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Fea tu r ed Ar t i c l e s
Mt. Rainier R&B Festival Preview
Big Sky Blues: A Review of the Big SkyBlues Festival in Montana
Dry Side Blues: Reviews fromthe drier side of Washington
Redefining the Word
Favorite: A Review ofthe Rock Cut and BackyardBlues Bash Festivals
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Letter from the Editor
Cover Art:
Dear Bluesletter Readers,
Have you noticed a thing or two about thismonths issue? Apart from the typos I mayhave missed along the way, whats new? Noticeanything different about our cover or interiorlayout? Do you notice an improvement overlast months issue? I sincerely hope so.
For the visual innovations, spark, and layout, we have Jesse Phillips to thank. Shes on-track to graduate in graphic design this year atThe Art Institute of Seattle, and her journeyto the Bluesletter began at this years Safeway
Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland,Oregon. We met in Belltown last month, andshe immediately found ways to put her skills touse for our publication.
I am deeply grateful and humbled that shesincluding our publication in her professionalgraphic design portfolio. I hope that our Augustissue will be a before picture, and subsequenteditions will have her own unique visualpresentations to make the Bluesletter the best local,all-volunteer blues society publication it can be.
Letter from the President 6
Blues Foundation Elections 7
Mt. Rainier R&B Festival Preview 8
Safeway Waterfront Blues Pics 10
Pinetop Perkins Youth Workshop 11
Mt. Baker Blues Fest 12
Big Sky Blues 14
Dry Side Blues 16
August Blues Bash
Redefine the Word Favorite 18
CD Reviews 20
Talent Guide 24
In This Issue...
With Jesse volunteering her time to help, we canonly get better. Well get better by looking likea more professional publication, and providea valuable service in promoting, preservingand capturing one of the most vibrant bluescommunities in the world. Welcome aboardJesse, and well hope well be on your dance cardfor as long as youll have us!
Speaking of volunteers, I am always looking forwriters and photographers to donate their time,expertise and talent to the Bluesletter. If you havea CD review, picture, concert review or preview,or suggestions on how we can improve as a blues
society, please send them to me at [email protected]. I am especially interested in picturesthat show blues fans having fun, because a nightout on the town seeing live blues at the Highway99 Blues Club, Dimitrous Jazz Alley, or ourBlues Bash at the Red Crane is a recipe for fun.
Please enjoy the September issue, and I extenda special welcome to Jesse Phillips, our newestBluesletter Art Director and volunteer!
Eric Steiner,Acting Editor Washington Blues Society Bluesletter
WHO WE ARE:Tim & Michelle Burge
Self-proclaimed Blues
Addicts ... if theres a cure
for this, we dont want it!
WHAT WE DO:We love to support and promote Blues
Musicians, local clubs & festivals through our
photography, as well as network with other
Blues Addicts.
PROUD MEMBERS OF:Washington Blues Society, South Sound Blues
Association & The Blues Foundation
CONTACT INFO:[email protected]
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Celebrating 22 Years of Blues1989 - 2011
September 2011 BluesletterVolume XXIII, Number IX
Publisher Washington Blues Society
Editor Eric Steiner, Acting Editor ([email protected])
Art Director Jesse Phillips ([email protected])
Calendar Maridel Fliss ([email protected] Advertising Malcolm Kennedy ([email protected])
Printer Pacific Publishing Company
www.pacificpublishingcompany.com
Contributing WritersRobert Horn, Eric Steiner, Jerry Peterson, Baggs Groove, Cindy Dyer, Malcolm Kennedy
Rick J. Bowen and Son Jack, Jr.
Contributing PhotographersThe Blues Boss, Jim Salisbury, Eric Steiner, Tim and Michelle Burge, Suzanne Swanson
Cover PhotoCover Photo of Buddy Guy at the 2011 Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival(Photo by Tim & Michelle Burge)
The Bluesletter welcomes stories and photos from WBS members! Features, columns
and reviews are due by the 10th of each month in the following formats: plain text or
Microsoft Word. Graphics must be in high-res 300 dpi .pdf, jpg, or .tiff formats. We
encourage submissions. All submissions become the property of the WBS and will
be used at our discretion. We reserve the right to edit all content. The Bluesletter is
the official monthly publication of the Washington Blues Society. The WBS is not
responsible for the views and opinions expressed in The Bluesletter by any individual.
WBS 2011
Mission StatementThe Washington Blues Society is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote, preserve,
and advance the culture and tradition of blues music as an art form. Annual membership is
$25 for individuals, $35 for couples, and $40 for overseas memberships. The Washington
Blues Society is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible. The
Washington Blues Society is affiliated with The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.
Washington Blues SocietyP.O. Box 70604
Seattle, WA 98127www.wablues.org
Blues on the Radio Dial 26
Jam Guide 26
Venue Guide 27
Calendar 30
Across the MembershipDirectors Desk...
Greetings! First of all, my sincerest apologiesfor not being around much this Summer. Asmost of you know, I went back to school inthe Spring and shortly thereafter, got a job.Both have kept me very busy. However, Ihave missed being a part of the WashingtonBlues Society. I have asked the Board ofDirectors if I might be reinstated as yourMembership Director and they were kindenough to welcome me back into the fold.
So, I will work diligently to get things caughtup during my break (Fall Quarter begins9.26.11) and enlist the help of a coupleof Volunteers to assist me going forward.If youre interested in helping out, pleaseemail me at [email protected].
Until next month, safe journey as you travelthat Blues Highway, my friends ...
Michelle BurgeMembership Director
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Hi Blues Fans,
In this months Letter from the President,
Id like to thank my volunteer Board of
Directors, our Officers, and Street Team
members for the work they have done in
what may be our busiest blues year in the
short five years Ive been involved with
the Washington Blues Society.
Under the direction of MerchandisingDirector Tony Frederickson, weve held a
statewide International Blues Competition
this year that concluded with our finals at
the Taste of Music in historic downtown
Snohomish. This journey began in Spokane
when we were hosted by the Inland Empire
Blues Society, and continued to the
UnTapped Blues Festival in partnership
with the Walla Walla Blues Society.
The Highway 99 Blues Club hosted a great
competition, as did the Oxford Saloon in
Snohomish. Rhea Rolfe staffed the events
with able volunteers, and Board Members
Michelle Burge, Antoinette Trizuto, and
Chad Creamer helped out to make each
event a successful one. By the time this
Bluesletter hits members mailboxes or
a club near you (especially the Highway
99 Blues Club, Jazz Alley, or the Oxford
Saloon), we will know which solo/duo
act and which band will represent the
Washington Blues Society at the 2012
International Blues Challenge.
I hope that we can maintain this years
momentum that we achieved through
our local International Blues Challenge
competitions statewide, and based on
the enthusiastic reception we received at
each event, I am confident that we can
grow each event next year. Thanks to
Tonys leadership and commitment, weve
worked together to ensure that we are a
statewide blues organization. While we
have more than a few detractors in the
Letter from the Presidentlocal blues community, I hope that they
will come back if they see a place at our
monthly Blues Bash at Shorelines Red Crane
Restaurant, or participate at special events
like the outstanding Blues for Food, which is
growing to be (pun intended) a full-fledged
blues festival within the Seattle city limits.
I encourage you to learn more about the
International Blues Challenge and put iton your to-do list next February. That
weekend is like a gathering of the blues
tribes from around the world. Over the
past three years, over 90 people from the
Evergreen State have either attended or
performed at this annual Blues Foundation
event. Over 90 people blues lovers all
who made the pilgrimage to Memphis
and the Mississippi Delta in some of the
most difficult economic times since the
Great Depression. I plan to be there next
year and I hope that many more will join
me. If you work for wages, please consider
setting aside an affordable amount each
paycheck, or change your drinking habits
from a triple tall flavored Muy Grande
latte to a drip coffee. Im sure thatll save
a few bucks a day.
If I dont see you in Memphis at the IBC
next year, I hope to see you at the Red
Crane in Shoreline on the second Tuesday
of September for our Blues Bash. Were
fortunate to have Bassic Saxx Lissa
Ramaglia and Scotty Harris open up themeeting, and the Tim Turner Band take
us til our 9:00 PM closing time.
Until then, go see some live blues!
Eric SteinerPresident, Washington Blues Society
Proud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues
Alive Award, Member, Blues
Foundation Board of Directors
Washington Blues SocietyHotline: 1-888-90BLUES
1-888-902-5837
Proud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive
Award from The Blues Foundation
2011 Officers
President Eric [email protected]
Vice President [email protected]
Secretary Antoinette [email protected]
Treasurer (Acting) Chad [email protected]
Editor (Acting) Eric [email protected]
2011 Directors
Music Suze [email protected]
Membership Michelle [email protected]
Education Jim [email protected]
Volunteers Rhea [email protected]
Merchandise Tony [email protected]
Advertising Malcolm [email protected]
2011 Street Team
Downtown Seattle Tim & Michelle [email protected]
West Seattle Rev Deb [email protected]
Eastside Jim DiIanni
[email protected] WA Lloyd [email protected]
Peninsula Dan [email protected]
South Sound [email protected]
Central WA Steven J. [email protected],
Eastern WA Cindy [email protected]
Ballard George Jordy [email protected]
Lopez Island Carolyn & Dean [email protected]
Middle East Rocky Rock Khan [email protected]
Editorial Advisory Board & ProofeadersMary McPage Eric Steiner
Carolyn Kennedy Son Jack Jr.
