Fe ature d Ar ticles

Blues For Fo od
On the C over : Ke v in S elfe by Jef Jaisun

Kevin Selfe & the Tornad os: L ive at Hig hway 99 The Heart and Mind of C harlie Musselwhite

In This Issue...

Celebrating 23 Years of Blues

October 2012 Bluesletter
Vol. XXIV, Number X
Publisher Editor & Art Director Secretary Calendar Advertising Printer Washington Blues Society Jesse Phillips (jesse@jessephillipsdesigns.com) Rocky Nelson Maridel Fliss (mflissm@aol.com) Malcolm Kennedy (advertising@wablues.org) Pacific Publishing Company www.pacificpublishingcompany.com Peterson, Blues Boss and Randy Oxford.

1989 - 2012

Letter from the President 7 Remembering Gaye Anderson 7 Introducing: Co-Music Directors 7 The Heart of Charlie Musselwhite 8 Festival Review: Mt. Baker B 10

Passing the Torch Highway 99 Blues Club Dry Side Blues Blues CD Reviews August Blues Bash

11 12 14 16 18

WBS Raffle Winners Calendar Blues on the Radio Dial Jam Guide Venue Guide

19 20 21 22 22

Talent Guide Economic Stimulus 101 Rocky Nelson: Home to Hwy 99 Blues for Food Kevin Selfe at Highway 99

23 25 26 28 30

Contributing Writers: Robert Horn, Eric Steiner, Malcolm Kennedy, Zab, Jerry Contributing Photographers:
Robert Horn, Jerry Peterson, Eric Steiner, Jef Jaisun, Zab, the Blues Boss, Deb Ryhmer, ML Sutton and Sandi Lynden

Cover Photo:

Kevin Selfe by Jef Jaisun

On the

Cover:
Letter from the Editor
Autumn is upon us; can you believe it? Where did the summer go? Now, there is something delicious about the Blues in the summertime - the sweat, the sunshine, the live outdoor festivals. Fall slips in, barely noticed, and its time to put the festival gear away; to pack up the tents and put the folding chairs into storage. There is however, good news: Autumn is a delightful time for the Blues. Youll notice that our calendar this month is simply packed with amazing ways to spend the cool evenings, curled up with a hot toddy, or a cup of hot cocoa. This month there are a few things that I would like all of our readers to take note of: For starters, the Seattle Repertory Theatre kicks off its 50th Anniversary season with Pullman Porter Blues - September 27th through October 28th. Set in 1937 on the Panama Limited train, the play centers on three generations of porters working the sleeping cars the night of the famous Joe Louis/James Braddock boxing match. This world-premiere production features a live blues band on the Reps Bagley Wright stage. Secondly, The Blues Invasion is one of WBSs major fundraisers that helps send our IBC Band and Solo/ Duo to Memphis. The date is Sunday, November 18th. The start time is 4:00pm and it is a common cover event with multiple bands, silent auction and $1.00 raffles. It will be the fifth annual Blues Invasion and it will be in Snohomish. Go out and support the Blues this Fall! Until next time, Jesse Phillips, Editor Washington Blues Society Bluesletter Kevin Selfe by Jef Jaisun Jef Jaisun has been photographing blues and jazz for over 30 years. His photograph of blues icon Taj Mahal, taken at the 1999 Chicago Blues Festival, graced the cover of Living Blues magazines 30th Anniversary issue. His work appears regularly in Blues Revue, and he has contributed to countless publications and websites over the years, including Rolling Stone. A typical year finds Jaisun photographing festivals in New Orleans, Chicago, Arkansas, and Oregon. Jaisun still spends his nights in Americas blues and jazz clubs, documenting both national and international artists

The Bluesletter welcomes stories and photos from WBS members! Features, columns and reviews are due by the 5th 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. If a submitter intends to retain the rights to material (e.g., photos, videos, lyrics, textual matter) submitted for publication in the Bluesletter, or the WaBlues.org website, he or she must so state at the time of submission; otherwise, submitters rights to the material will be transferred to WBS, upon publication. 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 2012 The 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.

Mission Statement

Washington Blues Society P.O. Box 70604 - Seattle, WA 98127 www.wablues.org

3

Mighty Mouth Entertainment & The Pony Keg Proudly Present

Sunday Nights Pro Blues Jam With Rafael Tranquilino

Pullman Porter Blues by Cheryl L. West directed by Lisa Peterson September 27 October 28, 2012
Seattle Repertory Theatre kicks off its 50th Anniversary season with Pullman Porter Blues. Set in 1937 on the Panama Limited train, the play centers on three generations of porters working the sleeping cars the night of the famous Joe Louis/James Braddock boxing match. This world-premiere production features a live blues band on the Reps Bagley Wright stage. Pullman Porter Blues plays September 27 through October 28. Tickets start at $15 and are on sale at seattlerep.org Its 1937, and three generations of porters are hard at work on the luxurious Panama Limited train. Midwest blues songs flavor their journey from Chicago to New Orleans as the porters confront dark secrets from their past and tough truths about their future together. This captivating coming of age story is woven with iconic blues music and features a live band. The play is inspired by my late grandfather and his many tales of working on the postal trains as well as my first train ride as a young girl. I remember, quite vividly, being utterly enamored with the trains compulsively smiling Pullman porters, commented playwright Cheryl L. West. Now decades later I have the incredible opportunity through my play to illuminate the world behind the smiles of the free blacks working in one of the first occupations open to them after the Civil War.

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November 2012 DEADLINES:

Advertising Space Reservations: October 5th malcarken@comcast.net Calendar: October 10th calendar@wablues.org Editorial Submissions: October 5th - editor@wablues.org Camera Ready Ad Art Due: October 12th - editor@wablues.org Camera ready art should be in CMYK format at 300 dpi or higher.

Washington Blues Society

Proud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation President Vice President Secretary Treasurer (Acting) Editor 2012 Officers Eric Steiner Tony Frederickson Rocky Nelson Chad Creamer Jesse Phillips president@wablues.org vicepres@wablues.org secretary@wablues.org treasurer@wablues.org editor@wablues.org

Hi Blues Fans! I wanted to introduce you to our two new Music Directors: Janice Cleven Gage and Cherie Robbins! The Board welcomed these two new volunteers to share in the duties of the Music Director for the remainder of 2012.

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2012 Directors Music Co-Directors Cherie Robbins & Janice Cleven Gage Membership Michelle Burge Education Roy Brown Volunteers Rhea Rolfe Merchandise Tony Frederickson Advertising Malcolm Kennedy Downtown Seattle West Seattle Eastside Northern WA Penninsula South Sound Central WA Eastern WA Ballard Lopez Island Middle East Webmaster Web Hosting WBS Logo

music@wablues.org membership@wablues.org education@wablues.org volunteers@wablues.org merchandise@wablues.org advertising@wablues.org

Weve Got Discounts! 20% off- 12 month pre-payment 15% off- 6 month pre-payment 10% off- 3 month pre-payment Contact: advertising@wablues.org We value your business. Please send all advertising inquriries and ad copy to advertising@wablues.org with a copy to Malcolm Yard Dog Kennedy at malcarken@comcast.net

2012 Street Team Tim & Michelle Burge blueslover206@comcast.net Rev. Deb Engelhardt deb@revdeb.com Vacant Lloyd Peterson freesprt@televar.com Dan Wilson allstarguitar@centurytel.net Smoke smkdrms@aol.com Stephen J. Lefebvre s.j.lefebvre@gmail.com Cindy Dyer cindalucy@hotmail.com Marcia Jackson Carolyn & Dean Jacobsen cjacobsen@rockisland.com Rock Khan rocknafghanistan@gmail.com Special Thanks The Sheriff webmaster@wablues.org Adhost www.adhost.com Phil Chesnut philustr8r@aol.com

Introducing:

The Washington Blues Society welcomes two new Board members: Cherie Robbins and Janice Cleven Gage will share the remainder of the Music Directors unexpired 2012 term. Cherie Robbins is an active volunteer in Washingtons blues community who travels far and wide to support many blues festivals. Janice Cleven Gage is the host of The Blues Note radio show every Wednesday from 10 p.m. to midnight on KSVR 91.7FM / KSVU 90.1FM. Cherie lives in South Puget Sound and Janice lives in Northern Washington: together, theyve got the entire state covered in blues! We hope theyll continue helping out in 2013! (Photo by Blues Boss)

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 like to 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

A Fond Remembrance: Gaye

(1950-2012) Gaye Andersonwas the owner and proprietor of the New Orleans Creole Restaurant in Seattles Pioneer Square for 27 years. She left us far too early at the age of 62 on Thursday August 30th, 2012. She had gone into a diabetic coma and was taken to Harborview Medical Center where she passed from complications related to lung and heart disease. Gaye supported musicians who performed at the New Orleans with generosity, kindheartedness and humanity, and will be missed dearly by all in the blues and jazz communities. Gaye was inducted into the Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame in 2005. The New Orleans hosted regular jazz gigs on week nights by some of Seattles finest jazz musicians; on weekends, there was blues, zydeco and Americana. The club is still open for business

President

Letter from the

We are an all-volunteer, statewide organization, and I am pleased that Janice hails from points North like Conway, and that Cherie calls South Puget Sound home. If youve been at Mount Baker, Blues for Food, David Chapmans excellent weekend of music to benefit Combat Veterans International, youve seen Janice and Cherie in action on the dance floor or at the microphone. Welcome aboard Janice and Cherie! This month is also important, because well take nominations for the five elected Officer positions during our October Blues Bash at the Red Crane Restaurant in Shoreline. As with any all-volunteer nonprofit, we have a core group of elected volunteers who serve as President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Editor. Unlike the Blues Foundations Board that requires a three year commitment, the Washington Blues Society Board members serve one-year terms that begin in January. In turn, these five elected positions appoint Directors during the first meeting of the New Year. As always, we are looking for new volunteers to step up. If you have experience in accounting with QuickBooks, we can use you. If you have experience with the Adobe Creative Suite for the PC, we can use you. If youd like to sharpen your skills behind the keyboard or camera lens, we can use you. If you have customer service skills that are on par with Nordstrom, we can use you. Whether you have a hour a month or an entire weekend to devote to promoting blues music from time to time, we can use you. Until next month, please go see some live blues!

Eric Steiner, President Washington Blues Society Member, Board of Directors, The Blues Foundation

Anderson

By Malcolm Kennedy

fulfilling previously booked obligations, and the family is assessing whether it will continue operations. Gaye is survived by her mother Alice Coleman, her brother Joseph B. Anderson of Tukwila, and several nephews and nieces. The November 2012 Bluesletter will honor Gayes memory and contributions to Seattles music community in words and pictures.

The Mind
It has been said sometimes that the bigger they are, the nicer they are. While this is not always true, it is true in the case of Charlie Musselwhite. He is one of the biggest musical talents in the country, and one of the nicest guys at the same time. The other thing that stood out during our interview is the central point he brought home time and time again: music coming from the heart is primary over technique. Like Charlie said Technique is fine if

& Charlie Musselwhite

Photo and Article by Robert Horn but it was clear he did a lot of thinking behind those deceptively simple words. RH (Robert Horn): Thank you for the opportunity to talk today. I have a few questions. I have heard you many times, and have read most everything written about you. I know you were surrounded by music growing up. You were aware of different genres. For some reason, blues and harmonica

Heart of
be listening to people singing in the fields and it was blues. It just wrapped itself around me. It was my comfort. I was kind of a lonely kid. I didnt have any brothers and sisters. My dad was gone. My mom worked all the time. Shed leave in the morning when it was dark. Shed get back in the evening when it was dark. So I was really alone all the time. So, it was comforting music to me. I enjoyed other music. I enjoyed rockabilly. Johnny

[
it serves the heart, but too many people think that technique is to serve technique During the hour we spent in an isolated corner in the hotel lobby everyone who got a glimpse of him knew who he was and came up to say how they love his music, and some got autographs. This did not interfere with our conversation at all. Charlie is loved by his fans, and he was polite and nice to all who said something to him. He is a class act, and it was a privilege to talk with him during a break at the Marriott from this years Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Oregon this past July. We talked about music and life with simple words,

I think it is really important to listen to all the original guys, the older styles as much as you can because there are so many subtleties in that old country blues that seems to have disappeared.

