollywood Fats Band live at the Keystone Palo Alto, Ca 1979
The Fats Band took 40's,'50's and 60's blues,jump blues,boogie woogie and jazz,combined these classic styles with an ' in the moment "exciting modern edge to create some of the best, most creative and visionary music of it's kind. Their
1st album " Hollywood Fats Band " recorded in 1976 and released in 1979 is considered a seminal moment in modern blues.Tragically Hollywood Fats died at the young age of 32 in December 1986 cutting short a career that had he lived was destined for super stardom.Upon his death Guitar Player magazine wrote in a tribute to him, he was the greatest blues guitarist to come along in the last 25 years.In Dec 1992 Dave Rubins of Guitar Player wrote in his article From Roots To Rock-25 Electrifying Guitarists You May Have Missed."....Fats solos will drop your jaw."In another tribute to Hollywood Fats music writer and critic Jim Washburn wrote "though a consummate backing musician,giving arrangements a spark without any ego flash to detract from a songs structure, Fats could always be counted on to step forward when it came time to solo and pour out chorus after chorus of incendiary playing.Along with a mastery of the breath of blues styles,he would also work into his solos modern jazz and Hendrix inspired touches.And through hundreds of gigs in unsung bars he was never repetitious,never uninspired,always pushing to make music that said something more.When Fats was"on" there wasn't a better blues player alive.
Fat's playing on this track is amazing- just one example of so many.The truth is, they are all amazing. The night this recording was made The Cobras out of Austin, Texas were also on the bill.On this tour, Stevie Ray Vaughan was their guitar player.He sat in the front row and never took his eyes off of Fats the entire set..At the end of the the show he repeatedly bowed to Hollywood calling him Sir Fats.No one has come along to take Fat's place since he left this "all too crazy, mixed up world ". No one!!!
David Mac--Blues Junction Productions
Hollywood Fats,Guitar
Al Blake, Vocals
Richard Innes, Drums
Freddy Kaplan, Piano
Larry Taylor, Bass

[@TheGravygun]

I always thought this was Commander Cody in the commander Commanders

[@bewl2641]

Apprently SRV overheard them playing in a club in Hollywood while he was taking a break from doing studio recordings. He had to call his brother Jimmie and tell him that he just heard the greatest blues guitarist ever.

[@selmonb921]

Heard the same story. SRV was in L.A./Hollywood Ca. and was out there recording with Mark Benno. I believe it was in 1973, and kind of strange, that Stevie and Hollywood would be the same age. Both being born in 1954

[@TheEclectic-1]

​@selmonb921 Nice addition to the previous listener's version.

[@GetOutsideYourself]

How does this not have 500 billion views?

[@harrisdupree3323]

Because there are 7 BILLION people on the planet and 6.9 BILLION are "Nit Wits" just like the song says.

[@LizardLoungeRadio]

Just doesn't get any better'

[@selmonb921]

Some of the greatest, and FLAWLESS guitar playing, what ever the genre

[@ireneruthfox]

One of the best Blues band ever.......And i mean ever.

[@golekhanayak8895]

0

[@alq2868]

Fats just goes off on this one, just frantic mayhem, but every note right on the mark. Stevie must have been loving it.

[@AlBlake]

The Fender Bassman Cabinet has a King Refrigerator logo on it instead of Fender... .Makes it even better yet!

[@techmiker]

Al Blake This is incredible Al! Will any of this get some kind of CD release?

[@dr.tthunderchild7082]

the legend grows! he was truly one of the greatest unsung heroes of music! Really the father of west coast jump jive. He and will clark. there are some great clips out there of the two of them on stage together.

[@mikeyr4807]

I think this song best showcases the incredible talent of all the players. None better. Tragic that most folks will never be introduced to them on any radio broadcasting station

[@mauromeglii493]

Awesome Fats!!!😊💪✌

[@andrewgillis8572]

the bassman and reverb tank means by my count 4 drive, 3 power, and 2 rectifier tubes all at work

[@TallBob2k]

damn listen to them go

[@janvermeulen8598]

Larry the mole Taylor on bass."Larry, come back up here."

[@ringtintwobby]

so frikking cool thanks man!

[@kurtzwar729]

Ah, Hollywood Fats. He reminds me of the jazz cutting contests in the 30s. Step right up boys. I dare you to top this. Go ahead. Double dog dare ya. Fats blows them all away. RIP Fats

[@AlBlake]

ALL TRUE and more….. having spent years on stage with Fats, I heard a whole lot of him. His mind / ideas were endless…. melodically, tonally, rhythmically and tastefully. He always played for the song and the moment and he never made mistakes…. Fats always knew where he was going, long before he got there.

[@52guild]

Fukin Smokin !!

[@GuitarlosCarlos]

THE WHOLE DAMN BAND IS STILL THE TOP OF THE LINE AIN'T NOBODY BETTER MAN CARLOS GUITARLOS 90042 'RAMBLING ON MY MIND' A ROBERT JOHNSON COVER VOICE AND GUITAR BLUES www.carlosguitarlosmusic.com/carlos/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/12-Rambling-on-My-Mind.mp3

[@ChrisArmourMusic]

Would love to hear the unedited version ..

[@farshimelt]

Fats, aka, Mike Mann, was playing great at the age of 17, with Shakey Jake, who was always on his case, to "stop squeezing them notes."

[@andrewgillis8572]

headliner the Cobras I believe featured Ms Lou Ann Barton & Stevie Ray Vaughan

[@TEXASFENDERBENDER]

The Cobras were up shit creek following these Cats on this one. I am from Dallas home of some of the baddest Guitar Slingers on the planet. As much as I love Stevie he couldn't have touched the Fat Man on his best night. Then again nobody could.

[@andrewgillis8572]

@@TEXASFENDERBENDER Here's something weird - we saw Canned Heat in May 1978 (on a stage built over the spot where I grew up) and come to learn, Fats was in that band. What i remember isn't him but instead Fito at the drums. Had no idea how we would be hooked on Fat's' other band within another 18 months. I realize now the ensemble sound they made on record was teh actual sound Chess brothers were trying to get - and the Fats Band got closer than Roomful the T Birds Stray Cats & whoever else on the scene. Sugar Ray's first single on Jaguar (Oh Baby/Keep Holdin On) also released in 1979 like Fats LP, was close.

[@valcoman]

Great stuff Al. Thanks for posting these. Is there somewhere that I can get that picture of Fats ES-345 up against the Bassman with the Reverb unit? That is so cool.

[@billyryan9057]

345 man that's an ES dot neck stop tail 335 best of all of the ESs fats also favored an ES 345

[@ph4720631]

Is that Fats who introduces the song??

[@AlBlake]

the One and Only……. Round Mound of Sound

[@ph4720631]

@@AlBlake thx Al!!! Thought so....and I don't have to even ASK who sings. H.Fats is all inspiration for me on guitar and his work with all you guys is his best! Can't wait for the documentary; I'd fund it all in a flash if I could. If I may ask one more fanboy question....did the bigboy play Okie Dokie Stomp Gatemouth-style with a capo way up there?? Just gotta know...Muchos Thankyous man.

[@AlBlake]

no capo on ODS…..

[@beran66]

does anyone know which type of the reverb used?

[@GuitarlosCarlos]

martin beran A FENDER TANK