Special Thanks Webmaster The Sheriff
Web Hosting Adhost(www.adhost.com)
WBS Logo Phil Chesnut([email protected])
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Advertising Rates:
Space Reservations 5th of the month
Camera Ready Art 12th of every month
Graphics: 300 dpi
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September 2011
DEADLINES:
AdvertisingSpace Reservations:September 5th
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Camera ReadyAd ArtDue:September 12th
THANK YOU FOR READING
THE BLUESLETTER AND
SUPPORTING LIVE BLUES IN
THE EVERGREEN STATE!
ATTENTION BLUES MUSICIANS:
WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR
LATEST CD REVIEWED IN THE
BLUESLETTER?
GOT A BLUES CD FOR US?
Need help in getting the word about your
music? Wed like to help. While we
cannot predict when or if a review will land
in the pages of the Bluesletter, wed liketo encourage musicians to consider the
Washington Blues Society a resource.
If you would like your CD reviewed by
one of our reviewers, please send two
copies (one for the reviewer and one for
our monthly CD giveaways at the Blues
Bash) to the following address:
Washington Blues Society
ATTN: CD Reviews
PO Box 70604
Seattle, WA 98027
Memphis, TN August 16, 2011. The
annual election of The Blues Foundations
Board of Directors and its officers has
been completed. The eight recently-elected
members will join the 25-member Board
and begin three-year terms at the next
Board meeting on August 27 in Memphis,
TN. The Board Development Committeewas especially interested in individuals in
a position to assist The Blues Foundation
with ongoing plans to establish a Blues
Hall of Fame at its new permanent home
at 421 South Main in downtown Memphis.
New members elected to the Board are:
Alan Maites, Robinson & Maites Marketing
Agency, Chicago, IL; Les Walgreen, Peaux
Deaux Productions, Chicago, IL; and Olga
Wilhelmine, a New Orleans-based per-
former. Board members who were elected
to a second term are: Thomas Cain, BMI,
Nashville, TN; Thomas Ruf, Ruf Records,
Germany; Joey Sichting, FedEx Services,
Memphis, TN; Ricky Stevens, a Blues fan
from Coldwater, MS, and Cassie Taylor, a
Boulder, CO-based performer.
The new Board selected the followingBoard members to leadership positions:
Bill Wax, Host and Program Director of
Sirius XMs B.B. Kings Bluesville channel,
Washington, DC, and Eric Simonsen, a
retired corporate executive and blues
fan, Ivins, UT, were elected President
and Vice-President, respectively.
Additional members of the Executive
Committee are: Gary Anton, a Talla-
hassee, FL, attorney and owner of the
Bradfordville Blues Club; Kevin Kane,
President and CEO of the Memphis
Convention and Visitors Bureau; and
Dorothy Moore, a Jackson, MS Grammy-
nominated singer. Clay Purdom, an
attorney with the Memphis law firm of
Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, was
elected Treasurer.
The newly-elected members and officers
join fellow Board members Phil Barkett
III, Kathy Bolmer, Jostein Forsberg, Zac
Harmon, Stefan Levy, Jerry Boogie Mason
Ron Partain, Hugh Southard, Eric Steiner
Bob Trenchard and Laurie Tucker.
The Blues Foundation is Memphis-based
but world-renown as THE organization
dedicated to preserving our blues music
history, celebrating recording and per
formance excellence, supporting blues
education and ensuring the future othis uniquely American art form.
Founded in 1980, The Blues Foun
dation has 4500 individual members
and 195 affiliated local blues societie
representing another 50,000 fans and
professionals around the world. It
signature honors and events--the Blues
Music Awards, Blues Hall of Fame, Inter
national Blues Challenge and Keeping
the Blues Alive Awards--make it the
international center of blues music. Its
HART Fund provides the blues com
munity with medical assistance while
its Sound Healthcare program offer
musicians health insurance access.
Blues in the Schools programs and Gen
eration Blues scholarships expose new
generations to blues music. Throughou
the year, the Foundation staff serve
the worldwide Blues community with
answers, contact information and news
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The 5th Annual Mount Rainer Rhythmand Blues Festival at the Mineral LakeEvent Center on September 24th willbe truly international, and will featurethree bands that were in the finals this year at the International Blues Challenge(IBC) in Memphis and performed at thehistoric Orpheum Theater. Another bandperforming in Mineral this year is headingto Memphis next year to represent theSouth Sound Blues Association (SSBA) at
the 2012 IBC, and even another band willbe competing in the regional IBC finals torepresent the Washington Blues Society(WBS) next year at the IBC. This yearsFestival also showcases Pacific Northwestlegends of the stage who will make thisfestival a day of music not to be missed.
Starting things off with a bang will be NickVigarinos Back Porch Stomp, who were inthe IBC finals this year and have been inhigh demand around the country since then.Nick is a master of the slide guitar and hasdeveloped a style of his own that continues
to amaze fans and fellow musicians alike.
Legendary Pacific Northwest Band LittleBill and the Blue Notes follow Nick, andLittle Bill has been in the over 55 years andhas performed more than 10,000 shows inhis career. Bill continues to be one of thebusiest performers on the scene today.Little Bill is a genuine music legend aroundthese parts and the City of Tacoma has evendedicated a day to him for eternity.Deb Rhymer starts off our internationalshowcase after Little Bills set. Debs thepresident of the Victoria Blues Society in
Canada and has performed internationallyfor many years. She is well known for herBette Midler tribute shows, but she canalso flat out sing the blues like very fewwomen can. A real powerhouse vocalist inthe blues and beyond!
The Randy Oxford Band an internationallytouring band with IBC finalist experience will be up next. Randys band featuresmusicians from four different countries,making this a truly international and diverse
set. After their recent success at the IBC inMemphis, they continue to be in demandas far away as Quebec where they recentlyperformed at the world famous FestivalInternational du Blues de Tremblant. Theywere the first band from Washington stateto ever play this prestigious festival. Theyare currently putting together additionaltours around the U.S. and beyond.
Things will continue to heat up with the
Red Hot Blues Sisters for a hour of powerblues. These dynamic performers willbe representing the South Sound BluesAssociation at the 2012 International BluesChallenge in Memphis. You will see whythey are headed back to Memphis when you watch them perform. Featuring therecipient of the BB award from the WBS
for female vocalist of the year, Suze Sims,The Red Hotz continue to tour the U.S.and Europe regularly.
Now that the stage will have been set onfire, Maia Santel and Her All Star Band willbring the swing or throw down the blueslike nobodys business. Maia put this amazingall-star Blend together exclusively for this
festival. This is a show with so much goingon, you wont want to leave the dance floor.Continuing in an international vein,Germanys Georg Schroeter and MarcBreitfelder will be up next. They mademusic history this year as the first Europeanact to win the IBC. They are traveling witha quartet and and they are ending theirNorth American tour at this festival. This will be the bands only Washington Stateappearance on this tour! Georg on Pianoand vocals and Marc playing world class
harmonica, have brought their unique bluestyle to the forefront of contemporary blue
Last but not least, the Rafael TranquilinBand will close the festival with a guitadriven musical journey. Rafaels hot newband will be competing in the WashingtoBlues Society finals to represent the WBat the 2012 IBC. Rafaels style of playinguitar and singing are like nothing else inthe music world today. Rafael has been
on tour with the Randy Oxford banfor several years now. When he is notouring with Randy, he has time to creathis own kind of show that is full of energypassion and spirit, that makes this band thperfect closing act to an amazing day ointernational style Blues. You will not wanto miss this world class closing act.Join us for a 12 hour Musical Extravaganzaon Saturday September 24th at this beautifuplace on Earth, near the foot of Mt. Rainier
The Mineral Lake Event Center is just 9
minutes or less from most major metro areas iWestern Washington and Portland, OregonRain or Shine. Indoor stages. Campinand RV on site. Plenty of additional lodginnearby. There will be a legendary bonfire onsite, and there will be open jamming arounthe bonfire for all musicians. Come early oFriday and stay through Sunday if youd likas there will be plenty of activities to do in tharea for the entire family.
PREVIEW:
5th AnnualMt. Rainier
R & B Festival
Join us for a 12 hourMusical Extravaganza
on Saturday September
24th at this beautifulplace on Earth, near thefoot of Mt. Rainier.
Tickets and all festival relatedinfo at minerallake.com and
visitrainier.comRandy Oxford at Oxford Entertainment a253-973-9024 oxfordentertainment.com
Gary Johnson, Mineral Lake Event Center a360-492-5039 minerallakeeventcenter.com
Sponsored in part by: The Dispatch in Eatonvill
Mount Rainier Regional Visitor Center at Minera
Oxford Entertainment, and Teninos Scatter Cree
Winery. Special thanks to the Washington Blue
Society and the South Sound Blues Association.