kind of a symbiotic way. You can hear and you can soak it up and it sinks into you... the notes. I didnt know it would prepare me for a career or I would have paid way more attention. I would have asked way more questions but I was just having a good time. I loved the music and the people who played it were really encouraging to me and we had a good time even if I was just this white kid in the black neighborhood, the only white face in miles in any direction. My dad gave me his guitar when I was 13 but didnt teach me much of it, and I had already been fooling around with harmonicas, they were a common toy for kids in the south. So, listening to blues wasnt enough. I would go out in the woods and make up my own blues. I thought thats what you did. Later I would go looking for blues records in second hand stores. I also learned that some other music from around the world, I guess it would be called world music now, had a fire to it kind of like blues. Charlie then talked about flamenco, Greek, Gospel music. For some time, The Staple Singers have been close friends. He mentioned the Buddhist concept of transmission and Charlie Patton directly transmitting to Pops Staples. Charlie talked about a number of legends he knew, including Pinetop Perkins. RH: What advice would you give to young or new harmonica players? CM: I think it is really important to listen to all the original guys, the older styles as much as you can because there are so many subtleties in that old country blues that seems to have disappeared. Now its like through the amplifier loud as possible slam em over the head and the subtleties have been lost. It really gives you a flavor of the blues. Thats my opinion, and also follow your heart. Play what seems good for you, play one note and then ask what note do I now want to hear, and whats the note after that you want to hear? RH: I will listen to a little Sonny Boy and copy a riff but when some of us listen to you we could be intimidated, thinking wed never get to your level. What do you say to those who may feel intimidated when hearing some of the greats? CM: You dont have to do everything someone does. If you like a riff, learn that riff. Also, keep in mind, that even the simplest listen to Jimmy Reed. He played very simply but you can play a lot of notes and still not sound like Jimmy Reed. It goes back to the subtleties, the timing, and its way more than just the notes. A lot of people today think it aint nothin but technique and the notes, and how fast you can play. How fast you can play has this much to do with blues (Interviewers note: Charlie held his fingers in the shape of a zero) zero. Its about feeling. Almost all of them today completely miss the point and they swear

they are playing blues. Technique is fine if it serves the heart but too many people think technique is to serve technique. RH: In one of the things I read it said you say you have one tune and do it many ways. Your fans think you know a lot more than one tune. Can you explain what you mean by one tune.? CM: Well I do. I just I play what I know, and I play it to everything whether I am playing with a Cuban group or my own band or a group from Brazil, I just play my heart, its just me. RH: In songwriting some may start with a tune or some start with lyrics. Is there any pattern to how you do it? CM: I guess some professional songwriters may put on a suit and tie and spend eight hours at a computer, but the way I do it is whenever I have an idea I may write it on a match book or something and put it in a shoe box. Later, when I am looking through there I may be surprised how many of the ideas go together. Some artists who do sculptures say that the image was in that block of rock and they just knocked away everything in its way. If you are writing from your heart that is how it will come out, not from your head. Some guys can play a lot of notes but that doesnt mean it works. Some people can learn the dictionary and have nothing to say. Other people only know some words and can say everything, can nail it. Same way with music. Howlin Wolf, I swear, only knew four or five notes on a harmonica, but that is all he needed to know. He could play one note and raise the hair on the back of your neck and say everything in one note. You can say everything in one note if you have the tone and timing and are coming from your heart. That may be different for some kinds of music, but even if I am listening to jazz, I can tell the difference between someone trained in classical and someone coming from blues. A classical trained player will sound stiff and almost brittle, and the guys playing jazz who came out of blues will have this warmth and depth and substance that the classical trained guy cant even approach. RH: I have written about rhythm sections and have asked drummers and bass players something that I am also asking singers and band leaders too. What creates a good rhythm section? CM: The whole band is like a body you know. The drummer is like the heart. They are like organs of the body working in unison to produce a sound. If everyone is working together and off each other it creates a great band. Were all feeling alike and thinking alike and going in the same direction. That is how I feel about my band. It makes a wonderful, tight, unit. They are supportive of each other. When I am playing I feel like they are propelling me, they are kicking me in the butt to

play even if I dont feel well that day. RH: Are there some new projects coming up? CM: I have a new album coming out with Ben Harper. It is his album, but Im playing on it, every tune except one. It will be out this winter sometime so I expect well be touring together. I will play with my own band too but just like I did with Cindy Lauper, l toured with my own band and with her. RH: Different musical background with her wasnt there? CM: Well, to me it was real interesting to fit into different situations, and I am still just playing what I know; its still the blues. Even when I was playing with the Cuban guys, touring with them was just amazing. They were funny, we were laughing all the time. RH: They were coming from where you are talking about, right? CM: Right from the heart, yeah. My Spanish isnt that good and their English is like zero, but we had no problem communicating. With Cindy, it was really one of the most amazing times of my life. She put out a blues album and that was no problem, but with doing her hit tunes, like Girls Just Want to Have Fun that has a harp solo, and learning how to adapt myself to a style of music that is nothing like the blues - one four five chord change and twelve bars and all that, was really interesting to me and a fun challenge. The album was called Memphis Blues and the guys on the album were from Memphis. Charlie told me that he was not all that familiar with her music until he worked with her, and then he realized that he heard her music before coming out of his daughters room. RH: You have played guitar. Do you still do that? CM: Yes, I almost brought a guitar with me. Fans came up to ask for autographs, and we talked about how he likes his fans. Charlie will be in Europe this fall when this article will likely land in the pages of the Washington Blues Society Bluesletter. We discussed some Pacific Northwest blues venues, and he mentioned how he likes the Pacific Northwest and the history of jazz and blues in Portland and Seattle. He knew about Ballard: his brother in law lives there. We talked more about music, and he recommended that I check out The Bo-Keys, a Memphis-based soul band that was nominated for a two 2012 Blues Music Awards: one in the Band category, and another in the Soul Blues Album of the Year category for Got to Get Back! Charlie told some other great stories about music history that deserves some Bluesletter ink, and I hope to have the opportunity to expand upon them in a future Bluesletter.

took hold more than some other things. Why? CM (Charlie Musselwhite): Blues sounded like how I felt. It was part of the environment. I hear people tell about how the first time they heard blues they went away to college and a roommate in my dorm had a record or something. But I dont actually remember the first time I heard it because it was in the air around me. One particular place, one of my earliest memories was back before air conditioning. So where in Mississippi I would go, as a kid, to cool off was along a creek, called Cypress Creek. Along that creek were fields where people would be working in the fields, and I would be along there on the shady side of the bank of the creek keeping cool, and I would

and Dorsey Burnett lived right across the street from me. There were a lot of musicians I learned from just in the neighborhood. (Interviewers Note: Some biographies have mentioned Johnny Cash in Charlies neighborhood). Also, downtown I would see street singers, blues guys, playing guitar. Eventually, I would get to know these guys. I remember one guy, Abe McNeil, he was a blind guitar player and his wife would lead him around downtown. I got to know him and I got to know Furry Lewis, Willie B, and Will Shade taught me some harmonica. People talk about teaching harmonica but that is one instrument where you cant see whats going on. You can watch a guitar players hands, but you are kind of on your own with harmonica. But you can kind of absorb it in

Chris Eder

Dana Fuchs

Fat James & MarkWhitman

Article and Photos by (and courtesy of ) Zab

Festival Review: Mt. Baker Blues Festival

By Robrt Horn Photos by Blues Boss Janice Gage, Eric Steiner & BobHorn

While the state of Oregon has the largest blues festival in this part of the country, the state of Washington has a few that turn into big families for a few days during the summer. In addition to Sunbanks and Winthrop, there is a community known as the Mount Baker Blues Festival and it comes into being each year, lasts for a few days, and disappears. Those who have been there know that passing up a chance to be part of it would be a really big mistake. In the campgrounds there are clusters of campers who planned to camp near each other ahead of time. Sometimes they come from the same town or city, but other times they seem like a family with 15 tents next to each other, bring food to share with all others, and come from a variety of places. I hung out with one group of campers a hundred feet from my camping group that included people from Seattle, Leavenworth, and parts of Canada. The area I camped in had Canadians too and we had great discussions about the two countries, writers, and music. They saw a book I was reading and got into long discussions about the writer. The brie, bread, and wine I brought was shared with campers a ways away who shared their watermelon, chicken, and spirits with me. This creation of community is a topic that is not always described in articles about blues festivals, but when you ask people why they like the Mt Baker Blues Festival, the Winthrop Blues Festival, and the two Sunbanks Blues Festivals, they do talk about this as a big part of what they like about these events. This year, Lloyd Peterson (who makes this event happen each year) offered a building for male

and female showers. Some of the guys told me how they tried to trick women into thinking it was co-ed, but I guess they didnt fool too many women in that regard. Oh, there was also great music. Like in the campground or the area in front of the stage, there were different generations on stage as well. From Jumpin Josh who began the show, to Hamilton Loomis who closed it a couple days later, there were good young performers. Jasmine Greene is another young performer there with a long future ahead of her. There were also old pros like Guitar Shorty who showed what many decades of guitar practice can do for you. There were local and regional popular acts like Rafael Tranquilino and Chris Eger. There were international acts like Oli Brown from the UK and Dana Fuchs from New York. Hot Tuna couldnt make the trip, and Coco Montoya filled in. For some people that would be like saying Left Hand Smoke couldnt make it, so BB King filled in. When I asked people who their favorites were this year Guitar Shorty, Coco Montoya, and The Fat Tones were among the names mentioned most if my memory is correct. Having perfect recall is a challenge when there is 72 hours of unlimited partying, though. If someone said Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Jimmy Hendrix were on stage next some may not have been sober enough to say Wait a minute man, that cant be I liked Harper and Midwest

Kind, Red House, Kirby Sewell, and Bobby Holland and Breadline, too. With the weather in the 80s the whole time, the shady area in front of the stage was a good place to dance. Dancing and this blues festival are almost synonyms. When people got a little worn out dancing there were venders with cold things to eat and drink. I also love the hot food there. I loved everything there that was barbequed and there was something I loved eating at 1 AM that I cant remember now. There was also the beer garden which Washington Blues Society volunteers, under the leadership of Rhea Rolfe, provided from beginning to end. It was there that Redhook Brewery provided the kegs that gave relief. I usually spend some time with the representative of Redhook as we discuss different tastes of different brews. Yes there was wine, soft drinks and water there, too, for those who dont like beer. After the shows closed on the outdoor stage each night there was an indoor jam and dance a ways away on the same 100 acres of land. That was where local and guest musicians created music the campground came to see and hear until they were finally ready to fall asleep. As usual, the 2012 Mount Baker Blues Festival was a party that people enjoyed to the point of pushing themselves to their maximum level of pleasure and energy level (some fall asleep walking to their RV or tent at 3 AM). It was hard to come back to earth from heaven, but I look forward to this event next year.

Passing the Torch

Funny how things that you struggle with sometimes come together with little effort, isnt it? For quite a while I had been feeling that passion for the blues was fading. As the boomer generation ages, theres little evidence of understanding and support for the blues from todays youth. For a long time, I wanted to kick start the younger generation into developing appreciation for the music. I approached a couple of musicians who taught younger musicians in an attempt to get a kids jam going, but it didnt work out. I had the stage at the Salmon Bay Eagles (SBE), an all-ages venue, and wanted to take the opportunity to use it with more teen music involvement. One evening several years ago I started chatting with Jon Scherrer, a parent who was sitting at Salmon Bay Eagles with his kids and a couple of their friends. They were watching his sons guitar teacher, Billy Lovy, gigging with Jeff & The Jet City Fliers. Jon had been involved with putting on gigs at the high school as well as a few backyard events. I made him a trial offer of the Eagles stage for teen bands. He jumped at the opportunity. We had 3-4 teen bands play the third Friday of the month from 8 til midnight. These kids invited their friends and family to their gigs. The crowd grew. Everyone has a great time! After two years of regular Friday Teen nights, I approached theWashington Blues Society and Eric Steiner about the blues society sponsoring a couple of teens to the Centrum Blues Workshops in Port Townsend. I had made a few teen referrals in the past, and WBS has sponsored a few teens over the years, but there was no consistency. Eric was enthusiastic about the idea, and approved the concept, suggesting that I connect with Roy Brown to work the idea and develop a plan. Roy, Jon and I got together and started outlining a plan. Later, Suze Sims joined our group. It was already March; we wanted to get going right away. The start of turning over rocks began. Roy had connections at Centrum, Jon had connections with the teen bands, Suze knew how to run events and work the stage, and I had some promotional contacts. Centrum was excited to improve their teen involvement, and gave us a reduction in the tuition fee for the first teen, but we would need to raise the rest. We set a goal two kids for the first year. It depended upon funding. We needed to raise $600 to send the first kid, and $1,200 for each one after that. Roy starting contacting bands that he knew who were supportive of youth music, and got a buy-in for 4 bands: The Randy Oxford Band, the Stacy Jones Band, Son Jack Jr & Michael Wilde, and Blues Redemption. We put on an absolutely grand concert Sunday afternoon on June 10th with a raffle and silent auction. Special thanks to all the musicians who donated their time, as they put on a great show, as always! Between the cover charge, personal donations, and the silent auction, we were able to fund three scholarships to Centrum Blues Camp for July 2012. We had cut it short on the timing and it was a bit of a race to pull it all together in a few months, but we got er done! We will gear up a little earlier for the next one, which we hope to put together in February or March of 2013; start looking for announcements for another big event. Well be putting on another great show at that time. It will involve great bands, stuff to buy in the auction, and raffles for more stuff. We have big ideas - bigger than our wallets! So, we need you to open yours. It is for the kids. We all need to grab a shovel and dig a little deeper. Its a partnership. Well provide the direction, you supply the funds, and together we will be Passing the Torch to the future of local blues.

