Fe ature d Ar tic le sKevin Selfe & the Tornad os: L ive at Highway 99

The Heart and Mind of Charlie Musselwhite

Blues For Fo odOn the C over : Kevin Selfe by Jef Jaisun

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Celebrating 23 Years of Blues1989 - 2012

October 2012 BluesletterVol. XXIV, Number X

Publisher Washington Blues SocietyEditor & Art Director Jesse Phillips (jesse@jessephillipsdesigns.com)Secretary Rocky NelsonCalendar Maridel Fliss (mflissm@aol.com)Advertising Malcolm Kennedy (advertising@wablues.org)Printer Pacific Publishing Company www.pacificpublishingcompany.com

Contributing Writers: Robert Horn, Eric Steiner, Malcolm Kennedy, Zab, Jerry Peterson, Blues Boss and Randy Oxford.

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

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, submitter’s 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

Mission Statement 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.

Washington Blues SocietyP.O. Box 70604 - Seattle, WA 98127

www.wablues.org

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 magazine’s 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 America’s blues and jazz clubs, documenting both national and international artists

On the Cover:

Letter from the Editor

Talent Guide 23Economic Stimulus 101 25 Rocky Nelson: Home to Hwy 99 26Blues for Food 28Kevin Selfe at Highway 99 30

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

Passing the Torch 11Highway 99 Blues Club 12Dry Side Blues 14Blues CD Reviews 16August Blues Bash 18

WBS Raffle Winners 19Calendar 20Blues on the Radio Dial 21Jam Guide 22Venue Guide 22

In This Issue...

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 it’s 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.

You’ll 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 Rep’s Bagley Wright stage.

Secondly, The Blues Invasion is one of WBS’s 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, EditorWashington Blues Society Bluesletter

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www.ponykeg.comFind us on Facebook under Mighty Mouth Entertainment

10-6 Shoot Jake CD Release Party

10-13 Nick Vigarino Back Porch Stomp10-20 Dirty Rice10-27 James King & The Southsiders The Southsiders Halloween Party (Dress Up)

Sunday Nights Pro Blues Jam With Rafael Tranquilino

Rafael’s Photo Courtesy ofRocky Allen

Saturdays 8-12Sundays 7-11

Mighty Mouth Entertainment & The Pony Keg Proudly Present

(253) 395-80228535 S 212th St.Kent, WA 98031

Pullman Porter Bluesby Cheryl L. West

directed by Lisa PetersonSeptember 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 Rep’s Bagley Wright stage. Pullman Porter Blues plays September 27 through October

28. Tickets start at $15 and are on sale at seattlerep.org

It’s 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 train’s 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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Introducing:The Washington Blues Society welcomes two new Board members: Cherie Robbins and Janice Cleven Gage will share the remainder of the Music Director’’s unexpired 2012 term. Cherie Robbins is an active volunteer in Washington’s 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, they’ve got the entire state covered in blues! We hope they’ll continue helping out in 2013! (Photo by Blues Boss)

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Washington Blues SocietyProud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation

2012 OfficersPresident Eric Steiner president@wablues.orgVice President Tony Frederickson vicepres@wablues.orgSecretary Rocky Nelson secretary@wablues.orgTreasurer (Acting) Chad Creamer treasurer@wablues.orgEditor Jesse Phillips editor@wablues.org

2012 DirectorsMusic Co-Directors Cherie Robbins & Janice Cleven Gage music@wablues.orgMembership Michelle Burge membership@wablues.orgEducation Roy Brown education@wablues.orgVolunteers Rhea Rolfe volunteers@wablues.orgMerchandise Tony Frederickson merchandise@wablues.orgAdvertising Malcolm Kennedy advertising@wablues.org

2012 Street TeamDowntown Seattle Tim & Michelle Burge blueslover206@comcast.netWest Seattle Rev. Deb Engelhardt deb@revdeb.comEastside VacantNorthern WA Lloyd Peterson freesprt@televar.comPenninsula Dan Wilson allstarguitar@centurytel.netSouth Sound Smoke smkdrms@aol.comCentral WA Stephen J. Lefebvre s.j.lefebvre@gmail.comEastern WA Cindy Dyer cindalucy@hotmail.comBallard Marcia JacksonLopez Island Carolyn & Dean Jacobsen cjacobsen@rockisland.comMiddle East “Rock Khan” rocknafghanistan@gmail.com

Special ThanksWebmaster The Sheriff webmaster@wablues.orgWeb Hosting Adhost www.adhost.comWBS Logo Phil Chesnut philustr8r@aol.com

November 2012 DEADLINES:Advertising Space Reservations: October 5thmalcarken@comcast.net

Calendar: October 10th calendar@wablues.org

Editorial Submissions: October 5th - editor@wablues.org

Camera Ready Ad Art Due: October 12th - editor@wablues.orgCamera ready art should be in CMYK format at 300 dpi or higher.