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Building off the great success of the first
two years, The Pinetop Perkins Foundation
plans to expand their workshop offerings
next year to include a harmonica master
class, along with the piano and guitar work-
shops. The overall goal of the workshops
is to preserve Pinetops legacy by bringing
support and encouragement to young mu-sicians at the beginning of their careers.
The 2012 Workshops will be held from
June 13 to 15 at the Shack Up Inn and
Hopsons Commissary in Clarksdale,
Mississippi. This will be followed by a
performance and jam at the world famous
Ground Zero blues club in Clarksdale.
While the workshops will continue to be
available to both the young and the young
at heart, scholarships will be available to
youth ages 12-21 only.
The harmonica workshop will be led by Gary
Allegretto. Winner of the 2011 Keeping
the Blues Alive award for Blues Education
from The Blues Foundation, Allegretto has
decades of experience performing, recording
and especially teaching harmonica to youth
around the world. Since 1985, through his
nonprofit organization Harmonikids, he has
provided music therapy and harmonicas
to many thousands of children around
the world with a wide range of physical,
emotional, and/or economic disadvantages,
Bob Margolin returns to lead the guitar
workshops. A Pinetop Perkins Founda-
tion board member and recording artist
Margolin, is widely recognized as one ofthe best blues guitar players in the country.
A member of the Muddy Waters band
for seven years, he has won numerous
awards and active performance schedule.
As an educator, he has taught blues guitar
workshops, has an instructional video on
Muddy Waters guitar style, and has given
PINETOP
PERKINSFOUNDATION
EXPANDS THEYOUTH WORKSHOP
SERIES FOR 2012
workshops at Blues Festivals and event
worldwide.
The piano workshop leader will be an
nounced in the next few months. The cos
remains at $395 which includes a meet and
greet dinner and jam on the evening of June
12th, two and a half days of instruction
nightly jams, and lunch for two days. I
does not include lodging.
Bob Margolins deep passion, knowledge
and incredible ability to play Delta style
blues guitar coupled with the accommoda
tions in Clarksdale, make this workshop
unlike any musical experience I have ever
had. John Sillaman Workshop Attendee
The workshop was a great opportunity
for my kids! They expanded their musica
horizons, learned new ways to play the
blues and gained a greater appreciation for
the stories behind the blues. Dara BiggerParent of Attendees
Further information; please visit the Pi
netop Perkins Foundation website at www
pinetopperkinsfoundation.org.
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I told the vendor at the BBQ booth that
I would mention to readers of this article
that they need to put the ribs he cooks on
their bucket list. His ribs were most amaz-
ingly good ribs I remember ever eating.
Try to pull a piece of meat by the bone
and it wont move as the bone comes out.
You then find out that you have a huge
amount of meat in front of you. Guys
bigger than me had a hard time finishing
their plate because of how much meat wasthere. I came back from Mt Baker three
pounds heavier, and I only ate at two food
vendors there. Wait. This is the Blues-
letter. This is is supposed to be a music
review. OK. I will say that you must go
to the Mt Baker Blues Festival next year
to get those ribs, and to get some of the
best music on this planet.
I got some emails from festival goers who
said that this may have been the best Mt
Baker Blues Festival ever because of the
lineup, the talent who dropped in on thejams, and the great beer servers in the beer
garden (Note to Editor: I made up the
statement about the beer servers because
of my own beer serving ego).
From Friday through Sunday and into
Monday morning (or maybe the jam went
on till Tuesday so someone who was sober
the whole time needs to be consulted on
that). Friday at about 5:30 Jesse James and
the MOB started playing. These young
blues musicians showed a little of the
future of the blues. Someday they will be
old enough to have a beer in nightclubs,
and by then, they will have had many years
of experience playing at events like this.
The Chris Eger Band followed, and Chris
showed guitar greatness at the afterhours
jams each night as well. I was impressed
and told him that when I caught up with
him to have a conversation sometime
around 2 AM Sunday morning.
If you havent seen Hamilton Loomis per-
form live, you need to. Whether hes in
Texas or Washington State, or some other
part of the world, Loomis is worth the trip!
He is a good singer, great guitar player,
and great entertainer. He also jammed
after hours with good guitar players like
Chris Eger. Each performer sold CDs
through the Washington Blues Society
booth, and the booth was busy morning,
noon and night. Tony Frederickson and
Chad Creamer were busier retail clerks
than I ever see at a Starbucks location
at daybreak, and Hamilton Loomis CD
sales were very, very popular.
Bright and early at 11:30 Saturday morning,
Jumpin Josh and Felicia kicked things off
with a good set, followed by James King
and the Southsiders. James King has a
good, new band and Im confident that
they will be recognized by our societys
membership at BB Awards events. Look
at the schedule in The Bluesletter each
month to find out where to go see them
play live.
Those who have seen the CD Woodbury
Band perform know why he wins BB
Awards for Best Electric Guitar. His
band has no weak links. After his set
CD said the band will review some of the
flaws they noticed. I point this out only
to mention that, as part of the audience
I sure didnt notice any imperfections
CD has decidedly high standards, this is
one example of the attention to detail and
professionalism that of many of our blues
bands, band leaders, and guitar player
are around here.
Mid-afternoon the band that is sometimes
called The House Band at Mt Baker
took the stage and showed why The Fa
Tones are often the most popular band
at this festival. The Fat Tones have a
singing bass player, a guitar player tha
shares have amazing harmonies, and they
also put on a great visual show. Bobby
Patterson has won some major awards a
a guitar player, and has to be seen as wel
as heard to be fully appreciated.
There were two performances this year
that made about half the crowd fall deeply
in lust. For straight women, it was Shane
Dwight. For straight men, it was Ana
Popovic. Ana Popovic comes on stage
after her band gets the crowd going. Her
bass player is an entertainer at A level tha
can steal the show from almost anyone bu
Ana. After a song or two he introduced
her with rivers of sweat already running
down his face and tight black clothing
Ana came out wearing just a pair of black
leather pumps with 5 high heels withlittle silver chains, (oh, and a tight shor
purple dress, I guess). Her guitar playing
was good, and she did some blues classics
along with some original songs. Her band
is very good at making sure the crowd is
entertained. I was talking to Al Owen (a
good harmonica player himself) later and
told him that deaf people could still have
loved her performance. He then pointed
out that blind people could have loved
her performance too. So we agreed tha
it was good for many.
The Average White Band was up next
and they are as great now as they were
back in the days when they first rose to
dominance on the music scene. They
started in the British Isles and conquered
I told the vendor at theBBQ booth that I wouldmention to readers ofthis article that they
need to put the ribs hecooks on their bucket list.
He then pointed out thatblind people could have
loved her performance too
Mt. Bakerreachedgreat
Heightsin 2011A Review of the Mt. BakerBlues FestivalB y Ro bert Ho rn
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does. We would have rather have gone
blind than to watch him go.
The whole crowd stayed to hear Shane
Dwight. I took some pictures of his fingers
on the guitar strings, doing what mere
mortals cant do to make the sounds
intended for the other world. Shane
was great on guitar and vocals. Women
seemed to like him for other reasons,
too. He asked Who will drive me to my
hotel? and a lot of women standing next
to husbands and boy-friends raised their
hands. I found out later who was supposed
to have answered his question. If shes
reading this Bluesletter, I need to get her
Facebook contact again, largely because
my memory was not perfect because I
had a beer in my hand at, I forget, 2:30
AM or 3:00 AM.
I was ready to come back to Earth by
Monday afternoon (worn out) but it was
sure a great party.
I was ready to come
back to Earth by Mondayafternoon (worn out) butit was sure a great party.
America. They sounded great at Baker
this year. They were followed by another
bluesman from Europe, Matt Schofield.
Schofield was voted by UKs Guitar &
Bass Magazine as One of the Top Ten
Greatest Blues Guitarists of All Time from
the UK. The crowd at Mt Baker found
out why. Someone in the same league
as Keith Richards and Eric Clapton on
stage showed one more reason why the
Mt Baker Blues Festival must be on your
blues bucket list. This is the kind of talent
we now expect, and get, at this festival.
I didnt get much sleep before the music
began on Sunday. There was a gospel show
in the building at the festival site and my
camping neighbors went to it.
Mark Whitman and Sweet Talking Jones
put on a great show as other campers woke
up, and I got some good photos of this
good Washington band on stage.
One of the great guitar players in this
region got on stage on Sunday afternoon.
There is a YouTube video of Fat James
at Mt Baker that shows what I am talking
about. He put on a great performance
people talked about all day. Late Sunday
night (actually Monday morning) Fat James,
Chris Eger, and Shane Dwight were on
the jam stage with Shanes bass player and
other festival greats and put on what some
sober people say was the hi-light of the
year. Three guitar greats playing together,about three inches from each other, and
taking each other higher, was something
to experience.
I was very impressed by the Canadian blues
band, The Twisters. The harmonica play-
ing of Dave Hoerl and the guitar playing
of Brandon Isaak, along with the humor
and bass playing of Keith Picot were very
noticeable, but the drumming of Chip
Hart was also key to the greatness of the
band and its show.