10

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sometimes hosted blues; but a club so dedicated to the music that it was part of the name. Not since Larrys Greenfront became Larrys Blues Club back around 2000 had Seattle had a live music venue with the word blues as part of its name. In 2004, Seattles live music scene was very much in flux, and many clubs that were once blues stalwarts in Pioneer Square and Ballard were booking other genres of music. Even the Fabulous Rainbow, home to national touring blues artists like Buddy Guy and John Lee Hooker, started experimenting with house and hip-hop. The fabled Scarlet Tree and Jolly Roger burnt down in that era, too. When I learned of the Highway 99 Blues Club, there were ads in the Blues To Do and the Bluesletter, the sign was up, and my anticipation rose with each passing week. I stopped by frequently on my way home from

August of their opening year the Highway 99 Blues Club featured Mitch Wood & His Rocket 88s, Joey Fender & the 55s from Alaska, Robbie Laws Band from Portland, and Nick Vigarino. Septembers calendar featured Mem Shannon, The Paladins, Rod Cook & Toast, Mark Whitman, and Tim Casey and the Bluescats CD release party. Carolyn and I were at that show and it was great! October featured top local bands like Little Bill and the Bluenotes, The Randy Oxford Band, The Tim Turner Band, Jeff and the Jet City Fliers, The Two Scoops Combo, The Hudson Blues Band, Annieville Blues, and the Red Hot Blues Sisters. That is what I call starting it off with a bang. Over the years, the clubs seating changed a few times, but the changes always resulted in improved

The Highway 99 Blues Club has been a strong supporter of the Washington Blues Society and the regional blues community. Its been home to a number of semi-final International Blues Challenge competitions, and the club continues to book blues bands that call the Evergreen State home. The club has also hosted benefits for the Tipitina Foundation after Hurricane Katrina, and donated the space (and costs) to help local bluesmen Hans Ipsen and Mark Whitman with special benefit shows. The club hosted the Greg Thompson: Celebration of Life for their much loved sound man, and have been the home of fundraising events for United by Music, the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Home Alive, the National Organization for Women, the American Burn Foundation, the Seattle Fire Department, the American Cancer Society, Toys For Tots, Ronald McDonald House and numerous others charities across the Pacific Northwest. The Highway 99 Blues Club is also home to the annual Jam for Cans event, which supports Northwest Harvest each November. This event has been a perennial choice by Washington Blues Society members for Best Non-Festival event. In fact, the Highway 99 Blues Club gives back more than five percent of its annual sales to the community through use of the facility by local organizations for fundraising events. The members of the Washington Blues Society have voted the Highway 99 Blues Club as the Best Blues Club six times, with a record four times in a row from 2005 to 2008. In addition to the dozens of national touring acts, just about every blues band in the region has performed on the Highway 99 Blues Club. Since January of last year, 137 acts have taken the stage, 97 from Seattle and environs, 17 from Portland and 23 from other areas like Louisiana, Texas, Los Angles, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego, Denver, Memphis, Chicago, Phoenix, Spokane, the United Kingdom, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Some of the national touring acts include Candye Kane, Nathan James, Eddie Turner, Rick Estrin and the Nightcats, Janiva Magness, Guitar Shorty, Savoy Brown, Hamilton Loomis, the Twisters, the James Harmon Band, the Volker Strifler Band, John Nemeth and the Terry Evans Band. More recently, the Highway 99 Blues Club has worked collaboratively in co-promoting and co-presenting events at the Triple Door, the Seattle Aquarium, the Seattle Art Museum, and most recently, the 2012 Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival were they presented the Blues Block on the Starbucks Mural Amphitheater stage. Eds brother Eric Maloney (a frequent Best of the Blues

Awards Nominee for Best Blues Writer) also works at the Highway 99 Blues Club, and he handles their far-reaching social media presence, blog, marketing, web content. Eric also formats the playlists for the music that that streams through the PA when the bands arent playing. The future teardown of the Alaskan Way viaduct and the seawall projects will likely have a significant impact on the Highway 99 Blues Club, but these are out of the clubs control. As befitting a world-class blues club, Steve, Ed and Eric focus on providing customers with a first class live blues experience, whether the band is from Wenatchee or Warsaw. This month, Lloyd Jones will play on Saturday the 6th, supporting his fabulous new release Doin What It Takes. The Karen Lovely Band will also be up from Oregon on Friday the 12th. The Randy Oxford Band returns on Saturday the 13th, home from their three month, 30 date, summer tour which started in Port Townsend and ended with the Kansas City Blues Festival, with shows at the North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland, Maine, New York City, the Big Sky Festival in Noxon, Montana and the famed Rhythm Room in Phoenix. Randys dedicated this gig to Washington Blues Society Secretary Rocky Nelson, whos served five years in Afghanistan for the US Army. On Saturday the 27th, harmonica master Lee Oskar and the Living Dead will host the annual Highway 99 Blues Club Halloween Party. Id start planning your costume now for that special event! Since its opening night in July of 2004, the Highway 99 Blues Club has been an integral part of the fabric of Seattles blues community. No, wait. Let me correct that before the deadline dash. Since so many national artists have performed in front of the distinctive Highway 99 Blues club logo on the wall behind the drummer, this club has been an integral part of Americas blues community, thanks to the visionary blues leadership from Steve Sarkowsky, Eric Maloney, and Ed Maloney. This year, the Washington Blues Society Board of Directors unanimously voted to nominate the Highway 99 Blues Club in the Blues Club Category. The discussion that night at the Board meeting reflected on the opportunities that this club has afforded national, touring musicians (including many Blues Music Award recipients and nominees, but also how the club supports local music by hiring local bands and hosting benefits for musicians and community causes. By the time the Board votes were tallied, it was crystal clear: the Highway 99 Blues Club would be the Washington Blues Societys nominee in the Blues Club category for a 2013 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation.

The Highway 99 Blues Club

By Malcolm Yard Dog Kennedy Photo by Jef Jaisun

Live Blues. Cool Joint.

sight lines. When the club first opened, Marlee Walker had a blues store (of which I was a frequent patron). She had CDs by local artists, many signed, and except at gigs, local blues CDs were relatively hard to come by at the time. There was original art by Eric Two Scoops Moore and Phil Chesnut for sale, Highway 99 Blues Club T-shirts and other items featuring the clubs distinctive logo. Marlee had a collection of back issues of Blues Revue, Living Blues and other blues magazines, too! The store has been replaced by two large tables where larger parties can sit. These tables are also very special: their glass tops cover some very cool blues memorabilia that Ed collected over the years. Speaking of the dcor, they went straight to juke joint funky. As in South Side Chicago Blues juke joint or Clarksdale, Mississippi juke joint. From Alaskan Way, the entry way descends down to what seems like a basement. The photos and blues art gracing the walls more than make up for the lack of windows, and the soft lighting keeps the room from feeling like a cave. The bar is made from three second hand antique doors and the bar lights are mechanics drop lights. Since it was originally a warehouse, there are large rough hewn beams and posts supporting the building above. The walls have many photos of blues performers and local photographers Jef Jaisun, Tom Hunnewell, Phil Chesnut and the Sheriff have all had their works on display. Another interesting item is the railing around the sound board. The club features a large, but slightly elevated, stage and wooden dance floor, and it accommodates 250 blues fans nicely. The sound system is state of the art, and the kitchens menu is straight from the Mississippi Delta and the Crescent City.

It was just eight short years ago in the summer of 2004 that Seattles very own juke joint, the Highway 99 Blues Club Cool Joint, opened its doors. The plan was hatched two to three years earlier when Steve Sarkowsky got the idea and began to line up a building and recruit some suitable partners who shared his passion for blues music. Steve and co-owner/managers Garret Clayton and Patrick Evens got things started. Ed Maloney took over from Garret and Patrick as co-owner and proprietor in January of 2006. Ed had been part of the opening crew at Chicagos House of Blues, and during his two year HOB tenure, Ed worked his way up behind the scenes from waiter to Special Events Manager with other significant positions in-between. The Market Square location on the waterfront under the Alaskan Way Viaduct across the street from the Seattle Aquarium had been a Godfathers Pizza from 1983 to about 2003. The historic brick building was completed in 1910 and was built for the Schwabacher Brothers Company, a leading supplier of dry goods during the Klondike Gold Rush, as their second warehouse. The Schwabacher Brothers built several other buildings, and some still stand in the Pioneer Square area.

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I remember stopping in to Godfathers Pizza a few times back in the late 1980s for a reasonably priced beer while waiting for a ferry to Bainbridge Island to spend an evening with my then future wife Carolyn. I thought that there was a serious lack of workingmans taverns down on the waterfront, but there was an abundance of expensive cocktail lounges. Over the years, Market Square has had numerous tenants. In 1950, it was Commercial Warehouse and Company. In 1960 and 1970, it housed the Service Paper wholesale paper outfit. By 1980, Import Design was a prime tenant, and in 1983 it was The Cantina. In 2004 it was listed as Captain Cooks Pub, but Im not sure that ever came to pass since the Godfather s Pizza signs were still up until they changed it to the now familiar Highway 99 Blues Club. I first saw mention of the club opening in the spring of 2004 in the pages of the Blues To Do Magazine and the Washington Blues Society Bluesletter whenever I picked one up and I was very excited; no, wait: ecstatic is more precise. This would not be a club that

work to see if the notice on the door Opening Soon had changed or announced an opening date. I also called about once a week. The Highway 99 Blues Club already advertised local talent booked for the June weekend gigs, including the Crossroads Band, Hudson Blues, The Nightsticks, Blues Alliance, Tim Casey & the Blues Cats, Stickshift Annie with Kimball & the Fugitives, and the Randy Oxford Band; but it was not to be. Finally, they were able to get it all together and Steve, Garret and Patrick opened their doors on the 4th of July weekend of 2004 with the barnstorming, take no prisoners, off the charts boogie of Spokanes Too Slim & the Taildraggers. Too Slim and the Taildraggers were followed by Curtis Salgado and Lloyd Jones, both up from Oregon, and their first national touring artist was Chicagos Studebaker John on Saturday, July 26th. During the first few months, the club rotated bands Mondays through Thursdays with Big Band Blue Mondays, Back Porch Blues with acoustic blues on Tuesday, on Wednesday it was Yow!-Its Mardi Gras! with zydeco and Thursday Gotta Pay the Rent weekly Rent Party with the Highway 99 All-Stars House Band. The major talent was booked on Friday and Saturday nights. In

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Dry Side Blues

PigOut in the Park is more than an exciting place to be: its 100+ free concerts is where Dry Siders go for a fun that includes great live music. Visitors often vow to plant roots here after finding parking right on the edge of the venue at every PigOut event. Many prominent local players treat their PigOut performance as a big thankyou to their local fans, and the appreciation is mutual. Here are a few of my favorites PigOut moments from this season. I spent most of Friday, August 31st waiting for Charlie Butts and the Filter Tips to hit the stage. This long-time Spokane blues and funk machine currently features original members Charlie Butts on harmonica and sax, Luther Hughes on drums, Josh Simon on bass, Danny Mc Collim on keyboards, and Pat Barclay on his righthanded Gibson played lefthanded. They played some very cool blues in their set, including The Blues is Alright with lead vocals by Lou Hughes, and Good Morning Little Schoolgirl and Love and Happiness sung by Mr. Butts, augmented

by Charlies monster harmonica and saxophone. This band had a good time on stage and shared their upbeat vibe with the crowd, which made their set more than just good music; it kept fans cheering for more. Saturday, September 1st was the big blues day of the six-day event, starting with the Doghouse Boyz. Neil Elwell on guitar and lead vocals and Ramiro Vijarro on bass and backing vocals have been playing the blues in Spokane for about 20 years now, and their intricately dovetailed arrangements of Last Fair Deal Going Down, Doghouse Blues, Red House, This Is It, Watchtower, and Lie and Cheat for So Long showcased their shared experience. Too Slim and the Taildraggers with the Underworld Horns were up next. Tim, Tommy and Polly came out with a few tunes from their latest release, Shiver, and were then joined by a five-piece horn section from the Spokane Jazz Orchestra. With what Tim admitted was very minimal rehearsal, this new band of Taildraggers cruised apparently seamlessly through many hits, including Cant Dress It Up, Mississippi Moon, Fortune Teller, One More Shot, and one of my old favorites, Chicken Shake. Saturday nights headliner, the Most Blueswailing Yardbirds, were no longer the band that included Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Pages band. With original member Jim Mc Carty on drums and the much younger players Andy Mitchell on vocals and harmonica, Ben King on guitar, and David Smale on bass, the group resembled a wise man and his grandkids on stage. The generation gap didnt affect their abilities to play

