February 15, 2010
Happy birthday Tzer!
December 6, 2009
Big thanks to the Buster Blues Band and everyone who came out to the Big Bad Blues Bash Saturday night (December 5). It was a packed house, close to a sell-out and a great crowd!

November 26, 2009
Muskegon Chronicle article

Blues Bash set for Sherman Bowling Center
By Federico Martinez (edited by BHBB) | Muskegon Chronicle
November 26, 2009, 5:32AM
MUSKEGON It may be getting cold outside, but things will be heating up 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, during the Big Bad Blues Bash at the Sherman Bowling Center Banquet Room, 1531 W. Sherman.
Admission is $5 per person and includes one free drink. Doors open at 8 p.m. Drinks and food will also be available for purchase.
Muskegon’s own Buster Blues Band and the nine-piece Big House Blues Band are scheduled to perform. The event is all about having fun, organizers say.
“It’s getting close to Christmas time, everyone’s going to start getting tired of all the office parties and Christmas shopping,” said Doug Houseman, vocalist/guitarist/harmonica player for the Big House Blues Band. “The bash is a chance for everyone to let their hair down and have a good time.”
Houseman and his bandmate, drummer Jimi Ray, have been playing since high school. The Big House Blues Band officially debuted about five years ago after Doug’s son, guitarist Nick Houseman, joined. The roster soon grew with the addition of Lexi Hamilton-Hart, Jody Addicott, Elvy Mobley, Phil Chester, David Chester and “Tzer” Mike Tabaczka.
The band has played shows with several world-renowned performers, including Larry McCray, George Thorogood and Ryan Shaw.
Houseman said the event is a rare opportunity to share the stage with his longtime friend Lance Karum, guitarist and one of the founders of the Buster Blues Band. Buster Blues debuted in 1996 and includes Chris Elmore, Terry Westphal and Bart Lucas.
E-mail Federico Martinez at fmartinez@muskegonchronicle.com
November 22, 2009
Washboard Sam Gets A Headstone...
Killer Blues has done it again!

Homewood, IL Nov. 22, 2009 - Steve Salter of Whitehall, MI with Washboard Sam’s headstone which was purchased in October by Salter thru his Killer Blues Headstone Project. Salter has purchased 3 other markers for blues musicians including, Big Maceo, Walter Vinson and Luther Tucker. He is currently working on several other headstones for musicians buried in unmarked graves.
November 18, 2009
It might be getting cold outside, but things are heating up in Big House Blues Band Land (that's a mouth-full to say out loud)! We wanted to send out an update on what is going on behind the scenes here, and announce a new show.
First of all, we'd like to share these videos we found on YouTube from our Killer Blues show from September. To see the complete list, head over to our video page:
BHBB Videos
Secondly, you may have noticed we only have one show booked right now. We decided to take on less gigs in order to get more work done on songwriting and recording for our new CD. The band has been very creative writing and rehearsing new material over the past few weeks. We may be previewing some of these new songs at our upcoming show at the Sherman Banquet Hall. We want to see you there!
Lastly, we want to thank everyone who has joined our fan page on Facebook, become our friend on MySpace, or joined our mailing list here on our website. We love seeing you at our shows and we look forward to finally getting this CD done and into your hands! Have a good day. :)


November 6, 2009
September 29, 2009
Big Daddy was interviewed by phone this morning on WBMI 105.5 FM by DJ Charlie Cobb. The station, which broadcasts in the West Branch area of Michigan, requested the interview for the upcoming - Saturday, October 10 - show at the Standish Depot Days Festival.
A recording of the program can be heard here:
September 29, 2009 - WBMI - Standish Depot Days Interview
September 28, 2009
Happy birthday Phil.
September 25, 2009
OK, we thought this was really cool...

This is a photo of Phil's friends, Donna and Alan Vargo with comedian Jeff Foxworthy (center) at Jeff's September 25 show in Kalamazoo, MI at the Miller Auditorium on the campus of Western Michigan University. Alan was proudly sporting his Big House Blues Band T-shirt.
September 23, 2009
Thanks to everyone that attended the Killer Blues show this past Friday at the Howmet Playhouse! RB and Company, along with Washboard Jo, were kickin' butt and the Big House Blues Band had a "killer" time themselves!