What should I tell you about Curtis Sal-
gado and his big band? Curtis is one of
the worlds vocal greats and harmonica
greats. He brought the horn section and
the back-up vocalists too so this show just
like he does at his home Waterfront Blues
Festival in Portland. I will never forget
this show. It doesnt get much better than
Curtis on songs like Im Too Loose or
Id Rather Go Blind or anything else he
Ana Popovic at Mount Baker by the Blues Boss
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The 2nd Annual Big Sky Blues Festival,
held on August 6th and 7th in Noxon,
Montana - a beautiful little town nestled in
the mountains, on the Clark Fork River.
Montanas Vista Power was kind enough
to allow this festival to return to their
property, which is also a public park and
recreation area. When we first crossed
the bridge over the Clark Fork River into
Noxon, there was a very special feeling
that this could be one of those really big
annual events, once the word got out about
how beautiful this place really is.
There appears to be unlimited room
for camping and RVs. Promoters LorneRiddell and Randy Oxford with Buzz
Productions and Oxford Entertainment
were thrilled with the increased attendance
over last years debut festival.
It was obvious the word was spread around
by last years attendees, said Riddell, we
saw many returnees who brought many
more friends with them this year, and
this is what we needed to keep this young
festival going into its 3rd year (now set for
August of 2012) People came from as far
away as New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado,Southern,California and San Francisco.
There was a particularly large showing
from Washington state.
Oxford, who recruited the entertainment,
said I hired bands from Washington,
Idaho and Montana, who all had good
followings of their own, and they delivered
by spreading the word to their fan base,
and many of those fans showed up.
When you are trying to develop some-
thing new like this in the mountains of
Montana, you really need a joint promo-
tional effort by the bands, the fans whowere there last year, the regional media
and the festival promoters, to pull it off,
said the award-winning Oxford.
The weather was perfect, the water was just
right for swimming, the dogs were chasing
Frisbees and retrieving their thrown toys
and the quality of the stage, lighting and
the sound were top notch.
Riddell, who also owns the Naughty Pine
Saloon 15 minutes east of Noxon, in
Trout Creek, hired The Fat Tones for
a pre-festival party Friday night at the
saloon. The band set the Tone for the
weekend. Everybody did Get Toned
and they were ready for two more days
of great music and sunshine under the
big Montana sky.
A new band from Everett and Arlington
RJ Knapp and the 21st Century Bluzmen
kicked things into high gear on Saturday
by making a dramatic entrance on theirHarleys. The crowd went wild over tha
grand entrance, and their great set of
music that featured RJs sizzling guitar
work and great singing, plus the band
two female vocalists. The bar was set high
for the weekend, next up was an exciting
band from Sand Point, Idaho, The John
Kelly Band. John is an accomplished
guitarist and singer and had the crowd
lined up to buy his CDs.
Another relatively new band from Kalispell
The Smokehouse Blues Band, wowed thecrowd with authentic, original blues. Jus
when the crowd thought they knew wha
this festival was all about, next up was
Tacomas 13 year old guitar sensation
Nolan Garrett and His Trio. Oxford firs
met Nolan at Jazzbones youth jams when
Nolan was just nine years old. The Big
Sky Blues Festival has vowed to alway
showcase at least one youth band each
year; Nolan didnt disappoint. The main
comment during Nolans set and well after
was, hes only 13? Amazing!
Now that the festival goers were blown
away by the kid, The Fat Tones were
up. These guys continue to deliver high
energy sets of music night after night and
year after year, and they always bring their
fans, Fat Heads, with them.
Now that everybody was Toned, the
road-tested and International Blues Chal
lenge veterans of the Randy Oxford Band
Big SkyBluesA Review of the 2nd Annual Big Sky Blues Festival
By Baggs Groove
The weather was perfect,
the water was just rightfor swimming, the dogswere chasing Frisbees
and retrieving theirthrown toys and thequality of the stage,
lighting and the sound
were top notch.
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15
fan base, great sponsors, hard working
volunteers, fabulous food and beverage
vendors from Idaho and Montana, and
many arts and crafts vendors.
The Washington Blues Society set up
camp with Tony, Al and Susie doing
what they do so well: promote the music
we all love and sell blues merchandise.
Tony helped Oxford with the MC duties
throughout the weekend, and did a fan-
tastic job letting the festival crowd know
about upcoming blues shows around the
region and on the high seas.
Each band at this festival, and many bands
who werent, benefited from the Washing-ton Blues Societys booth and presence.
Tony and his volunteers promoted CDs
on consignment from artists throughout
the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
One additional benefit from the blues
societys support is that it appears to
have sparked a local blues organization,
The Flathead Blues Society, to regroup
and to return to the blues scene. I know
Many players from
throughout the weekendjammed together
many for the first timetogether and it
made a great festivaleven better!
took the stage as the sun was setting.
Montanas Severson Productions provided
great sound and lights, and complemented
Randy Oxfords excellent set.
Closing out the night was another rela-
tively new band from Kalispell , the
Kenny James Miller Band. This band
made it to the Washington Blues Society
finals last month at the Taste of Mus ic
in Snohomish. Its not easy for a trio
to put on a 90 minute show that keeps
an audience on their feet and leaves
them wanting more. Very few trios can
pull this off the way these guys did. Their
set was full of great originals and each
performer showcased his considerableblues chops.
The festivals last day featured perfect
weather day and it started with a bang:
two other Washington Blues Society
International Blues Challenge finalists
started it up. The Vaughn Jensen Band
and the Coyote Kings with Mush Mor-
gan show that the Tri-Cities and Walla
Walla definitely have blues powerhouse
talent. Spokanes Big Mumbo Blues
Band followed, and each of these acts
brought their A Game to Noxon.
The ultimate ending to the 2nd Annual
Big Sky Blues Festival was the closing jam
session. Many players from throughout
the weekend jammed together many
for the first time together and it made
a great festival even better!
The festival was supported by the little
town of Noxon, a solid and multi-state
that the blues societys president, Eric
Steiner, wil l encourage them to join
the constellation of blues societies tha
make up the Blues Foundation. Thicombined support is sure to help build
this fest iva l in to a big annual even
under the big sky of Montana.
You can visit www.bigskybluesfestival
com in the coming months for more
information about next years Augus
2012 festival. Make it a part of your
2012 blues festival plans as I highly
recommend the Big Sky Blues Festival
Nolan Garrett at Big Sky by Jerry Peterson
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It is my pleasure to bring you a quick
rundown on two Dry Side festivals: the
Rock Cut Blues Festival near Kettle Falls,
Washington on July 22nd and 23rd, and
the Big Sky Festival in Noxon, Montana on
August 6th and 7th. Sweetie loves being
in the water and spent lots of time in the
Kettle and Clark Fork rivers respectively,
with blue skies and temperatures in the
mid-80s for both events. We have those
over here on the Dry Side.
The Rock Cut Blues Festival began Friday,
July 22nd with Son Jack, Jr. on guitar and
vocals and Michael Wilde on harmonica.
They were followed by the Sarah Brown,
a strong-voiced Colville-area phenomenon
that led her trio through a cool arrange-
ment of Stormy Monday, and originals
including Im Just Trying to Tell You.
Eddie Turner closed the festival on Friday.
Eddies a A powerful guitar player, he led
his rhythm section through J.B. Lenoirs
classic Talk to Your Daughter. He alsorevealed one of his major influences as he
brought out a medley that melded portions
of Purple Haze and VooDoo Child.
Gary Yeoman and VooDoo Church kicked
the festivities off on Saturday. One of
Spokanes true blues purveyors, originals
13 Candles and Man Builds a House
blended perfectly with Howlin Wolf covers.
Next up were the fabulous Fat Tones. In
the middle of their set, the strap holding
Uncle Bobs borrowed bass dropped to
the stage, but Gary Yeoman leaped up
and repaired the guitar without missing
a beat. Way to go, Yo! The Tones were
followed by the Pat Coast Band, led by
the singer-songwriter-guitar master himself
who called guitarist Bobby Patterson of
the Tones up. I enjoyed Big Mumbos
set, and Pat Barclays six-pack of award-
winning players showed the crowd why
they are in the our societys Hall of Fame
as the Best Blues Band. Jennifer Kemples
vocals from their new album, How Blue
Can Blue Get? shows that shes the next
Etta James. The Randy Oxford Band
played last, and provided the crowd with
an exciting nightcap. Randys sextet, led
by guitarist Rafael Tranquilino, took solos
to the next level, with each player doing
whatever was necessary to show just how
good he/she was, and the crowd responded
by shaking what their mammas gave them.
The Second Annual Big Sky Blues Festival
was held in Avistas Pigeon Creek Park,
just across the Clark Fork in Noxon,
Montana. Friday night, we headed into
Trout Creek for the festival prefunction
with the Fat Tones at the Naughty Pine
Saloon. We showed the locals how the
FatHeads roll and they were eager to
see Tones set on Saturday.