By Jerry Peterson, Vice President

very compelling arrangements of some of the original Yardbirds classics. After Rolling and Tumbling and Train Kept a Rolling, they got good crowd responses to Have You Ever Been Mistreated and For Your Love, but lost a large portion of the audience when they came out with the classic intro, but changed the lyrics of Dazed and Confused. Some things you just dont change, even if you are the Yardbirds. On Monday, September 2nd I got a front-row seat for Anita Royce and the High Rollers with Forest Govedare. Featuring Anita and Forest on guitar and vocals, Art Donnelly on bass, Jim Lorentz on keys and Doug McQuain on drums, the Highrollers is a true blues band, showcasing many different and compelling rhythms based on the 1-4-5 chord progression, shredded ably by 19-yeqar old guitarist Forest Govedare. Anitas set included 1-800 Blues for You, Paul DeLays On My Merry Way, Muddy Waters Dont the Moon Look Lonesome, and they finished up with Freddie Kings Going Down. The last night of the event, Monday, September 3rd, was absolutely owned by Bakin Phat, one of the groups nominated by Inland Blues Society members in 2012 as Spokanes best new blues band. Bakin Phat features Dave Allen on harmonica and vocals, Dennis Higgins on guitar, Eric Lindstrom on bass and Ken Danielson on drums, and they tore through one jump blues classic after another, including Dont Bite the Hand That Feeds You, Caledonia, Little By Little, Aint Got You and Shake That Bootie. I want to extend many thanks to Bill Burke, Val Workman and Craig Heimbigner for another great week of music, food and friends in Riverfront Park.

Inland Empire Blues Society

The Yardbirds

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Blues Reviews
The Blasters Fun On Saturday Night (Rip Cat Records)

John Scooch Cugno Moonlighting in Vermont (Self-Released)

New Blues that you can Use

Mikey Junior Look Inside My Pocket 8th Train Records

If you enjoy harp fueled blues with great rhythms that make you tap your toes and/or get up out of your seat to lay your boogie down, then you will surely like Look Inside My Pocket. Mikey Junior is a superb vocalist and an elite talent on both diatonic and chromatic blues harp. I first read about Mikey Junior and his band the Stone Cold Blues in Big City Rhythm & Blues magazine. I can easily say that Look Inside My Pocket is one of the better albums I have heard in a while. From the infectious double tap beat of the opening cut Had A Woman, I was hooked. The fast and bouncy Cheapskate had me moving about, and the William Clarke style chromatic harp simply knocked out. This was followed by the slow burner Happy Anniversary which displays some of Mikeys vocal talents as well as a short; but searing guitar solo. You a certain to enjoy the swinging rhythm of Aint Your Baby Now with Mikey singing I used to be the one in love with your foolish heart/well I aint your baby now/you tore it all apart. Mikeys sublime chromatic harp instrumental take on the classic Summertime sends chills down my spine, enough said. The smoking double time beat of Whiskey By The Glass features fat toned guitar and the line if I had three hands, I would drink three times as fast. The twelve song set is stellar from start to finish and has me seeking out the other seven releases with Stone Cold Blues. I am wild about this cat! Very highly recommended. -Malcolm Kennedy

The Blasters originally formed back in 1979, and through the 1980s, they toured relentlessly releasing several critically acclaimed albums. The original line-up featured brothers Phil and Dave Alvin on guitars and vocals, John Bazz on bass, and Bill Bateman on the drum kit. The current lineup features guitarist Keith Wyatt who replaced Dave Alvin in 1986, who left in 1986 to pursue a successful solo career. Their self described American Music (the title of their 1980 debut) long before the term Americana had been coined, contains many varied elements from rock-a-billy, R&B, rock, blues, counry and western, even punk, and the Blasters new Rip Cat Records release Fun On Saturday Night sticks to their eclectic formula. Exene Cervenka, who was co-lead vocalist in X who shared stages with the Blasters back in the 1980s LA punk scene, takes over vocals for Phil on Jackson Fun On Saturday Night opens with a rousing take on Tiny Bradshaws Well Oh Well. Another favorite is Breath Of My Love is a mild mannered Elvis style crooner with literally killer lyrics as Phil sings she said her psych had just told her/shes probably bi-polar.although I might be a cheater/does the law let me beat her when shes holding the knife to my throat/I mean shes holding a knife on me. They do Magic Sams Love Me With A Feeling as speed punk surf-a-billy and Please, Please Please is done as a 1950s love ballad. They do Rock My Blues Away as a jumping rocker that surely fills dance floors where ever the Blasters play and the close things out with the Tex-Mex flavored Dave Alvin penned Maria, Maria which was first released on the Blasters 2nd eponymous album and it features some tasty Spanish guitar. The Blasters are back and Fun On A Saturday Night and I think that this CD ranks right up there with their best releases from the 1980s. -Malcolm Kennedy

Vicki Stevens Band Ms. Vickis In Town (Self-Released)

If you arent familiar with the wonderful big voice of Vicki Stevens, all I can say is the opening cut on her new release, Ms Vickis In Town, Sweet, Sweet, Sweet, Sweet says it all. It is easy to see why Eugenes Rainy Day Blue Society in Eugene picked the Vicki Stevens Band to represent them at the 2011 International Blues Challenge in Memphis. There were several other songs that grabbed me in this set of 11 originals recorded live, like the slow paced Crazy bout My Baby penned by lead guitarist Dennis Monroe which also features his steamy guitar playing. Froggy lays down some lap steel for the bouncy twang of Sweet Thing, and they break out the Bo Diddley beat for Big Room. Things get serious on the show stopping slow burning More Bluise Please with its theme of domestic violence (as Vicki puts it bruise + blues= bluise). I once read a saying you cant beat a woman and I agree whole heartedly with both of its meanings. Monroes soaring guitars and Vickis incredible voice as she sings the heart wrenching line no more bluise please, please no more baby. Things lighten back up for the harp and guitar fueled barn burner Good Lovin Tonight, penned by Dennis wife Micky Shannon-Monroe. Tell Me The Truth is set off by its cooking beat, blues harp, rocking guitar. Did I mention Vickis superb vocals yet? Ms Vickis In Town is a wonderful album that shows shes got the right stuff. -Malcolm Kennedy

Local bluesman John Scooch Cugno was touring back east earlier this year, and while at Nectars Lounge, in Burlington Vermont on a frigid winter night, he recorded Moonlighting in Vermont. John is supported by a top notch pick-up band of Vermont blues pros: John Wallace on drums, Mike Schuster on bass, and a special nod to Harmonica Bob McKenzie. In the brief liner notes, Scooch mentions that it was nine below zero outside that night, which begs the question, why not include Sonny Boy Williamson IIs song of that name in the set? The 13 songs include five originals. Too Blue For You is paired in a medley with Ronnie Earls Its My Soul. Highlights include a fantastic cover of Albert Kings As The Years Go Passing By which features outstanding guitar work by Scooch and tasteful harp by Harmonica Bob, Jimmy Reeds Bright Lights again features the stellar blues harp stylings of McKenzie. Nightcrawler, one of Johns originals, has a driving beat, and Kim Wilsons Baby Dont You Lie To Me swings with style. The rousing original The Guitar Player positively smokes, and it reminds me msically and lyrically of something by Fat Tone Bobby Patterson. There is plenty to like about Moonlighting in Vermont, I suggest you get a copy and make plans to see John Scooch Cugno play live soon. -Malcolm Kennedy

Alice Stuart DVD review Alice Stuart House Party (Country con Fusion Records)

When Alice Stuart & the Formerlys were putting things together to go down to the famed Ardent Studio in Memphis to record their new album with multi Grammy winning producer Jim Gaines; they knew from the start that it was an ambitious project. A music whos who have recorded at Ardent, from Led Zeppelin to the Staple Singers, ZZ Top to Bob Dylan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Albert Collins, Coco Montoya, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many more. The video of House Party was recorded by Richard DePartee and the audio by Glen Beebe. House Party is not a big budget production, but a smaller affair with one camera; but that just ads to the intimate feeling of the show and makes viewing it feel more like you were sitting in the audience. Glen informs his guests at the beginning that it is a party not a concert, and if they want to get up and get a glass of wine or some food to go ahead and do so. The filming and audio are not glitch free; but the few quirks are very minor and minimally distracting. Alice plays both acoustic and electric guitars and is accompanied by Formerlys Steve Flynn on

keyboards and vocals and Mark Willett on bass and vocals. They did not use a drummer on partly due to the intimate room size and the setting. The set features 19 songs from across Alices career, including five from her then brand new Freedom release. Four of the selections included on the video are not on the two audio CDs (all of them cover songs) including Johnny Cashs Train of Love and Bob Dylans Its All Over Now Baby Blue which opens the DVD with Alice on acoustic guitar. The other two not on the CDs are Shout For Joy, an uplifting boogie woogie instrumental showcasing Steve Flynns considerable chops on the electric piano originated by one of the giants of boogie piano, Albert Ammons, and Skip James Hard Time Killing Floor. The DVD also includes several breaks where Alice, Steve and Mark interact with the audience, and this adds to the you are there vibe. Switching back and forth from acoustic to electric throughout the sets adds another dimension to the variety of sounds. The show ended with the bluesy Drop Down Daddy, from Cant Find No Heaven, with Alice playing some slide guitar. The House Party DVD/CD combo package gives you two ways to enjoy this great party. For fans of Alice Stuart, the combo pack is an essential addition to your collection. -Malcolm Kennedy.

Last Month

Guitar Shorty makes the Bluesletter look GOOD. Photo by Blues Boss

Bill and his entourage read the Bluesletter every month. Photo by Deb Ryhmer

Deb and friends think the Bluesletter is just plain cool. Photo by Deb Ryhmer

Members of the Victoria Blues Society, the Washington & South Sound Blues Society lovin the Blues Photo by Sandi Lynden

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Blues Reviews

Make sure you check them out at wablues.org for all the Blues you can use.

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ROAD WARRIOR
By Blues Boss - photo by ML Sutton

2012 Washington Blues Society Raffle Winners

The Washington Blues Society would like to thank each member and guest who supported our 2012 raffle, and we congratulate the winners listed below. The tickets were drawn at the Taste of Music in Snohomish, Washington, on August19th from the Main Stage in historic downtown Snohomish.

Grand Prize and Top Winners

Most of our local musicians have the proverbial day job to cover their existence, but a few make it on their musical abilities alone. Rod Cook is one of those who survive on his musical talent great guitarist, good singer, excellent songwriter. Being a musician only aint for the faint of heart. The long, grueling hours of driving, hauling equipment in and out of venues (locals dont have roadies!) and three to four hours of performing (which is all the audience sees) equates to a pay scale often somewhere around minimum wage. Lets check this life out. A couple years ago I ran into Rod playing with the Lil Bill Trio at Destination Harley in Fife, WA on a Saturday afternoon. He looked a bit frazzled so I asked how he was doing. He commented that he was just finishing up a twenty three day stretch of performing at least once a day. It was ending up with a Friday night in Port Townsend, Saturday afternoon in Fife, and a Saturday night in Everett. And, finally a Sunday off ! Thats a Road Warrior. What prompted this article was a weekend schedule in September of 2012 that epitomizes the life of a local musician. Lets take a look at Rods gigs over a 4 day period: Thursday drive from Des Moines, WA to Electric City, WA to perform with the Lil Bill Trio in the Cantina @ the Sunbanks Festival 238 miles. Friday drive from Electric City back to Des Moines 238 miles. Then drive back and forth to Crossroads Mall for an evening Rod Cook & Toast gig 38 miles. Saturday drive to Westport, WA (Dock of the Bay Festival) for a gig with Mia Vermillion 115 miles. After that gig a late afternoon to early morning drive back to the Sunbanks Festival 340 miles - to perform with Laura Love on Sunday. Sunday drive home 238 miles. So what do we have? Well, in four days Rod drove 1245 miles (slepping his equipment all the while) for 4 different performances with 4 different bands. Thats over 300 miles a day in commuting to work. In my book total Road Warrior.