Big House Blues Band
(photo: Alan Bartlett - Killer Blues Photographer - used by permission)
The video for the concert is in post production now so those of you in the Mt. Pleasant area, keep an eye on the Public Access channel (I think it is Mac Channel 3, is that right Justine?) for the broadcast of the show coming in a few weeks. Additionally, the audio was professionally recorded. if you'd like a copy of the CD or DVD video, contact Jimi Ray jimi (at) bighousebluesband.com and he'll hook you up.
Felix Ybarra, from the West Michigan Blues Society, was the emcee for the show! It was great to finally meet Felix along with Tim DeGryse (the President of the WMBS wmbs.org).
Local artists Melissa B. Morrow and Lee S. Brown also attended the event and spoke about their entry in Art Prize. (click here for more info: artprize.org). Thanks also to D.J. Eric Longstreet from WGVU-FM for being there! We really appreciate your support and airing our music. :)

RB and Co. with Washboard Jo
(photo: Alan Bartlett - Killer Blues Photographer - used by permission)
The show was a success and Washboard Sam will receive his headstone! Thank you to host Steve Salter. :)
On Saturday the band played the Lexicon Club in Grand Rapids at the "Birthday Blues" bash. Big Daddy was in top form and although the crowd was small, they were VERY exuberant and the band fed off of their energy. Thanks very much to our hosts Steve and Lee Ann Creager! You guys are the best!
Some good news for our friends on the East side of Michigan... we've added a show on October 10 in Standish, Michigan! The Big House Blues Band will headline the Saturday music event at the "5th Annual Depot Days Festival 2009" in downtown Standish.
Some of the most popular parts of the Depot Days Festival have been the historic depot with its railroad artifacts, the vintage rail car display, a carnival hosted by Schmidts Amusements, a variety of vendors and musical performances by various artists and groups.
This event is going to be a BLAST and we hope to see those of you who haven't been able to see us on the other side of the state (uh-hum not to name names ... Lisa S., Woody W. - hahahaha). Hey, maybe someone could get Minard Shattuck to come down!?!?
Listen to Charlie Cobb on WBMI 105.5 FM for information and promo spots about the show.
Click here for more info: Standish Historical Depot Welcome Center
September 12, 2009

Big Daddy, Blackberry Jackson, Tzer and Jimi Ray appeared on Eric Longstreet's "Saturday Night Blues" show on WGVU-FM in West Michigan this evening promoting the upcoming Killer Blues and Birthday Blues shows.
A recording of the program can be heard here:
September 12, 2009 - WGVU - Killer Blues Promotional Show

We also posted photos from the brodcast here: BHBB on WGVU
September 10, 2009

A couple articles featuring the Big House Blues Band appeared in today's print edition of the Muskegon Chronicle newspaper. Online versions can also be viewed here:
Meet a Muskegon band: Big House Blues Band
Event will raise funds to honor deceased musician
September 9, 2009
The Big House Blues Band will be appearing LIVE on Eric Longstreet's "Saturday Night Blues" radio program this Saturday - September 12 at 9:00 PM - on WGVU 98.5 and 95.3 FM in the West Michigan area. The band, along with Killer Blues promoter Steve Salter, will be chatting about the upcoming Killer Blues show and we are going to try to talk Eric into spinning some of the tracks we've been working on for the new CD!!!! Should be a great time.
Speaking of the Killer Blues show on September 18, have you gotten your tickets yet? Seating is limited and we don't want you to miss out on this show which will be broadcast on television in the Mt. Pleasant, MI area. (We are hoping to also get some airtime in West Michigan with this video.) Give Big Daddy Doug a call to make arrangements your tickets before they are sold out - (231) 736-2243.
And don't forget that the following day we will be performing for the second year in a row at the now annual "Birthday Blues" bash to be held at the Lexicon Club in Grand Rapids, MI. This show will be Saturday, September 19 and begins at 8:00 PM. We had a fabulous time at the event last year and, if you were there, you remember the fun time all the dancers from the audience had! Please make it a point to come out and join the fun!
August 20, 2009
Jimi Ray accomplished one of his longest standing goals today... living longer than Elvis Presley! Happy Birthday Jimi Ray.
July 1, 2009
We've added two shows and updated another!!!!
First the update: The August 11 show at the McGraft Park Summer Concert Series will be VIDEOTAPED by a video crew from Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI. Make sure you come out and get your mug on video!!!!
Second: We've added a Beer Tent show Labor Day Weekend - more details to follow.
And the big news: The Big House Blues Band will HEADLINE the "Killer Blues" show at the Howmet Playouse Theater on September 18! This show is held by Killer Blues who is dedicated to preserving the legacies of the great blues men and women by raising funds to purchase headstones for those artists who through circumstance, or poverty, were buried in unmarked graves.
All proceeds from the September 18 show will be used to purchase a headstone for Washboard Sam, a.k.a.: Robert Brown.
The opening acts for the show will be special guests RB & Company (another West Michigan Favorite), and Washboard Jo.
June 18, 2009
Happy birthday Elvy!
Also, congratulations to Big Daddy's daughter Katie on her graduation from High School.