Saturday started with RJ Knapp and the
21st Century Blues Review, a three-piece
with two female singers fronted by RJ
Knapp on guitar and vocals. They were
followed by the Mike Kelly Band, a trio
fronted by Mike Kelly and his very cool
straw hat on guitar and vocals. Next up
was the Nolan Garrett Trio. Nolan is an
amazing 13-year old who led his group
through an hour-long set of traditional
blues, with a few originals thrown in.
The Smokehouse Blues Band, a Flathead
Valley quartet fronted by Dick Reed on
guitar and vocals, brought some big blues
to the festival. The folks that had seen
them at the Naughty Pine were ready, and
the Fat Tones didnt disappoint. The set
seared with red-hot blues, and the encore
Illustrated Man, blew the whole thing
wide open. The sweaty masses surged
once again to the sounds of the Randy
Oxford Band, who soloed on until it was
time for the Kenny James Miller Band
to close the festival. Ken Sederdahl ledhis powerhouse trio though most of their
latest CD, Revelator, and expressed his
appreciation for having the privilege o
playing this event. I want to express my
thanks to Bill Holmes, Randy Oxford, and
all of the attendees for putting together two
immensely pleasurable and memorable
social and musical experiences. On the
Dry Side of the Evergreen State!
Dry
SideBluesA Review of the Rock Cutand Big Sky Blues Festivals
By Jerry Peterson, Vice President
Inland Empire Blues Society
Jennifer Kemples vocals
from their new album,How Blue Can Blue Get?
shows that shes thenext Etta James.
The sweaty massessurged once again to
the sounds of the RandyOxford Band, who soloedon until it was time forthe Kenny James Miller
Band to close the festival.
Leanne Trevayalan by John Salisbury at Rock Cut
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interpretations of Willie Dixons That
Same Thing, Look On Yonders Wall,
and I especially appreciated the free-form
and extended jam that Jason led during
the Paul Butterfield classic, Lovin Cup.
Lonesome Mikes harp set the stage for
that cover, and they played a rarely-heard
James Cotton tune, Boogie Thing to the
delight of the dancers on the dancefloor.
Lollar is the co-owner of Lollar Guitars,
a world-class manufacturing company thatmakes guitar pickups and other parts for the
instrument that Les Paul helped introduce
to the world in the 20th century, and his
voice and guitar playing at the Red Crane
were perfect for the bands blues set.
When the worlds blues talent want their
guitar pickups done just so, they (meaning
Buddy Guy, Steve Miller, and a customer
list thats simply awe-inducing) call, text,
Skype, phone or email his company. Hes
no stranger to the Pacific Northwest blues
community having played in the 80s with
the likes of Pat Lynch and Ray Varner.
Im quite positive that our paths may have
crossed back in the day at Astor Park,
Parkers (before it was a casino, kitty-
corner to the Red Crane), or The Hall of
Fame on The Ave in the U District. I
wish One More Mile had CDs we could
sell from the merchandise booth, because
these guys can really put on a show.
After our raffle, the AlleyKatz took the
Washington Blues Society Music Direc-
tor Suze Sims has a lot on her plate these
days. Shes a Red Hot Blues Sister, and
this band will represent the South
Sound Blues Association at the
2012 International Blues Challenge
in Memphis. Shes also part of
the innovative group that played
our July Blues Bash, the Blues
Buskers. The Buskers include
fellow Red Hot Blues Sister Teri
Anne Wilson, and Best of theBlues (BB Award) winning play-
ers Nick Vigarino on guitar and
Charlene Grant on bass.
Our Blues Bashes have tended
to feature an acoustic opening act from
7:00 PM to 7:45 PM, and then we break
for announcements and our free monthly
raffle. Merchandise Director Tony Fred-
erickson usually recruits a Vanna White
for the Night to help draw raffle tickets
out of a Red Crane Restaurant champagne
bucket, and at least 10 members or fansgo home with a new blues CD, t-shirt or
Seattle Mariners baseball memorabilia.
Well, the August bash was different.
Music Director Sims lamented she was
having some difficulties recruiting solo,
duo, or acoustic acts for our monthly
Blues Bashes. If the August meeting
of the Washington Blues Society is any
indication of the talent that is willing to
volunteer to play our meeting, Ill tell
Ms. Sims to stop stressin. The open-
ing act, hailing from Vashon Island, was
One More Mile, featuring Tom Bean on
guitar, Lonesome Mike Nichols on harp
and vocals, Jason Lollar on guitar, and an
engine room with David Salonen on bass
and Sam Veatch drums.
One More Miles set featured a range
of blues, ranging from the West Coast
instrumental vibe of San Ho Zay, to the
gritty and nuanced Chicago blues-tinged
stage. This purrfectly good band worked
through a delightful set of music tha
included blues classics like Aint No
Brakeman and Dont Need No Doctor,
but I was intrigued with their 6-song/$5
EP that they sold from the bandstand
They played Tobacco Road and An
gel From Montgomery from that disc
and I particularly enjoyed the way tha
lead singer Katy Miller interpreted John
Prines lyrics. Slow and sultry, with a jus
a wistful tinge that put just the right edge
on one of that former Chicago postmans
signature songs. Jim Barnes on keyboard
and Alan Edwards on bass ushered
in a great cover of Sweet Home
Chicago, which is one of my fa
vorite songs, too, because I grew
up in the shadow of the City of
Big Shoulders.
Dave McCabe and Justin Dean
rounded out the AlleyKatz on drumand guitar, and I would recommend
this band to fans who like their
blues diverse, with just a touch of
rock, folk or country. I hope tha
theyll continue to rehearse and I
hope that clubs will take notice of the way
Katy Miller can front a talented outfit like
the AlleyKatz.
The next time I see Music Director Sims
Ill tell that Red Hot Blues Sister not to
worry. Tonights show at the Red Cran
in Shoreline offered up to solid bands withsolid blues sets. Whether you prefer music
inspired by Cotton, Butterfield, Mayall
Raitt, or Dixon, or venture farther afield
in country blues, trance blues or blues tha
sample rap or hip-hop, youll enjoy the musi
cal diversity of our monthly Blues Bashes
This month, weve got Bassic Saxx the
award-winning duo of Scotty Harris and
Lissa Ramaglia opening the evening, and
one of the finest players to ever pick up
a Gibson guitar in the Pacific Northwest
the Tim Sherman Band.
All ages. Second Tuesday of each month
First set at seven; free raffle giveaways
before the second set that begins at eight
Well finish up at nine, and have a great
time. See you there!
17
...Ill tell that Red Hot BluesSister not to worry.
August Blues
BashOne More Mile and the AlleyKatzBy Eric Steiner -President of the Washington Blues Society
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As the festival season winds down, I am
reminded of the great things about go-
ing to festivals: there are always several
bands on the line-up, the great way they
sound in the open air, and even if you goto festivals every weekend (like our Rhea
and Tony from the WBS), you are bound
to see some new favorite bands while
still enjoying your old favorites and, as
always adding to your collection of CDs
and T-shirts.
I just attended two of my favorite festivals
at opposite ends of the state, Rock Cut
by Orient and Backyard Blues Bash by
Goldendale. For $45-50, you get camp-
ing and two days of music at an intimate
setting, with grass and trees, surrounded
by musicians and fellow blues lovers. At
these smaller festivals, you get the privilege
of an entire weekend of unrestricted roam-
ing around and dancing. That freedom
allows you to get up close and personal
with your favorite musicians, especially
if you hang out by the WBS booth! Its
fun to visit and get to know the musicians
and show them your love and respect for
the talent they share with us.
At Rock Cut, the July 22-23rd weekend,
a local favorite and one of my new favor-
ites is the Sara Brown Band, who played
Friday night. I was honored to be able to
spend some time between bands to talk
with some of the band members. Sara
spent some time in Hollywood and won
Singer of the Year at Universal Studios
in 2002. She gave up those bright lights
for her husband and bass player, Jesse
Brown, and settled down in the small townof Kettle Falls. She is like a grown-up
Shirley Temple with her big smile and
bubbly personality. She can sing out the
low, growly notes of the Thrill is Gone
and the sweetness of one of their originals
Lay Me on Down. She sealed the deal
with me when she ended the night with an
encore of Adeles Rollin in the Deep.
Guitar player Dave Kelley, previously with
Dr. Mellow and The Mojos, has the clear,
clean sound of a seasoned musician. I
know Dave on a personal level and I amamazed of his talent for making guitars
and violins, they are beautiful works of art.
He can cut down a tree and masterfully
turn it into a working instrument! He
also has a sideline business of repairing
string instruments. So you can see from
all this extensive musical knowledge, he
knows how to handle a guitar and trust
me, he doesnt disappoint. To round out
the band, they are accompanied by the
solid beat of the drummer, Jeff Curtiss.
Friday night ended with Eddie Turner,
who really ripped it up. As usual, the
festival continued on Saturday with a
great mixture of new favorites and re-
discovering old favorites. The line-up
included VooDoo Church, Son Jack, JR,
Fat Tones, Pat Coast, and Big Mumbo
Blues Band with the sensational sax and
killer keys. And ending the night was
the Randy Oxford Band who always puts
on a great show.