T. Whitmire - Grand Prize, a Cabin for Two Aboard the October 2012 Legendary Blues Cruise Papa Ron Meek 2013 Mount Baker Rhythm and Blues Festival pair of tickets Andrea Sievert - Spring Sunbanks 2013 pair of tickets Lloyd Peterson - Untapped Brews and Blues 2013 Festival pair of tickets Janice Emery - Winthrop 2013 Rhythm and Blues Festival pair of tickets Mercer A Pair of tickets to the New Orleans Creole Restaurant Vivienne Teets A Pair of Tickets to Jazz Alley Ted Todd A Pair of Tickets to the Highway 99 Blues Club Papa Ron Meek A Pair of Tickets to the Triple Door Mike Snowden One mp3 Player W. R. Cope One mp3 Player

CD Winners

Curtis Hammond

Toby McDaniels

The September 2012

at the Red Crane

By Robert Horn, Photos by Blues Boss

Blues Bash

month. It is a fun job (I remember the old days when I got to call a couple bands each month and arrange this ---very fun stuff ) and they will do it well. Tony Fredrickson, Eric Steiner, Cheri and Janice pulled raffle tickets out of a bucked to give away CDs for a while after Zab and Malcolm made some announcements about upcoming events. Mary McPage finally won a CD at the Bluesbash, but guess what? Someone who got it first still has it in their CD player because Mary came to the stage to show that it was an empty CD case. So, to make up for it she was given the Wired CD that actually did have the CD inside. so she got a good deal.

He came from Georgia by way of Mississippi and opened the show at the September Bluesbash of the Washington Blues Society. He had a little rasp in his voice and some soul in his guitar. In addition to some original music, he introduced some songs by mentioning Greg Allman, Lightning Hopkins and Muddy Waters. Songs like Hurts Me Too, Death Bells sounded haunting on his slide guitar and his original song, Leave It Be, sounded good, too. This was my introduction to Toby McDaniels, and I liked what I heard. Toby played for almost an hour, and Eric Steiner then announced a new tradition to begin at the blues bash: the passing of a tip jar at Bluesbashes. I proudly put in the first $5.00 that went to Toby. There was something else new this night. Suze Sims, who has been the Music Director, announced the two people who will now fill her shoes. The new Co-Directors who will contact and bring the bands to this monthly event were now standing in front of the overflowing crowd at The Red Crane Restaurant on 167th and Aurora in Seattle where the second Tuesday of each month has this event. Cheri Robbins and Janice Cleven Gage will be having fun and working to bring great talent here each

may throw in some Zen Blues Band or Boz Scaggs at times. Among the songs on this night were There Goes the Neighborhood and Ya Didnt Think About That. One thing I didnt think about ahead of time is how much I needed to get on the dance floor and move to their sounds instead of write down names of songs, so I admit that they took over my body and made me drop my pen and dance. You can catch them at all the major blues clubs in the area like the Highway 99 Blues Club occasionally. The singer and bandleader is Curtis Hammond, who is a great singer and entertainer. On trumpet is Dave Bernhardt. Craig Daly plays trombone and Jim Brandt plays bass. Danny Hoefer is the guitar player and he was taken from another place: he was the guitar player for Tower of Power but now has a new home in the Curtis Hammond Band. Mark Strom plays rhythm guitar as well as vocal harmonies with other band members. There was also a microphone in front of Dave Teitsel who plays the keys if my memory serves me right. I know I heard some great three-part harmony. Steve Thompson is the drummer and in this band which combines blues and some soul, drums are important. I will be where this band is many times in the future, and think you will love to be there, too. This band reaches inside to grab the heart and soul, and then takes over your feet and your whole body.

Cheri Robbins and Janice Cleven Gage will be having fun and working to bring great talent here each month.
The next thing that happened was as great as I expected. I have always been very impressed by The Curtis Hammond Band. This is one of the greatest dance bands in our region. Ten seconds after their first note the dance floor was covered with people and it was that way till the end. If you like to dance you have to go to wherever this band is. It is an 8 piece band with no weak link. There is no reason for this not to be a national act headlining major clubs in all major cities. You can quote me on that. They do some original music along with some Tommy Castro, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and

George Akuna Vince Almond Janice Aubin Jeff Bacon Debra Balint Joann Beldock Bob Bleiler Paul Blum George Boswell Kathy Botu Al Brown Judy Budrow Dennis Coleman Alison Cook Cindy Coyne Rick Cranley H.S. Dascenzo Bill Davis Susan Dawson Cristina Del Alma Bobbi Doupe Amy Downer Arlene Downie Annie Eastwood Capt Ellis Nancy Evans Robert Farris Don Fleury Sharon Gaglione LL Gordly Russ Gorlie Julia Gowan Sara Gray

Don Grurch Dennis Hacker Dave Hammon Doug Hansen Joy Harper Andy Heath Jeff Herzog Bruce Horst (2) Cynthia Hurlbutt Joel Jacobsen Jesse James Josie Jimenez Southside Johnny Steve Johnson Steve Johnston Al Jones Kathleen Judd Kristin Kelley Neil Kelly Susie King Jack Kinney Laddy Kite Ken Knox Gary Lackey Mike Lambert Cynthia Landry Joel Lane J & S Lochmann Debarah Malon Shelly Mears Doreen Morash Morgan Morgan Alan Niven

Robert Ochs Daniel Packard Eve Perillo Ricki Peto Rob Pocrnich Deb Rhymer JB Robinson Rita Rogers Mark Rowe Pete Sankalis Tom Schoonover Robert Seidman Bruce Shelley MarkSibley Darlene Sievert Ruth Sims Nancy Slocum Marty Smith Geoff Smith Teresa Stephens Vickie Stevens Billy Stoops Martha Taylor Joan Thomas Jeff Uttech Kim Van Klinken John Violette Rich Warin Vicki Welter Bruce Wiggins Larry Williams Doug Wood Deverie Wood

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Calendar
October 1 - Monday Jazz Alley: Count Basie Orchestra Mr. Villa, Lake City: Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant & Larry Hill - Fugitives Trio, 7pm New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet October 2 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm October 3 - Wednesday Madison Avenue Pub, Everett: Tim Turner Band, 7:30pm New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Pl. Bar & Grill: John Stephan Band, 6pm Royal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88s 7pm October 4 - Thursday New Orleans: Selbred/Jackson Salmon Bay Eagles: Nick Vigarinos Back Porch Stomp Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm October 5 - Friday Big Rock Caf, Mt Vernon: Nick Vigarinos Meantown Blues Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Stacy Jones Band Rockfish Grill: Black River Blues Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, 7pm Vino Bella, Issaquah: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 7:30pm Yuppie Tavern: Blues Buskers w/Robbie Law October 6 - Saturday Issaquah Salmon Days: Stacy Jones Band, 12:30pm, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, 3pm New Orleans; Nick Vigarinos Meantown Blues Owl n Thistle, Seattle: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 10pm Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Stacy Jones Band Pony Keg, Kent: Shoot Jake CD Release Party Rockfish Grill: Lil Bill & the Bluenotes Scotch & Vine, Des Moines, Brian Lee Trio, 7pm Yuppie Tavern: Triple Treat Band October 7 - Sunday Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7:30pm October 8 - Monday New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet October 9 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Red Crane, Shoreline: Reggie Miles and Palmers Junction - WBS Blues Bash October 10 - Wednesday Musicquarium Loung at The Triple Door: Gin Creek New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Rockfish Grill: Stilly River band Royal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88s, 7pm October 11 - Thursday Jazz Alley: Leela James New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Daddy Treetops & the Howlin Tomcats October 12 - Friday Jazz Alley: Leela James Jet Bar, Mill Creek: Stacy Jones Band 9pm, the Wired Band 11pm Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park: Gin Creek Yuppie Tavern: Blues Redemption October 13 - Saturday Brother Dons, Bremerton: Bill Brown & the King Bees, 8:30pm Jazz Alley: Leela James Pony Keg, Kent: Nick Vigarino Back Porch Stomp Repp: Alice Stuart & the Fromerlys Rockfish Grill: T-Town Aces Salmon Bay Eagles: Super Harp Showcase w/ Mike Lynch, Brian Lee, Mike Moothart & Boneyard Preachers, 8pm Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park: Gin Creek Yuppie Tavern: Cody Rentas Band October 14 - Sunday Immanuel Presbyterian Church Tacoma: benefit for Habitat for Humanity w/ Chad & Jeremy www.ipctacoma.org. Jazz Alley: Leela James Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7:30pm October 15 - Monday New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet October 16- Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Triple Door: Betty LaVette October 17 - Wednesday New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Place Bar & Grill, Seattle: Tim Turner Band, 6pm Royal Lounge, Olympia: Blues County Sheriff, 7pm October 18 - Thursday Conway Muse, Conway: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pm New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Greg Roberts band Two Twelve On Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm October 19 - Friday Blakes Place,Bellevue: Stacy Jones Band, 8pm Dawsons, Tacoma: Steve Cooley Garden House Country Blues Concert, 2336 15th Ave S. on Beacon Hill: Lloyd Jones & Paul Green www.rockitspace.org Laurelthirst, Portland, Alice Stuart, 6pm New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Prohibition Grille, Everett: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 8pm Port Townsend Dance, Port Townsend Elks: Stickshift Annie w/Kimball & the Fugitives, 8pm Yuppie Tavern: Brian Lee Trio October 20 - Saturday New Orleans: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys Pony Keg, Kent: Dirty Rice Rockfish Grill: el Colonel & Doubleshot Scarlet Tree: Lady A & the new baby Funk band, 8pm Yuppie Tavern: Astro Cats Scott E. Lind, Charlie Mcdowell Tom Austin October 21 Sunday TripleDoor: Sonny Landreth Immanuel Presbyterian Church Tacoma: Blues Vespers w/Nick Vigarino, Sue Sims & Teri Ann Wilson www.ipctacoma.org., 5pm Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7:30pm Upstage, Pt. Townsend: Stacy Jones Band, 8pm October 22 - Monday New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet Scarlett Tree, Seattle: Lady A & the NEW Baby Blues Funk Band, 8pm

Blues

October 23 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm October 24 - Wednesday Royal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88s, 7pm New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Place Bar & Grill at the Market: Stickshift Annie w/Kimball & the Fugitives, 6pm October 25 - Thursday Jazz Alley: Average White Band New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Mark Riley Trio October 26 - Friday Balefire, Everett: Stickshift Annie - Fugitives Trio Crossroads, Bellevue, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, 7pm Jazz Alley: Average White Band Yuppie Tavern: the Davanos October 27 - Saturday H2o: Curtis Hammond band Indoor Acoustic Blues Fest, Spokane Valley: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pm Jazz Alley: Average White Band Pony Keg, Kent: James King & the Southsiders - Halloween Bash! Rockfish, Anacortes, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys Scotch & Vine, Des Moines, Brian Lee & the Orbiters Halloween Party! 9pm (Reservations required)

October 27 - Saturday ...continued... Shindig Martini Bar, Kent: Stickshift Annie Fugitives Trio, 7:30pm Snoqualmie Eagles: Nick Vigarinos Meantown Blues Yuppie Tavern: Lil Bill & the Bluenotes October 28 - Sunday Jazz Alley: Average White Band Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7:30pm October 29 - Monday New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet October 30 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm October 31 - Wednesday Engles Pub, Edmonds: Tim Turner Band, 8pm Pike Pl. Bar & Grill, John Stephan Band, 6pm Royal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88s, 7pm

NOV
November 1 - Thursday Jazz Alley: Manhattan Transfer New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet November 2 - Friday Jazz Alley: Manhattan Transfer New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Yuppie Tavern: Drummerboy w/Kimbal Conant November 3 -Saturday Jazz Alley: Manhattan Transfer New Orleans: Gin Creek Rockfish Grill, Anacortes, Brian Lee & the Orbiters Yuppie Tavern: Red House November 4 - Sunday Jazz Alley: Manhattan Transfer