Katie is a VERY talented performer and BHBB is confident she will have a bright and successful future.
Congrats Kate!
June 3, 2009
We are saddened to hear of today's passing of Koko Taylor, 80, "Queen of the Blues".
Koko has long been an inspiration to the Big House Blues Band and we feature her song "Voodoo Woman" in our show. The head of The Blues Foundation, Jay Sieleman, has been quoted as saying, "...even at her age, Taylor was still the best female blues singer in the world, just as she was when she started back in the 1950s."
Koko has been a solid performer right up until her final performance on May 7 singing her Willie Dixon penned trademark song "Wang Dang Doodle" at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, TN. She received the "Traditional Blues Female Artist Of The Year" award at the event. The award was her 29th, which is more awards than any other blues artist has received to date.
Koko was hospitalized for gastrointestinal surgery on May 19. Complications arose from the surgery and she passed away this afternoon.
Koko's final album "Old School" was released April 2007 and has received many awards and we highly recommend it to all of our fans. Koko brings it all back home in this collection of foot-stomping barn burners to powerful slow blues.
Please read more about the legendary Koko Taylor here: Wikipedia or at her official website here: Koko Taylor Website
June 1, 2009
BHBB would like to thank everyone for coming out to the season opener of the (26th annual) Parties In The Park event this past Friday in Hackley Park, Muskegon. We had an absolute blast!

Special thanks to Tim Lipan and the American Red Cross Muskegon Oceana Chapter for sponsoring the evening's event!
Our thanks also go out to sound technician Zachary Russick for doing a fantastic job with the live sound.

(click on the paper to the right for a larger version)
The Muskegon Chronicle featured a front page photo of our very own Elvy Mobley and Nick Houseman taken at the show! You can also read more from the Chronicle's online edition here: Parties In The Park 26th Year.
Big House Blues Band appeared at the season opener due to a last minute cancellation by the band Pegasus. Their lead vocalist and lead guitarist Jimmy Hunter was involved in a very serious motorcycle/car accident.
Jimmy's daughter made it to the show and said that he is still in a chemically induced coma at Spectrum, however the doctors are quite positive about his progress so far.
Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with Jimmy.
May 27, 2009
The Big House Blues Band will be appearing this Friday for the season opener to the Parties In The Park events at Hackley Park due to an extremely unfortunate and serious accident a member of the band Pegasus (who were to be the openers) was involved in.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and we wish him a speedy recovery.
May 1, 2009
The band held a mini photo session at Vinyl Wall Studio with photographer Rachel Chester.

April 20, 2009

Thanks SO much for packing the house at the Old World Pub "Blues and BBQ" show yesterday! You were definitely one of the BEST audiences we have ever played for. The band had an absolute BLAST and hopes to make a return engagement soon!
We'd also like to send kudos to our new singer Elvy. She really blew their socks off! Fantastic job Elvy and we can't wait for the next show!
We've posted photos of the show in here: SCRAPBOOK
And speaking of which, we've added a couple of Barn Underground shows to the Live Show schedule.
March 23, 2009
Happy birthday Nick!