Two weeks later finds me at the Backyard
Blues Bash at Pine Springs Resort at the
opposite side of the state. An old favorite
is Blues Attitude, who is a fun band with
some great music. They did an awesome
job with the Friday night jam. We heard
a preview of Vaughn Jensen, who is also
an old favorite from my stomping grounds
of Tri-Cities. Leanne Trevalyan (from
Junkyard Jane and The Trevalyan Triangle)
was also there to sing a little and get u
all ready for her acoustical set the next
day. Also up was new favorite, and grea
blues harp player with a lively voice, Tuck
Foster and his new band Tuck Foster and
The Mossrites , which is named after his
old friend and bass player, Patrick Moss
lifelong love for the Mosrite guitars, which
he plays to this day.
Another talented musician included an
acoustical guitar player with half an arm
but twice the heart, who put it all out there
when she sang. Charlotte Wilson told
me of her inspiring story the next day
who credits Vaughn Jensen for gettingher out in the music scene again after a
life changing accident. She was already
an accomplished musician when she fel
from a ladder and broke both her wrist
two and a half years ago. After already
a tragic and career pausing incident, she
was thrown another obstacle with an
infection in the bone and the loss of her
hand. For now, shes figured out how to
tape a pick device on so she can strum and
I was amazed how much movement and
control she has. This is just proof of the
power that music can have on ones life
and the motivation some have in order
to keep it there.
Leanne Trevalyan started out our beautifu
Saturday, surrounded by good old Mother
Nature and talk of the bear sightings the
previous night. She braved it out solo with
a fun set and created a nice atmosphere
for the bands to follow.
Another new favorite, Tommy Hogan
Redefinethe WordFavoriteat a Blues
FestivalA Review of the Rock Cut andBackyard Blues Bash FestivalsB y C indy Dyer
Two weeks later finds me
at the Backyard BluesBash at Pine SpringsResort at the opposite
side of the state.
I just attended two of myfavorite festivals atopposite ends of the
state, Rock Cut by Orientand Backyard Blues Bash
by Goldendale.
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19
really tore up the stage and got people
hopping up off their chairs. Then, an
old favorite of many, Billy Roy Danger
and the Rectifiers (also of Junkyard Jane)
entertained us with his story-telling songs.
He ended his set with a fun and provoca-
tive I Want Candy while venturing off
the stage, kneeling to the women in the
audience while serenading them with his
guitar, to put it lightly.
We were also honored to hear from Two
Tone Steiny and the Cadillacs out of Cali-
fornia. And what more can I say about
a long time favorite, Too Slim and the
Taildraggers? The music just gets inside
you and EVERYONE has to move young
and old (another great thing about festivals
the diversity of ages among the people).
It must be something about Tommy and
Pollys combined beat along with Tims
electrifying sound that just keeps you going
and going and dancing your ass off andit wasnt only me!
The Vaughn Jensen band topped the night
off and kept us moving into the late hours.
He was joined by an extraordinary harp
player who wowed us with his train song
story. Vaughns friend, Charlotte, also
amazed us again with a few songs at the end.
Great times! Great people! Great music!
As you can see, its impossible to label
one band a favorite. So be sure to take
advantage of wonderful displays of music
and always find the joy in the journey and
Dance Away!
Great times! Greatpeople! Great music!
As you can see, itsimpossible to label one
band a favorite.
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John MayallToughEagle Records
www.eaglerockent.com
After Mayalls 2007 tribute album to Freddie King
he laid off his band of many years and slowed
down his pace somewhat. For Tough John hired
a completely new outfit only bringing back Tom
Canning on keys and much of this project ha
a decidedly more rocking than his recent offer
ings. John Mayall has been making records since
1965 there have been some good ones, some no
so much and some great ones. Along the way
Mayall has written many great songs and hereon Tough he includes three originals along with
covers by Harper, ex-Bluesbreaker Walter Trout
Dave Fields, Gary Nicholson, Curtis Salgado
and more. In my opinion, although well versed
at all the instruments he plays, Mayall is often
at his best when playing the harmonica as on
Trouts Playing With A Losing Hand and the
original That Good Old Rockin Blues which
is reminiscent of the Stones at their best. I am
trying to decide if Mayall titled this CD Tough
because of the hard rocking stance that many o
the tracks have or as a nod to his composition
Tough Times Ahead, about the trying times o
the aftermath of the global financial meltdownThe Dave Fields cut Train To My Heart has
a driving beat and blazing guitars that is sure
to appeal to fans of hard blues rock. The mid
tempo blues shuffle Eye For An Eye is a sure
winner as is his own Slow Train To Nowhere,
a mellow piano shuffle about leaving the fas
and wild life behind. The up beat piano driven
shuffle The Sum of Something composed
by Curtis Salgado will have you snapping you
fingers and tapping your toes. Overall Tough i
a good album with a few gems that Mayall fan
are sure to enjoy. Malcolm Kennedy
Grady ChampionDreamin
GSM Music
2010 international Blues Challenge winner Grady
Champion proves the blues has a future with therelease of fifth album Dreamin. The ten track
album of original material, produced by Cham-
pion and partners in crime Zac Harmon and
Christopher Troy, mixes elements of a variety
of styles from traditional blues to sweaty R&B,
gospel ,pop and soul, all recorded with finesse
rarely found on independent CDs . Although
billed as contemporary blues their use of hip hop
influenced electronic percussion, soulful backups
and effects, alongside gritty guitar and wailing
harmonica, Champion and Co. may have created
a new genre something akin to Neo-Blues. All
the songs feature Champions smoky tenor and
hot harp playing reminiscent of a young JamesBrown or little Walter. Champion knows when to
lay it down smooth and when to shout. Strongest
among the tracks are the sassy title tune, featuring
backups from Sue Ann Carwell who sang on Purple
Rain. The foot stomping Same Train, brings
the blues in the twenty first century. Make That
Monkey Jump, is sure fired to bring the house
down, and old school fans get a nod with Thank
You for Giving Me the Blues, with its new spin
on a twelve bar. Grady Champion proves he is
here to stay and worthy of the accolades with
Dreamin, a champion indeed. - Rick J Bowen.
T-Town AcesAll InBlues Town Records
www.t-townaces.com
The T-Town Aces, the 2011 BB Award nomi-
nated Best New Band, consists of 2/3 of the
multi-award winning Crossroads Band. Their
name is a nod to three of the five band members
currently living in or near Tacoma, and the Aces
refers to blues legends Louis and Dave Myers
on guitar and bass with Fred Below on drums
(the unit who backed both Junior Wells andLittle Walter). To say that their new CD All In
deserves attention would be an understatement.
In a departure from the three Crossroads CD,
All In was recorded at Elliott Bay Recording
Company instead of Casa de Bailey Studio.
They open All In with Amos Milburns House
Party (Tonight) a song that is very popular in
the T-Town Aces live sets featuring Dennis
Ellis on vocals and wailing sax showing why
many consider him one of the best players and
vocalists in town. New guitarist Curtis Smith
struts his stuff on Earl Hookers classic Guitar
Rumba. There are many highlights on this CD,
including the two Steve Bailey originals the selfexplanatory Unemployment Blues with its slow
driving beat and warbling harp, and the upbeat
Potato Digger, rife with double entendre
Steves bottle neck slide playing and Dennis
beating sax solo. All In is on my short list for
Best Blues CD of 2011, and both Dennis and
Steve are on my list for several nominations
including Performer of the Year, Hall of Fame
and more. - Malcolm Kennedy
Blues ReviewsNew Blues that you can Use
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Steve DawsonNightshadeBlack Hen Music
www.blackhenmusic.com
Steve Dawson is the British Columbia-based
mastermind behind the BMA nominated Mis
sissippi Sheiks Tribute CD and concert DVD
projects, and Nightshade shows him to be a very
adept tunesmith and an amazingly talented multinstrumentalist playing both electric and acoustic
on large variety of instruments. His music hi
not exactly blues yet it is; but it is so much more
Nightshade is possibly the best CD I have heard
in awhile. From the opening bars of the infectiou
Torn and Frayed I was hooked. The haunting
harmonies with Alice Dawson and the rousing
bass lines provided by Keith Lowe along with
Steves dazzling picking and engaging vocal
make Darker Still stands out. Walk On, a
mid-tempo lope, reminds me of something JJ
Cale would do with the line times are better
ahead, so walk on and Fairweather Friends
could be a rootsy breakout single AAA radioThe moody slow paced The Fray again feature
great harmonies this time with Jeanne Tolmie and
a Neal Young-esque feel to the languid electric
guitar solos. The only cover song here is a re
prise of the Sheiks Gulf Coast Bay one of the
standouts from both tribute projects and it stand
out here too with a toe tapping beat, outstanding
musicianship and vocals, it is positively vibrant.
can not recommend Nightshade highly enough
its not all blues; but these songs deserve to be
heard in heavy rotation. - Malcolm Kennedy
Marcia BallRoadside Attractions
Alligator Records
www.alligator.com
Marcia Ball needs no introduction with the nu-
merous BMAs she has received, not to mention
three Grammy nominated CDs, nor does her
brand of rollicking boogie piano driven blues.