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Blues on the Radio Dial

PLEASE SEND ANY RADIO UPDATES TO CALENDAR@WABLUES.ORG

Venue Guide
KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: Blues For Breakfast 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Jerry Drummond KSER 90.7FM Everett: Audio Indigo 7:00PM - 9:00 PM www.kser.org - DJ, Robin K KPBX 91.1FM Spokane: Blues Kitchen 10:00PM - 12:00AM www.kpbx.org - DJ, Tina Bjorklund KZPH 106.7FM Wenatachee: The Blues 11:00PM - 12:00AM www.therock1067.com - DJ, Dave Keefe KSER 90.7FM Everett: Blues Odessey 9:00PM - 11:00pM www.kser.org - DJ, Leslie Fleury KEXP 90.3 Seattle Preaching the Blues with Johny Horn Sunday Mornings 9am to Noon KYRS 92.3 FM, KYRS.org Blues Now and Then 6-8 PM. DJ, Patrick Henry and Jumpin Jerry. KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler KWCW 90.5FM Walla Walla: Blues Therapy 7:00PM - 9:00PM www.kwcw.net - DJ, Biggdaddy Ray Hansen and Armand The Doctor Parada KKZX 98.9FM Spokane: Blowtorch Blues 7:00PM - 10:00PM www.kkzx.com - DJ, Ted Todd Brion Foster. KSER 90.7FM Everett: The Juke Joint 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kser.org - DJ, Jon Noe

Washington Blues Society

Monday

KUGS 89.3FM Bellingham: Highway 61 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kugs.org - DJ, Chalkie McStevenson KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: Blues On Rye 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Val Vaughn Mighty Mouth Blues on NWCZ Radio - www.nwczradio.com Monday 8:00-11:00PM Pacific Northwest Convergence Zone Online Radio: NWCZradio.com: Dave Samsons BluesShow 7:00pm - 10:00PM

Saturday

Tuesday

KBCS 91.3FM Bellevue: Eh Toi! 11:00PM - 1:00AM www.kbcs.fm - DJ, DJ Marte

Wednesday

KEXP 90.3FM Seattle: The Roadhouse 6:00PM to 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Greg Vandy KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon: The Blue Boulevard 8:00PM - 10:00PM www.mail@ksvr.org - DJ, Jackson Stewart KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon: The Blues Note with Janice 10:00PM - 12:00AM www.janice@ksvr.org - DJ, Janice Gage

Sunday

Thursday

KSER 90.7FM Everett: Clancys Bar and Grill 8:30PM - 10:30PM www.kser.org - DJ, Clancy Dunigan

Friday

KEXP 90.3FM Seattle: Shack The Shack 6:00PM - 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Leon Berman

Washington Blues Society

Sundays

Blues Jams

Blarney Stone Pub and Restaurant (206) 448-8439 China Harbor Restaurant (206) 286-1688 Dimitrious Jazz Alley (206) 441-9729 x210 EMP Liquid Lounge (206) 770-2777 EMP Sky Church (206) 770-2777 Fiddlers Inn (206) 525-0752 Bellingham, Anacortes, Whidbey Island, etc Grinders (206) 542-0627 China Beach Langley (360) 530-8888 Highliner Pub (206) 283-2233 Just Moes Sedro Woolley (360) 855-2997 Highway 99 Club (206) 382-2171 LaConner Tavern LaConner (360) 466-9932 J & M Cafe (206) 467-2666 Little Roadside Tavern Everson (360) 592-5107 Lock & Keel (206) 781-8023 Old Edison Inn Edison (360) 766-6266 Maple Leaf Grill (206) 523-8449 Rockfish Grill Anacortes (360) 588-1720 Mr. Villa (206) 517-5660 Stump Bar & Grill Arlington (360) 653-6774 New Orleans (206) 622-2563 Watertown Pub Anacortes (360) 293-3587 Paragon (206) 283-4548 Wild Buffalo Bellingham (360) 312-3684 Pike Place Bar and Grill (206) 624-1365 Viking Bar and Grill Stanwood (360) 629-9285 The Rimrock Steak House (206) 362-7979 Salmon Bay Eagles (206) 783-7791 St. Clouds (206) 726-1522 Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park (206) 366-3333 Triangle Tavern (206) 763.0714 Bellevue, Kirkland, etc. Tractor Tavern (206) 789-3599 Central Club Kirkland (425) 827-8808 Triple Door (206) 838-4333 Crossroads Shopping Center Bellevue (425) 644-1111 Damans Pub Redmond Forecasters Woodinville (425) 483-3212 Ice Harbor Brewing Co - Kennewick (509) 582-5340 Raging River Caf & Club Fall City (425) 222-6669 Time Out Sports Bar Kirkland (425) 822-8511 BBQ & Blues Clarkston (509) 758-1227 Vino Bella Issaquah (425) 391-1424 Breadline Caf Omak (509) 826-5836 Wild Vine Bistro, Bothell (425) 877-1334 Club Crow Cashmere (509) 782-3001 Wilde Rover Kirkland (425) 822-8940 CrossRoads Steakhouse Walla Walla (509) 522-1200 Valhalla Bar & Grill, Kirkland (425) 827 3336 Lakeys Grill Pullman (509) 332-6622 Main Street Tavern Omak (509) 826-2247 Peters Inn Packwood (360) 494-4000 Pine Springs Resort - Goldendate (509-773-4434 Rams Ripple Moses Lake (509) 765-3942 Rattlesnake Brewery Richland (509) 783-5747

Seattle

Clearwater Casino Suquamish (360) 598-6889 Destiny Seafood & Grill Port Angeles (360) 452-4665 Halftime Saloon Gig Harbor (253) 853-1456 Junction Tavern Port Angeles (360) 452-9880 Little Creek Casino Shelton (360) 427-7711 Seven Cedars Casino Sequim (360) 683-7777 Sirens Port Townsend (360) 379-1100 Upstage Port Townsend (360) 385-2216

Peninsula

Al Lago, Lake Tapps (253) 863-8636 2 Wheel Blues Club Tacoma Barnacles Restaurant, Des Moines (206) 878-5000 The Barrel Burien (206) 244-7390

Tacoma, Burien, Federal Way, etc

South Sound

CCs Lounge, Burien (206) 242-0977

North Sound

Capitol Theater/Olympia Film Society (360) 754-3635 Cascade Tavern Vancouver (360) 254-0749 Charlies Olympia (360) 786-8181 Cliff House Restaurant Tacoma (253) 927-0400 Destination Harley Davidson Fife (253) 922-3700 Blues Vespers at Immanuel Presbyterian (253) 627-8371 Jazzbones in Tacoma (253) 396-9169 (The) Junction Sports Bar, Centralia (360) 273-7586 Lighthouse Des Moines (206) 824-4863 Maggie OTooles Lakewood (253) 584-3278 Magnolia Caf Poulsbo (360) 697-1447 Mint Alehouse Enumclaw (360) 825-8361 Pats Bar & Grill Kent (253) 852-7287 Pick & Shovel Wilkeson (360) 829-6574 The Pony Keg - Kent (253) 395-8022 Riverside Pub, Sumner (253) 863-8369 Silver Dollar Pub Spanaway (253) 531-4469 The Spar Tacoma (253) 627-8215 The Swiss Tacoma (253) 572-2821 Tugboat Annies Olympia (360) 943-1850 Uncle Sams Bar & Grill - Spanaway (253) 507-7808 Wurlitzer Manor Gig Harbor (253) 858-1749

Eastside

Central & Eastern

Red Lion Hotel Wenatchee (Tomasz Cibicki 509-669-8200)

Anchor Pub Everett (425) 252-2288 Balefire Everett (425) 374-7248 Bubbas Roadhouse Sultan, (360) 793-3950 Canoes Cabaret Tulalip (888) 272-1111 The Conway Muse in Conway (360) 445-3000 Demetris Woodstone Taverna, Edmonds (425) 744-9999 Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse Mukilteo (425) 355-4488 Engels Pub Edmonds (425) 778-2900 Historic Spar Tree Granite Falls (360) 691-6888 Madison Pub - Everett (425) 348-7402 Mardinis Snohomish (360) 568-8080 Mirkwood & Shire Caf Arlington (360) 403-9020 North Sound:Star Bar, Anacortes (360) 299-2120 ( The) Oxford Saloon Snohomish (360) 568-3845 Prohibition Grille, Everett (425) 258-6100 Stanwood Hotel & Saloon Stanwood (360) 629-2888 Stewarts Snohomish (360) 568-4684 Timberline Caf Granite Falls (360) 691-7011 Traceys Place Everett (425) 259-0811 Wicked Rack BBQ Everett (425) 334-3800

(Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, etc.):

North End

Tumwater Inn Restaurant and Lounge Leavenworth (509) 548-4232

Mondays

Alki Tavern: Jam hosted b y Manuel Morais Dawsons, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7pm Castles, Sedro Wolley: Gary Bs Church of the Blues, 6-10pm Eastlake Zoo Tavern: Eastlake Zoo Social Club & Jam featuring the Seattle Houserockers, 7pm Northpoint Tacoma: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 7pm Pony Keg, Kent: -Rafael Tranquilino Jam Raging River: Tommy Wall Oct 7 - Alice Stuart Silver Dollar: Big Nasty, 8pm Two Twelve, Kirkland: hosted by HeatherBBlues, 7pm

Caffe Mela, Wenatchee, 7pm (first Mon. of the month) 88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Star Drums & Lady Keys host Blue Monday Jam, 8pm JRs Hideway: Malcolm Clark, 8pm Opal Lounge, South Tacoma Way: Tim Hall, 8pm Oxford Saloon: All ages open jam, 7 11pm Ten Below: hosted by Underground Blues Jam, every 1st Monday of the month, Wenatchee Yuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

Wednesdays

Tuesdays

22

Dawsons, Tacoma: hosted by Shelley & Jho, 8pm Elmer, Burien: hosted by Billy Shew Oct. 23 Brian Lee J & M Cafe Jam: May 8 & 22 Tim Turner Pacific Rim Marysville Best Western: Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks, 7 - 11pm Snohomish Spirits & Sports: Sean Denton & friends Summit Pub: Tim Hall & the Realtimes, 7:30pm Wild Buffalo, Bellingham: hosted by Rick Baunach, 6:30 - 9:30pm

Charlies Olympia: Blues Attitude Damans Pub, 8 PM Dogghouse Tavern, Mt. Vernon Alan: Hatley Trio, 7pm Eddies Trackside Bar & Grill, Monroe: every 1st & 3rd Wed., 8pm Half Time Saloon: Billy Shew & Billy Barner Locker Room, White Center: Michael Johnson & Lynn Sorensen, 8-12pm Madison Pub, Everett: hosted by Unbound w/special guests 7:30pm Oct. 3 - Tim Turner Oct 10 - James Howard Oct 17 - Bill Mattocks & Mark Riley Oct 24 - el Colonel Oct 31 - Sweet Danny Ray & Greg Dolan Salmon Bay Eagles: Broomdust presents Blues of the Past jam (1st Wed.), 8pm Yuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

Thursdays

Bad Albert Invitational w/Annieville Blues CCs Lounge Burien Club Flight Nightclub w/Cory Wilde, 9pm Conway Pub Dawsons, Tacoma: Billy Shew, 8 pm OCallahans: Tim Hall, 7pm Oxford Saloon: Invitational Jam w/Steve Ater, 8pm Ruston Inn: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 8pm

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24

A.H.L. (206) 935-4592 AlleyKattz (425) 273-4172 Annieville Blues (206) 994-9413 Author Unknown (206) 355-5952 Baby Gramps Trio (425) 483-2835 BackGround Noise (425) 931-8084 Back Porch Blues (425) 299-0468 Badd Dog Blues Society (360) 733-7464 Bare Roots (206) 818-8141 Billy Barner (253) 884-6308 Bay Street Blues Band (360) 731-1975 Norm Bellas & the Funkstars (206) 722-6551 Black River Blues (206) 396-1563 Blackstone Players (425) 327-0018 Blues Attitude (360) 701-6490 Blue 55 (206) 216-0554 Blue Healers (206) 440-7867 Blues To Do Monthly (206) 328-0662 Blues Playground (425) 359-3755 Blues Redemption http://www.bluesredemption.com (The) Blues Sheriff (206) 979-0666 Blues to Burn (253) 945-7441 Boneyard Preachers (206) 755-0766/ 206-547-1772 Bill Brown & the Kingbees 206-276-6600 Bump Kitchen (253) 223-4333, (360) 259-1545 Brian Butler Band (206) 361-9625 Charlie Butts & the Filtertips (509) 325-3016 Ellis Carter - 206-935-3188 Malcolm Clark Band (253) 853-7749 Colonel (360) 293-7931 Kimball Conant & the Fugitives (206) 938-6096 Jack Cook & Phantoms of Soul (206) 517-5294 Rod Cook & Toast (206) 878-7910 James Curley Cooke (253)945-7441 Cooke & Green (253) 945-7441 Coyote Blues (360) 420-2535 John Scooch Cugnos Delta 88 Revival (360) 352-3735 Crossroads Band (206) 935-8985 Daddy Treetops (206) 601-1769 Sean Denton Band (425)387-0620 Double Cookin (253) 945-7441 Double Scotts on the Rocks (206) 418-1180 Julie Duke Band 206-459-0860 Al Earick Band (253) 278-0330 Sammy Eubanks (509) 879-0340 Richard Evans (206) 799-4856 Fat Cat (425) 487-6139 Fat Tones (509) 869-0350 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 Gin Creek (206) 588-1924 Charlene Grant & the Love Doctors (206) 763-5074 Paul Green (206)795-3694 Dennis Juxtamuse Hacker (425) 512-8111 Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band (425)576-5673 Tim Hall Band (253) 857-8652 Curtis Hammond Band (206) 696-6134) Ryan Harder (253) 226-1230 Scotty Harris & Lissa Ramaglia/Bassic Sax (206) 418-1180 Terry Hartness (425) 931-5755 Ron Hendee (425) 280-3994 JD Hobson (206) 235-3234 Hot Rod Blues Revue (206)790-9934 Bobby Holland & the Breadline (425)681-5644 James Howard band (206) 250-7494 David Hudson / Satellite 4 (253) 630-5276 Raven Humphres (425) 308-3752 Hungry Dogs (425) 299-6435 Brian Hurst (360) 708-1653 K. G. Jackson & the Shakers (360) 896-4175 Jeff & the Jet City Fliers (206) 469-0363 Vaughn Jensen Band (509) 554-6914 Stacy Jones Band (206) 992-3285 Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937

