Page 24 - BiTS_06_JUNE_2020

From Bob Corrione:

LL: As an artist, how have you been impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic?

BC: It’s been rough. My last live show was on March 14 at the Rhythm Room with Dave Riley and our

band. We had an exceptional night of playing and I am really missing being on a stage
making music for the people. What is really bad is that John Primer and me have our
new album releasing May 1. John and I had about three weeks of shows planned in the
US and in Italy for May. Obviously, all that’s been canceled. The new release will still
come out on May 1, but it will be a while before we will be able to do shows to promote
it. I have a few gigs that are still on the books for fall, but I have no idea if they
will actually still be happening when that time comes around. I’m currently
doing some work towards some future album releases right now. But
because very little money is coming in I have to go very slowly. I’ve been
somewhat successful selling T-shirts and CDs by mail which has kept me
going.

LL: What do you think will change for you post COVID-19?

BC: I am very concerned that after all the orders have been lifted,
that the audience, fellow bandmembers and venue staff will be able
to perform their functions safely. Our business depends on gathering
people together. What will the new social norms be? I wonder if it will
be possible to get back to the way it was before the pandemic. I really
don’t know the answers to those questions.

LL: What do you think the blues community (venues, organizations, blues DJ’s, fans) can
do to help support artists post COVID-19?

BC: I think we are all trying our best to help each other out through this. I have the unique position of
being both an artist and a venue. As a venue we are completely wiped out financially. There is no money

coming in and the bills are stacking up. I am very concerned that we will see our insurance lapse and
our power shut off. Once the venue is allowed to re-open we’ll be able to put artists back to work again.
I’m hoping that the audiences aren’t scared away.

LL: What can your fans look forward to from you post COVID-19

BC: When I’m finally able to get back on the stage, I will be so incredibly appreciative. I miss playing in
all of the wonderful live music projects that I am involved in. I am very privileged to work with great
artists like Bob Margolin, John Primer, Dave Riley, Jimi Primetime Smith, Alabama Mike and Andy T,
Dianna Greenleaf and others. Immediately after the lockdown is lifted, I hope that John Primer and I can
go do some festivals and shows to promote our new CD ‘The Gypsy Woman Told Me’. And if I look a

little bit further down the line, I am also planning a new CD series of older recordings called ‘From the
Vaults’. I am sitting on a wealth of amazing unissued master recordings, done over a 30-year period.
Lots of work to do but a lot to look forward to!

LL: As a venue, how has The Rhythm Room been impacted by the global pandemic?