Marcia is supported by a crack outfit on her
fifth Alligator Records CD Roadside Attrac-tions with Colin Linden and Mike Schermer
alternating on guitar and Reese Wynans adding
his deft touch on B-3 to a pair of selections.
The dozen tracks are all penned or co-written
by Marcia (a first in her 40+ year 15 album
career) and they are a delight. The second line
beat of We Fell Hard is accent by the Mingo
Fishtrap Horns of Dan Bechdolt-tenor sax,
Steve Butts-trumpet and Greg Wilson-baritone
sax. The bluesy shuffle of Look Before You
Leap again has the Fishtrap Horns and an
adroit solo by Schermer. Marcia also shows
another side on the slower cuts like Between
Here and Kingdom Come This Used To BeParadise, a heartfelt song about the Louisiana
wetlands and I Heard It All with lyrics that
reprise the theme of Robert Crays Right Next
Door adding yet another dimension to this
multi faceted artist. The upbeat swinging sounds
of Sugar Boogie will have them dancing in
the aisles and highlights some clever interac-
tion between Schermers six string and Thad
Scott on sax. There is not a dud in the bunch
so if you enjoy piano boogie blues at its finest
get yourself a copy of Marcia Balls Roadside
Attractions! - Malcolm Kennedy
Marion JamesEssenceEller Soul Records
www.ellersoulrecords.com
Nashville isnt exactly known as a hot bed for
the blues; but there is a blues scene there andthere are a couple studios and a few good musi-
cians there, too. Marion had a top 10 hit back in
1966 and also for a brief time in the early 60s
her band included 2/3 of the Band of Gypsys,
Hendrix and Billy Cox. Husband Jimmy Stuart
is a trumpet player and arranged horn charts
for Bobby Bland and Junior Parker among
others (although hes not on this CD). Essence
was originally recorded in 2003 and features a
bevy of Nashvilles finest studio musicians and
it shows on the CD. Essence opens with a cool
70s style R&B number called Tables as in
the tables gonna turn on you, you, you with a
Tower of Power horns groove. Give Me Loveopens with a mellow groove with a horn section.
Lets Straighten It Out has a Barry White feel,
a relationship song about fixing things before
they fall apart. Marion shows another side in
the jazzy 24 Hours and then the sultry cocktail
lounge jazz of Until The Real Thing Comes
Along. The displays vocal range as the piano
plays tastefully behind and guitarist Jack Pearson
(Allman Brothers) adds an artistic touch. The
horns are back for the blues of Please Dont
Waste My Time which features a gritty s lide
solo. From smoky sax and/or piano driven jazz
to tough R&B, Essence brings a lot to the table
without feeling disjointed. Well worth checkingout. - Malcolm Kennedy
Lauren JordanDreamsBloo Productions
Dreams is not a blues CD; but when you hear
her you agree that the lush voice of the 23 year
old Bay Areas Lauren Jordan will be making
its mark for some time to come. The perco-
lating short opening Warm Up is just that,
and shows that the supporting cast has some
chops. There is plenty of good R&B on these
10 original songs. I found them to be lyricallyweak at times, but Laurens vocal affectations
are not overdone. Thats quite unlike what is
so common with R&B chanteuses these days.
The mellow As I Am was a standout as Lau-
ren sings about angels flying high, and with a a
tasteful guitar solo by Anthony Paule. Smokin
Train seems a little incongruous with its C&W
shuffle emulating a moving train; but it is s till a
good track. The guitar playing develops a pleas -
ingly deep groove on Heaven or Hell driven
by a pulsing beat, the solo crisp and sweet and
Laurens beautiful vocals. - Malcolm Kennedy
Terry Garland & Lil RonnieLive at the Canal ClubEller Soul Records
www.ellersoulrecords.com
On Live at the Canal Club you have the duo o
master guitarist and vocalist Terry Garland along
with blues harpist extraordinaire and vocalis
Lil Ronnie Owens (Lil Ronnie & the Grand
Dukes) swaggering their way through 11 tracks
with six originals sprinkled in amongst somchoice cover selections like Stagger Lee, I
Cant Be Satisfied, Willie Dixons Crazy Mixed
Up World and a pair of lesser known Jimmy
Reeds songs. Terrys Trouble On the Way i
gritty low down in the dirt blues while Ronnies
Bettin On My Baby has a slicker uptown vibe
and some reed bending harp too. Ronnies foo
stomping harp fueled instrumental Think Big
elicited a rousing response from the audience
that harp players and enthusiasts like me are sure
to enjoy. Of special note is Terrys buzzing slide
on Muddys I Cant Be Satisfied, front porch
blues at its best. If you like blues duos then Live
at the Canal Club is for you. - Malcolm Kennedy
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The TwistersCome Out SwinginNorthernBlues Music
www.northernblues.com
From the ambling blues, smooth harmonica of
Dave Hurricane Hoerl, silky guitar and satin
vocals from Brandon Isaak on the opening trackIll Make It Up To You, I had my toes tap-
ping. I knew right away that the Twisters that this
2009 follow up to their highly acclaimed After
the Storm (NorthernBlues) would be another
one fat with killer tunes, and that is certainly
the case. It was nominated for the 2009 Blues
Album of the Year by the Western Canada Music
Awards and the Twisters also received five 2009
Maple Blues Award Nominations including Best
Recording and Electric Act. Known for their
understated yet lively playing, the Twisters play
a swinging West Coast Blues style; but they
can play a tough and gritty Chicago style as the
do on Dirty Boy Blues. Somethings GottaGive has a 50s style pop ballad feel to it that
has a sweet groove and is one of five tracks that
feature Hoerl on vocals. Kenny Blues Boss
Wayne guests on keys as does Jerry Cook on
sax filling out the sound. I Refuse To Get Old
is a Delta style solo acoustic with harp accents
and Long Overdue is a harp burner that is
sure to please. The Twisters tore it up at at the
2011 Mt Baker R&B Festival and will be back
down on September 17th at the Highway 99
Blues Club and I highly recommend this CD
and this band. I would be remiss if I didnt
mention the Twisters Theme, a catchy number
where they sing: Were the Twisters/playing inyour townwe like to jump and swing, having
a blast, laying it down. - Malcolm Kennedy
Roomful of Blues
Hook, Line & Sinker Alligator Recordswww.alligator.com
Roomful has again made some line-up change
since their 2008 Alligator Records release Rais
ing A Ruckus with Phil Pemberton taking ove
on vocals, Doug Woolverton taking over the
trumpet chair from the late great Bob Enos and
John Turner on bass. This years Hook, Line &
Sinker opens with the signature Roomful Horn
Section and Chris Vachons brilliant, yet under
rated, guitar playing and shows Pemberton to be
a first class vocalist on par with Roomful alumn
like Salgado, Norcia and DuFresne.) Roomful o
Blues is synonymous with upbeat jumping, bouncy
swinging tunes played with gusto and the dozen
well chosen covers included on Hook, Line &
Sinker fit the bill to the tee. On Gatemouth Brown
classics like She Walks Right In and Gate
Walks To Board, Vachons considerable skill
on guitar, with that of the consistently dazzling and
in demand Roomful horn players, shine brightly
This band just keeps cranking out great release
and for Hook, Line & Sinker the dig deep into
the songbooks to pull out another batch of win
ners. Highly recommended. - Malcolm Kenned
Elvin Bishop sRaisin Hell RevueLive on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues CruiseDelta Groove Music
www.deltagroovemusic.com
Well, if the formula for an excellent live blues
album wasnt already completely certified with
Tommy Castros Delta Groove LRCB Revue
release or Joe Louis Walkers Blues Conspirac
then Elvin Bishop Live on the Legendary Rhythm& Blues Cruise has certainly confirmed it with
this offering. If you want to make a kick ass CD
all you have to do is get yourself booked as a the
headliners on one of the Legendary Rhythm &
Blues Cruises, pick out a few of your biggest hits
and a nice selection of choice blues standard
and grab your favorite fellow LRBC entertainer
to lend their talents and then just let the tape
roll. Elvin picked Finis Tasby (Mannish Boys
John Nemeth, Kid Andersen (Rick Estrin & the
Nightcats) and longtime bandmate and BMA
nominated sax man Terry Hanck. Live on the
Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise opens with
a fun Elvin Bishop classic Callin All Cowswith help on vocals by his band, Steve Willis on
accordion and both Elvin and Bob Welch on
slide guitar. John Nemeth (who sings on fou
cuts) lends his elite vocal talents to Elvins 75
hit Fooled Around and Fell In Love, and in
my very biased opinion is even better than the
original. Elvin Bishops Raisin Hell Revue-Live
on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise is a
fantastic CD. - Malcolm Kennedy
The CD Woodbury BandSunbanks Live!Self released
www.cdwoodbury.com
There have been several really good live al-
bums recorded at the multi BB Award winning
Sunbanks R&B Festivals and the 2011 release
by the CD Woodbury Band, Sunbanks Live!
is another distinguished example. Clint has
been plying his trade for years playing in Polly
OKearys Rhythm Method, The Mark DuFresne
Band as well as other projects. Woodburysband is the former rhythm section from Tim
Caseys Bluescats; Chris Kliemann on keys,
Don Montana on drums, Mike Fish on bass,
and rounding things out is multi instrumentalist
Mike Marinig on sax, flute and more. Sunbanks
Live! contains ten selections including Two
Wheels an ode to the open road sung and
penned by Don. Mike provides a polished sax
solo to which CD ads some slick guitar and
Chris some tinkling ivories. The covers start
with a tune I never tire of, Bobby Blue Blands
Further On Up The Road on which CD and
his cohorts dazzle. Freddy Kings Pack It Up
positively struts and Woodburys guitar solosears while the jazzy Prisoner of Love puts
some focus on Mikes ripping saxophone and
Chris keyboards. CD and company show even
more diversity on the soulful version of Can I
Change My Mind, which is definitely one of
the highlights of the set, and I am certain it had
the Sunbanks crowd up dancing. Speaking of
BB Awards, Clint has racked up a few recently
with back to back Best Electric Guitar awards
in 2010 and 2011 plus Best New Band in 2010.