Talent Guide

Washington Blues Society

Harry The Man Joynes (360) 871-4438 Junkyard Jane (253) 238-7908 James King & the Southsiders (206) 715-6511 Virginia Klemens / Jerry Lee Davidson (206) 632-6130 Mick Knight (206) 373-1681 Bruce Koenigsberg / the Fabulous Roof Shakers (425) 766-7253 Kolvane (503) 804-7966 Lady A & the Baby Blues Funk Band (425) 518-9100 Brian Lee & the Orbiters www.brianleeorbiters.com Brian Lee Trio (206) 390-2408 Scott E. Lind (206) 789-8002 Little Bill & the Bluenotes (425) 774-7503 Loose Gravel & the Quarry (253) 927-1212 Dana Lupinacci Band (206) 860-4961 Eric Madis & Blue Madness (206) 362 8331 Bill Mattocks Band (206) 601-2615 Albritten McClain & Bridge of Souls (206) 650-8254 Brian Jelly Belly McGhee (253) 777-5972 Doug McGrew (206) 679-2655 Mary McPage Band (206) 850-4849 Miles from Chicago (206) 440-8016 Reggie Miles (360) 793-9577 Michal Miller Band (253) 222-2538 Rob Moitoza / House of Reprehensibles (206) 768-2820 Moon Daddy Band (425) 923-9081 Jim Nardos Boogie Train Blues Band (360) 779-4300 Keith Nordquist (253) 639-3206 Randy Norris & The Full Degree (425) 239-3876 Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely (425) 239-3876/(425) 359-3755 Randy Oxford Band (253) 973-9024 Robert Patterson (509) 869-0350 Dick Powell Band (425) 742-4108 Bruce Ransom (206) 618-6210 Red Hot Blues Sisters (206) 940-2589 Mark Riley (206) 313-7849 Gunnar Roads (360) 828-1210 Greg Roberts (206) 473-0659 Roger Rogers Band (206) 255-6427 Maia Santell & House Blend (253) 983-7071 Sciaticats Band (206) 246-3105 Shadow Creek Project (360) 826-4068 Tim Sherman Band (206) 547-1772 Billy Shew Band (253) 514-3637 Doug Skoog (253) 921-7506 Smoke N Blues Allstars (253) 620-5737 Smokin Jays (425)746-8186 Son Jack Jr. (425) 591-3034 Soulshaker Blues Band (360) 4171145 Star Drums & Lady Keys (206) 522-2779 John Stephan Band (206) 244-0498 Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys (206) 236-0412 Stickshift Annie Eastwood (206) 522-4935 Alice Stuart & the Formerlys (360) 753-8949 Richard Sysinger (206) 412-8212 Annette Taborn (206) 679-4113 Dudley Taft (206)795-6509 Tahoma Tones (253)851-6559 Ten Second Tom (509) 954-4101 Tone Kings (425) 698-5841 Too Slim & the Taildraggers (425) 891-4487 Leanne Trevalyan (253)238-7908 Tim Turner Band (206) 271-5384 T-Town Aces (206)935-8985 Two Scoops Combo (206) 933-9566 Unbound (425)212-7608 Uncle Ted Barton (253) 627-0420 Nick Vigarinos Meantown Blues (360) 387-0374 Tommy Wall (206) 914-9413 Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks (360) 652-0699 / (425) 327-0944 Charles White Revue (425) 327-0018 Mark Whitman Band (206) 697-7739 Michael Wilde (425) 672-3206 / (206) 200-3363 Rusty Williams (206) 282-0877 Hambone Wilson (360) 739-7740 C.D. Woodbury (425) 502-1917 Beth Wulff Band (206) 367-6186, (206) 604-2829

Economic Stimulus 101:

This Years Taste of Music in Snohomish

By Robert Horn

Ive read in the newspapers that our economy needs to be stimulated. Im admittedly not an economist, but I do know that supporting local restaurants and clubs stimulates the local economy and that is important to me. Economic stimulus means different things to different people, so I am going to try and show Bluesletter readers just how our blues community stimulates the economy through events like the Taste of Music, this years Best of the Blues Award winning non-festival event. The historic town of Snohomish, Washington got a straight shot of economic stimulus courtesy of this years Taste of Music. Like many fans of live music, I came into town a little early and got a beer at Mardinis. I left enough of a tip for the bartender to have a little something extra to spend. I later got dinner at The Oxford and left a 30% tip there. I heard people who came for the music talk about how good the crabcakes were at The Repp, and overheard a couple talk about how a table they saw in one of the antique shops on 1st Street would probably fit perfectly in their living room. Each morning, I got a latte at either the Snohomish Bakery or the Java Inn and talked about blues music with people standing in line ahead of me. I tried one of the pizza places for lunch, and enjoyed a great sandwich from a great restaurant called Grilla Bites. I loved the fish and chips at Stewarts as I watched Lady A put on a great show, and had a few beers at The Oxford watching a number of blues acts over a great weekend of live music. I walked past a sports bar where there was no live music, but noticed that the Seahawks had a pre-season game on a big screen TV. I ducked in for a quick beer and talked to the bartender. I asked him if the extra people in town for the Taste of Music were helpful for business. Anytime there are extra people in town spending money it is good for all the businesses in town, he said. People come in and play pool, buy a beer, and go back to hear some more music. He told me his dad has a bike shop, and he meets people at this event who buy and sell Harleys so it is good for them, too.

Blues is our business, and in downtown Snohomish from August 17th through the 19th, our business was good. In addition to an outstanding and diverse line up of live music, there was another reason to get downtown to the Taste of Music: after a day-long competition, we learned that the Sammy Eubanks Band will represent the Washington Blues Society in Memphis at the 2013 International Blues Challenge, and that Randy Norris and Jeff Nicely will return to compete in the solo/duo category. Last year, The WIRED! Band won our statewide finals at this same event, and this trio went on to win the 2012 International Blues Challenge after competing against bands from across the world. Each of the 2013 winners put on great performances, and so did the other finalists, too. While Sundays focus was clearly the Washington Blues Society International Blues Challenge finals for 2013, the weekend began on the outdoor stage on Friday with The Fonkeys followed by the Chris Eger Band. The old pros were followed by a rising young talent. The great dance band, Bump Kitchen, followed. Saturday offered some sensory overload time with The Oxford starting its list of bands performing just after lunch, and Stewarts Place doing the same thing. Meanwhile, The Juliettes were already on the outdoor stage and International Blues Challenge finalists James King & the Southsiders followed. The Repp started live music at in the late afternoon as well. Like any major blues event in Chicago, Simi Valley or Portland with multiple stages, my head was spinning as I thought of planning my schedule with so many performances happening at the same time. My head spun in a good way, though. Kim Field is perhaps best known for his work with the Titans of Tone, but he brought his country band, Titans of Twang, and won over a lot of new fans. With the great vocal harmony he has with Lisa Theo, and the humorous banter between them inside of some songs,

their act is a pleasure to behold. I talked with Kim about some of the common roots that country and blues share, and I may share those observations with Bluesletter readers in an article later this year. There were a lot of great performances on each stage on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and with multiple stages it is hard for me just to sum things up. Junkyard Jane, The Randy Oxford Band, Lady A & the Baby Blue Funk Band, Heather B Blues, Paul Green and Brian Butler, Mark Riley, Ron Hendee, Bobby Holland & Breadline they were among the great many acts that I was lucky enough to catch. When asked about favorite performances, many people told me they had first choices, and some had strong passions behind their opinions. In my opinion, a passion for the music is a very good thing Whe n t he Wa sh i ng ton Blu e s S o c i e t y s International Blues Challenge competition ended, and Kevin Sutton threw Mardi Gras beads from main stage, I was surrounded by a few blues fans that had questions about the score sheets judges used. They were not upset, just curious how one band scores more than another good band. As people wandered away from the main stage, I walked down the street to The Oxford and saw that it was too packed to get inside: blues musicians were on stage for a Sunday night jam that just probably carried on til the wee hours of blue in the morning. I left the historic town of Snohomish with very pleasant memories of the 2012 Taste of Music. I hope that Bluesletter readers support places like Mardinis, Stewarts, The Oxford, The Repp, Grilla Bites, and those downtown antique stores if we spend our money locally, well help stimulate the local economy. I cant think of a better way than to support local live music events like the Taste of Music. Again, Im not an economist, but I know my contributions to those tip jars helped stimulate the economy of downtown Snohomish this year. If you were there, yours did, too.

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Rocky Nelson
This month, there is going to be a big celebration at the Highway 99 Blues Club on Saturday October 13th as we welcome Washington Blues Society Secretary Rocky Nelson back home from Afghanistan with a show featuring my band. We are thrilled to return to the Highway 99 Blues Club to fill the room to honor a steadfast volunteer and longtime supporter of the blues community in Washington, in Memphis, South Asia, and the Middle East. He returned to his native Pacific Northwest in January after five years of serving in harms way for the Department of the Army and Department of Defense as a civilian. Blues music has always been in Rockys life. From Kalispell to Kabul, and from Clarkston to Clarksdale, Rocky Nelson has always enjoyed what Morgan Freeman has called Americas classical music. The blues. My favorite blues bar band recorded my favorite drinking album, Exile on Main Street! he told me unapologetically before a gig at Everetts excellent Port Gardner summer concert series. Rocky still plays that classic Rolling Stones recording at full volume, and continues to appreciate the blusier numbers like Tumbling Dice, Stop Breaking Down, and All Down the Line. Its a rockin blues album that features Pacific Northwest vocal sensation Kathy McDonald, he said. In his spare time while deployed overseas, Rocky promoted the blues on Armed Forces Network Radio (AFN). He developed, produced and was the on-air host of the very first all blues radio program in the history of AFN radio in a war zone. The show, called The Blues Power Hour, aired for about one year. The Washington Blues Society nominated Rocky for a Keeping the Blues Alive Award from the Blues Foundation. While members on the awards committee thought Rockys service was laudable, the Keeping the Blues Alive Award tends to recognize a lifetime body of work promoting blues music. Each one hour program reached well over 100,000 people in 24 countries including the bad guys. In December of 2008, Rocky broadcast from Bagram Air Field to the troops in Afghanistan at Christmastime and this broadcast included a live direct from Chicago phone interview with Shemekia Copeland and an evening full of blues. Of Copeland, Rocky recalled that shes such a sweet person and so fun to interview, I cant thank

Coming Home to the Highway 99 Blues Club

By Randy Oxford

her enough for all those shout outs to the troops she gave that night! I actually started the program to help bring Steve Simons Bluesapallooza to the troops there, said Rocky. Steve Simon, also known as The Blues Boss, led a USO blues revue of high powered recording giants to the Middle East. I just knew the troops in Afghanistan could use some good blues. I also wanted to educate and entertain the troops to lift them up from a whole different type of blues they experienced there. The Blues Power Hour was the perfect on-air vehicle to do just that while having fun. I am very proud of the work we have done over there on the radio and entertainment was key to keeping sane in a place far enough away from home that I might as well been on the moon! It felt like it at times. Rocky once said on air that the U.S.A. should drop radios on the bad guys that were tuned to the Blues Power Hour, because they would just throw up their hands and surrender to a country that had such a commanding musical heritage and stop the senseless violence that he saw or heard on a daily basis. Back in the day, Rocky also booked bands in the 70s in Kathmandu, Nepal and produced a three day concert dedicated to then Crown Prince Birendra who later became King of Nepal. Currently, Rocky volunteers as Secretary of the Washington Blues Society, a position he held for over four years prior to leaving for his first tour of duty in the Middle East. Throughout his tour he held the position of Middle East Street Team Representative promoting the Washington Blues Society. Showing that blues is still very much in his blood, Rocky continues to volunteer for the blues society, the Blues Foundation, and writes for the Bluesletter and damngoodtunes. com. Hes a regular at blues festivals across this region, and attends Blues Foundation events like the International Blues Challenge and the Blues Music Awards, the biggest night for the blues. Rocky is proud to have served his country, and some of us are trying to talk him into becoming a global booking agent, given all of his worldly knowledge and contacts. I have always wanted to work in the music industry someway somehow, but I cant play a lick, he said. Rocky notes that his karma has been returned many times over for his support of the blues, the blues society, and the Blues Foundation. I have met quite a few notable characters in the music world who have appreciated my hard work

and dedication both in what I did over there and for the music profession, that makes me feel pretty damn good, he said. I feel blessed. People like Steve Simon, John Hahn, Bruce Iglauer, Morgan Freeman, Bill Luckett, Steve Miller, Bill Wax, Koko Taylor, Janiva Magness and Stephanie Lollar have touched Rocky in very special ways. I owe a deep debt of gratitude to each of these friends that I have met along the blues highway, said Rocky. Of course, all of the love and support I received from my friends and family here in Washington have been extremely important to my survival, too! I thank them from the bottom of my heart. It was an honor and a privilege to serve all you folks back here, he added, Its good to be home. Im very lucky to be alive! It saddens me knowing some families suffered the ultimate loss of our most cherished and precious resources given to that mission, the lives of our good men and women serving our country in uniform. For me, five years in Afghanistan is a long time. Reintegration has been very difficult and a challenge, because relationships suffer while you are away and when you come back they struggle to understand what you have gone through without a frame of reference to help them help you cope. It takes a strong love, time and lots of patience to overcome that, and also lots of self reflection! On thinking about the soldiers, sailors and airmen hes worked with over the past five years in the Middle East, Rocky added that these returning veterans need all the support and love they can get to help heal those unseen wounds from the continuing cycle of tragic outcomes. They have made great sacrifices in the name of our country. Please thank and hug a vet! We will see if he can find work here, where we want to see him stay, but for now we would like to invite everyone out as we pay tribute to the Man himself, Rocky Nelson, on Saturday October 13th at the Highway 99 Blues Club. I am proud to be a part of this very special night of music: the Randy Oxford Band, with some very surprise and special guests, will welcome and honor Rocky Nelson back home to the Pacific Northwest, home to one of the most vibrant and caring blues communities in the world. Where Rocky Nelson belongs. See you there!

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A perfect day got more perfect. It was in the 70s and not far from Lake Washington at a park that has great potential to hold whatever crowd comes as this event grows each year. Labor Day weekend is not just for Bumbershoot anymore. There is now a blues alternative to huge crowds, expensive admission, and lack of parking at Bumbershoot where the planners dont seem to know that blues is a major musical art form here in Seattle. This relatively new annual event is called Blues for Food for a reason: like the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, it helps to fund the feeding of the hungry in the area. The proceeds helped two causes: the local pea patch project, and the Musician Relief Fund of the WBS. It was a great day at Warren G. Magnuson Park on September 2nd.

The legendary Little Bill started things off with his trio. From 1953 when he exploded onto the scene as a national act he has continued to perform original material with soulful blues vocals and instrumental professionalism. He did not disappoint anyone listening to his band. They sounded about as perfect as the weather that day. The Stacy Jones Band once again provided great vocal harmonies between Jeff Menteer and Stacy Jones, and Rick Bowen has the vocals for either solos or three-part harmony when needed. Singing is just one of the talents of this band. Stacy herself brings an arsenal of musical artillery at events like this: (keyboard, harmonica, guitar, kitchen sink .OK, I exaggerated with the kitchen sink mention, but she can play them

Blues for Food

all. I thought I heard some new songs, and in the beer garden I heard other people say Hey, thats a new song. I assume that it was not the kegs from Sierra Nevada Brewery that was making people say that. The band also performed some of her great old ones like Do It Again, and her powerful rendition of Id Rather Go Blind, along with a few faster jump swing tunes that had people moving their feet over the grass and turning the ground into sod. Tom Jones was steady and consistent as always holding down the rhythm on bass. He brought a big stand-up bass and later went back to his bass guitar. Rick and Tom provide a good rhythm section and Jeff s guitar playing has always impressed me. names, but the names Ben Rice, and Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps are pretty big names. Teresa James was a 2008 nominee for Female Vocalist of the year nationally by the Blues Foundation. She proved why she is the big time national act that she is on the stage at Magnuson Park on Sept 2nd. Ben Rice and his band are one of the rising hot young blues bands operating out of the state of Oregon. There has been something going on in our neighbor to the south for a while in terms of young blues bands calling it home. Anyone who has not seen Lady A & The Baby Blues Funk Band perform must go do that at the first opportunity. She puts on a great show with powerful soulful blues, and a band that is fluent in funk as well as bordering genre. She There was out-of-town talent and as this event grows the visiting acts may have even bigger

By Robert Horn Photos by the Blues Boss also ads some humor and audience contact as she goes out in the crowd. The whole band is fantastic and worthy of a lot more attention. They added a little kid on stage who seemed to have no stage fright as he played with a homemade guitar I dont think made a sound but he could have fooled some people in the beer garden 100 feet away. Billy Stoops was not only the MC of this event, but a musical performer as well. As the lead guitar player and one of the main singers of Junkyard Jane and other bands over the years, he was celebrating a milestone. As the cover of the September Bluesletter showed, it was the 15th Anniversary of Junkyard Jane, which was a multiple BB Award winning band for years. The saxophone queen, Sue Orfield, came back to be with her old band, and when she is on stage many pay a lot more attention to her sax show than whatever Billy and Leanne are doing. Billy and Leanne are among the best entertainers in our region though and part of that is because of their vocals. Both are great vocalists. They are also guitar players and songwriters with some real abilities too. This band is talented enough to be much better known outside of the region. What an afternoon. Wow. Photos (clockwise from top left): Ben Rice; Bill Stapleton, Tommy Morgan, Lil Bill; Dick Shurman, Jef Jaisun; Lady A White; Lil Bill, Billy Stapleton; LilBillEngelhart; Stacy Jones; Patti Allen, Sue Orfield; Deb Rock; Teresa James; Stacy Jones Band; Rhythm Tramps.

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MK: What brought you to the blues harp? MK: Just the sound MK: Would you please name a few of your influences on harp? MK: William Clarke, George Harmonica Smith, Kim Wilson, Paul deLay, all the Chicago guys-both Walters, both Sonny Boys. WBS: How about on vocals? MK: Bobby Blue Bland, Johnny Adams, Little Willie John, singers with great tone. MK: What song have you always wanted to record; but havent done yet. MK: Well you got me on this one. Probably a Lou Rawls thing (Interviewers note: Rawls name had come up in earlier discussion, and I told Mitch a story of Lou Rawls played at an assembly in my Middle School auditorium when he was in town on tour in the early 1970s when he had a big hit in the charts). Lou Rawls Love Is A Hurting Thing. MK: Who would you like to perform with if you could, no limits either still living or passed? MK: Oooh, thats a hard question, let me think about that one a bit. (Interviewers note: We never did get back to this before he had to leave. Id love to continue this conversation with Mr. Kashmar). WBS: Whats your beverage of choice, I noticed you have a number of songs about whiskey? Whiskey Drinkin Woman, Half Pint of Whiskey, Getting Drunk. MK: (chuckles) Vodka. Jimi Bott popped in and mentioned that the all the bands gear was packed up into the van, and they were ready to hit the road for Portland. I thanked Mitch for spending some time with me after his gig. I asked Kevin a couple quick questions at the bar while Mitch finished off his beer. MK: Would you please a few of your influences on guitar? KS: Both Freddy and Albert King, T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Vaughan. WBS: Vocals KS: Oh, lots of people that fit my vocal range. MK: Why a three piece KS: It leaves a lot of space for us to work with, also the money, it cost less to travel, there are fewer people to split it with, and in some ways it is just easier. MK: Your style of a three piece band isnt all about the guitar and bombast that you sometimes find in that format. Also, that they come off sounding like there are more than just three instruments playing. KS: I will have a few more instruments included on my new project, some horns, Mitch on harp on a few cuts, some back-up vocalists; but I will still tour mostly as a three piece outfit. I knew they had a long night ahead of them for that three plus hour drive back to Portland, and it was already after midnight. Isnt there a song in there? I thanked Kevin and Mitch again for allowing me to spend some time with them, and told Kevin that I look forward to his next release, Long Walk Home.

Live at the Highway 99 Blues Club!

By Malcolm Kennedy Photos by Jef Jaisun

Kevin Selfe & the Tornadoes with Mitch Kashmar

This past April, Carolyn and I sat next to Mitch Kasmars brother Matt up from Olympia to see the show, and I got a chance to talk briefly with Mitch and Kevin prior to the show. I mentioned to Mitch that I did a lot of writing, CD reviews, show and festival reviews and that Delta Groove is one of my favorite labels whose artists just knock me out. My introduction to Delta Groove was Mitchs Nickels & Dimes, and I told him that it was also my first published CD review in Marlee Walkers Blues To Do Monthly. Mitch opened the show with the title track with a shout out to me. Right from the get go, Kevins band of Jimi Bott and Allen Markel was tight and funky, Kevins guitar solo was crisp, and Mitch displayed his monster blues harp skills and superb vocals. In my opinion, Mitch ranks up there with some of the best male vocalists in blues today like John Nemeth, Sugar Ray Norcia, JW Jones, Darrell Nulisch, Curtis Salgado and Tad Robinson. The first set lasted 90 minutes and featured 14 songs, and the Highway 99 Blues Club was SRO before the set finished. Kevin, a pretty decent vocalist himself as well, sang on a number of songs, including the new Mama Didnt Raise No Fool from his Long Walk Home CD.. There was great interplay between Mitch and Kevin throughout the set. On Whiskey Drinkin Woman, Mitch walked the crowd from

one end to the other blowing a piercing acoustic harp solo. Kevin sang on Albert Kings Feel Like Breakin Up Somebodys Home adding a string bending solo as Mitch added accents on chromatic harp. After switching from his Gibson to his Strat, Kevin sang Just Like Pulling Teeth from Playing the Game and gave folks sitting stage right to some attention. Mitch added a sweet solo on his Mississippi saxophone and his vocals were first rate. Another gem was Little Walters classic Up The Line which is featured on his sophomore Delta Groove release Wake Up & Worry. Mitch is equally adept at chromatic harp and diatonic, is a master of tone, color, dynamics, control and finesse. Proficient at single note runs and chords and bending notes with aplomb and style. This cat is criminally under recognized and somebody please explain to me why Kevin Selfe & the Tornadoes arent signed onto a major blues record label yet? They ended the first set with a wonderful version of the Neville Brothers Hey Pock A- Way, and Jimi Botts drum solo showed why hes been nominated Best Drummer 13 times for a Blues Music Award. Bass player Allen Markels bass solo also kept the deep groove. Kevin played some funky wah wah guitar and they made great use of dynamics bringing it way down and then back up again to the delight of the crowd. After a well earned break, they kicked off the

second set with Bobby Charles Why Do You Do Me Like That with Kevin on vocals and Mitch brandishing a pair of diatonic harps. This was followed by Kevins show stopping take on Muddy Waters classic Mannish Boy. Mitch graciously granted a short interview after the second set. MK: Mitch, are you working on a new CD? MK: I havent talked to Randy Chortkoff at Delta Groove yet, I dont know if my next one will be with him or not; but I am trying to get some songs together, I need to get writing a few more before I am ready to go into the studio. MK: What brought you up to Portland from Santa Barbara and Los Angeles? MK: Getting away from all the crowds, less crime, I didnt live in the greatest neighborhood down south, clean air, closer to nature and I am closer to some of my family like my brother Matt who lives just up the road from me now in Olympia. MK: How did you hook up with Kevin? MK: It is just the way Portland is, we hooked up at a jam at a place just down the street from my house.

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Non-Profit U.S. Postage Paid Seattle, WA Permit No. 5617

P.O. Box 70604 Seattle, W 98127 A Change Service Requested

The WBS is a proud recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive A ward