Pick up a copy Sunbanks Live! and find out
what all the fuss is about. - Malcolm Kennedy
More...
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Strummin DogSignify(Self-Released)
You know that anyone who pursues a musical
path based on country and delta blues is doing
so out of a love for the music and not for the
money, but this new release from StrumminDog out of Sitka, Alaska might just buck that
trend. He declares his intentions right out the
gate with a powerful arrangement of Muddys
I Cant Be Satisfied that is akin to a Charley
Patton/Alvin Youngblood/John Hurt mash up
and is one of the most original arrangements of
this blues standard to have come along in many
years.The CD features 12 tracks including 4
self-penned songs (more on those later) and
the cover artist selection would make any roots
blues fan salivate, featuring Son House, Robert
Johnson, Charley Patton and more. Strummin
Dogs guitar chops are unquestionable and are
showcased beautifully here, in songs that spanthe spectrum of juke joint foot stompers (for
example, Son Houses County Farm) to gentle
fingerpicked ballads (such as Robert Johnsons
Travellin Riverside Blues). While there are
high watermark versions of some classic blues
on this album, the original material is strong and
varied, and provides perhaps just a glimpse of
a the real man inside the gruff exterior called
Strummin Dog. In the impassioned Locked Into
Something you can palpably feel his yearning
for change anything but this. Theres a nice
skipping- down-the-country-lane feel to Bring
Her Back Home and theres a definite hint of
Sonny & Brownie on Good Woman Blues as
Gary Gouker adds some tasteful harp without
the duo being slavish to the form. Gouker plays
on 4 tracks and plays it like a pro just enough
in all the right places. If these guys ever wanted
to hit the road as duo, theyd be working every
night. The raw authenticity on this album is
undeniable, compelling and a joy to the ears.
This is a must buy album for lovers of real
downhome blues. Son Jack, Jr.
http://strummindog.bandcamp.com/releases
The Forty Foursfeaturing Kid RamosBoogie DiseaseRip Cat Records
www.ripcatrecords.com
There are several really good blues bands ou
there who who have taken the tough post-wa
Chicago sound and pumped new life into itUpdating the music; but keeping the raw core o
it. Well, add to this list the 44s 2010 debut on
Rip Cat Records featuring Kid Ramos. Boogie
Disease is a monster with nine tracks that clock
in at a short 39 minutes of unpretentious full on
blues. The LA-based band features Johnny Main
on guitar, vocals; Tex Nakamura on harp, Mike
Turturro on upright bass, J.R. Lozano on drum
and producer Kid Ramos guitar on four cuts.
like every song from the first note to the last; but
a few stand out like the propulsive, raw to the
bone, methodic band original title cut Boogie
Disease with Kid Ramos and Lester Butler
harp driven So Low Down which just plain
smokes. Texs cracker jack reed bending harp
playing is barely contained on William Clarke
incendiary instrumental Blowin Like Hell.
They breath fresh life into Wolfs Commit A
Crime performing it at a slow and deliberate
pace which allows the song to maintain much
of the menace without attempting to out-wol
the Wolf, which some have tried; only to come
not even close. If it sounds like Im raving abou
Boogie Disease well thats because I am. It i
100% solid blues and I recommend it extremely
highly. - Malcolm Kennedy
Tempa & the TantrumsVoodoo & AngelsSelf released
www.revebnation.com/tempaandthetantrums
Although only a 5 track EP from 2007, Voodoo &
Angels shows that Tempa & the Tantrums is a root
band with enormous potential. Opening with the
original Zydeco Jam what becomes immediately
apparent is that the guest musicians like Gerry
Cavagnaro on accordion and Mike Cutler onscrub board are essential to filling out the sound
of the band, which are guitarist Joseph Barton
David Foret-bass and Phil Bassist-drums. The
take Zydeco Jam far into the dark swamps. Nex
is Misty Blue a deep soul, torch song featurin
Dave Camp on tenor sax and Joe Sellars on key
and showcasing Tempas remarkable, expressive
and untamed vocals. They offer up an inspired
reading on the Supremes first Billboard Ho
100 #1 hit Where Did Our Love Go on which
Barton cuts loose a little with some spicy guita
lines. Tempa is now currently working with a new
line-up featuring Naor Nave and Jon Woodhead
on guitars, vocals and songwriting, and I am looking for their next CD, which I understand is in
the works. -Malcolm Kennedy
Tad RobinsonBack in StyleSevern Records
www.severnrecords.com
Tad Robinson, 2010 BMA Soul Blues Artist
of the Year Nominee released an exceptional
record last year. If hes an unfamiliar name,
there is no better place to start than Tads Back
In Style (Severn Records). The velvety smooth
Rained All Night is backed by the Memphis
Horns Wayne Jackson on trumpet with Jack
Hale-trombone and Tom McGinley-baritone sax;
Kevin Anker-Hammond organ and Alex Schultz
on guitar; but it is Robinsons vocals that really
get it sounding like a gem from the Stax vaults.
Tad takes it into the blues for the mid tempo
Full Attention Blues and demonstrates some of
his chops on the blues harp while Harold Floodplays sparse yet stinging guitar and the three piece
horn section rounds out the sound. Just Out of
My Reach has a Motown groove and I easily
envision the slick matching suits of the back up
singers with them all doing the synchronized dance
moves. Another one that had me grooving was
Turn To The Music with Anker on Hammond
and Wurlitzer, Dan Hovey providing the jazzy
guitar; Kenny Rittenhouse-trumpet and Jerry
Queene-tenor sax. If your thing is the real deal
1960s to 1970s soul and I do mean soul, then
get yourself a copy of Back In Style and while
your at it, pick up Tads 2007 Severn CD, A
New Point Of View. - Malcolm Kennedy
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A.H.L. (206) 935-4592Annieville Blues (206) 994-9413
AlleyKattz (425) 273-4172
Al Earick Band (253) 278-0330
Author Unknown (206) 355-5952
Baby Gramps Trio (425) 483-2835
Back Porch Blues (425) 299-0468
Badd Dog Blues Society (360) 733-7464
Bay Street Blues Band (360) 731-1975
Billy Barner (253) 884-6308
Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin Daddies! (360) 357-5454
Norm Bellas & the Funkstars (206) 722-6551
The Black River Blues (206) 396-1563
The Blackstone Players (425) 327-0018
Blackie Jo James & The Natives (206) 634-1431Blues Attitude (360) 701-6490
Blue 55 (206) 216-0554
Blue Healers (206) 440-7867
BluesBerry Marmalade (206) JAY-WARD
Blues To Do Monthly (206) 328-0662
Brian Lee & the Orbiters www.brianleeorbiters.com
Brian Lee Trio (206) 390-2408
Blues Playground (425) 359-3755
Blues Redemption http://www.bluesredemption.com
(The) Blues Sheriff (206) 979-0666
Blues to Burn (253) 945-7441
Bill Brown and The Kingbees 206-276-6600
Bump Kitchen (253) 223-4333, (360) 259-1545
Brian Butler Band (206) 361-9625Tim Casey & The Bluescats (425) 531-1793
Charlie Butts & the Filtertips (509) 325-3016
Malcolm Clark Band (253) 853-7749
Colonel (360) 293-7931
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Kimball Conant & the Fugitives (206) 938-6096
Jack Cook & Phantoms of Soul (206) 517-5294
Rod Cook & Toast (206) 878-7910
Cooke & Green (253) 945-7441
John Scooch Cugnos Delta 88 Revival (360) 352-3735
Crossroads Band (206) 935-8985
Daddy Treetops (206) 601-1769
Double Cookin (253) 945-7441
Double Scotts on the Rocks (206) 418-1180
Dudley Taft (206)795-6509
Roger Enders Road to Ruin (206) 369-7616
Sammy Eubanks (509) 879-0340
Richard Evans (206) 799-4856
Fat Cat (425) 487-6139
Fat Tones (509) 869-0350
Julie Duke Band 206-459-0860.
Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone (206) 295-8306
Gary Frazier (206) 851-1169
Free Reign Blues Band (425) 823-3561
Fil Gumbo (425) 788-2776
Nicole Fournier & Her 3 Lb Universe (253) 576-7600
Jimmy Frees Friends (206) 546-3733