Advertising Rates:Graphics: 300 dpi PDF, TIF or JPGText: Plain .txt or WordFull Page: $260 (8.5” x 11”)Half Page: $150 (8.5” x 5.5”)Back Half Page: $200 (8.5” x 5.5”)Quarter Page: $90 (4.25” x 5.5”)Fifth Page: $65 (4.25” x 3.5”)Business Card: $25 (3.5” x 2”)ADD COLOR: ADD 25%

We’ve Got Discounts!20% off- 12 month pre-payment15% off- 6 month pre-payment10% off- 3 month pre-paymentContact: 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

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? We’d like to help. While we cannot predict when or if a review will land in the pages of the Bluesletter, we’d 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 SocietyATTN: CD Reviews

PO Box 70604Seattle, WA 98027

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.

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 you’ve been at Mount Baker, Blues for Food, David Chapman’s excellent weekend of music to benefit Combat Veterans International, you’ve 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 we’ll 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 Foundation’s 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 you’d 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, PresidentWashington Blues Society

Member, Board of Directors, The Blues Foundation

Gaye Andersonwas the owner and proprietor of the New Orleans Creole Restaurant in Seattle’s 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

By Malcolm KennedyA Fond Remembrance: Gaye Anderson

(1950-2012)

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 Seattle’s finest jazz musicians; on weekends, there was blues, zydeco and Americana. The club is still open for business

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 Gaye’s memory and contributions to Seattle’s music community in words and pictures.

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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

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 year’s Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Oregon this past July.

We talked about music and life with simple words,

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

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 don’t 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

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 didn’t have any brothers and sisters. My dad was gone. My mom worked all the time. She’d leave in the morning when it was dark. She’d 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

and Dorsey Burnett lived right across the street from me. There were a lot of musicians I learned from just in the neighborhood.” (Interviewer’s Note: Some biographies have mentioned Johnny Cash in Charlie’s 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 can’t see what’s going on. You can watch a guitar player’s hands, but you are kind of on your own with harmonica. But you can kind of absorb it in

kind of a symbiotic way. You can hear and you can soak it up and it sinks into you... the notes. I didn’t 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 didn’t 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 wasn’t enough. I would go out in the woods and make up my own blues. I thought that’s 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 it’s 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. That’s 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 what’s 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 we’d never get to your level. What do you say to those who may feel intimidated when hearing some of the greats?

CM: “You don’t 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 it’s way more than just the notes. A lot of people today think it ain’t nothin’ but technique and the notes, and how fast you can play. How fast you can play has this much to do with blues (Interviewer’s note: Charlie held his fingers in the shape of a zero) zero. It’s 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, it’s 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 doesn’t 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 can’t 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. We’re 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

The Mind Heart of play even if I don’t 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 I’m playing on it, every tune except one. It will be out this winter sometime so I expect we’ll 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 wasn’t there?CM: “Well, to me it was real interesting to fit into different situations, and I am still just playing what I know; it’s 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 isn’t 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.

& Photo and Article by Robert Horn

Charlie Musselwhite

“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.”[ ]

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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 can’t 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 don’t 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.

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 didn’t 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 couldn’t make the trip, and Coco Montoya filled in. For some people that would be like saying Left Hand Smoke couldn’t 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 can’t be…” I liked Harper and Midwest

Festival Review: Mt. Baker Blues FestivalBy Robrt Horn Photos by Blues Boss

Chris Eder Dana Fuchs Fat James & MarkWhitman

Janice Gage, Eric Steiner & BobHorn

Funny how things that you struggle with sometimes come together with little effort, isn’t it? For quite a while I had been feeling that passion for the blues was fading. As the boomer generation ages, there’s little evidence of understanding and support for the blues from today’s 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 kid’s jam going, but it didn’t 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 son’s 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. We’ll 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. It’s a partnership. We’ll provide the direction, you supply the funds, and together we will be Passing the Torch to the future of local blues.

Article and Photos by (and courtesy of ) Zab

‘Passing the Torch’

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It was just eight short years ago in the summer of 2004 that Seattle’s 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 Chicago’s 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 Godfather’s 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.

I remember stopping in to Godfather’s 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 workingman’s’ 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 Cook’s Pub, but I’m 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

sometimes hosted blues; but a club so dedicated to the music that it was part of the name. Not since Larry’s Greenfront became Larry’s Blues Club back around 2000 had Seattle had a live music venue with the word “blues” as part of its name.

In 2004, Seattle’s 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

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 Spokane’s 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 Chicago’s 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!-It’s 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

August of their opening year the Highway 99 Blues Club featured Mitch Wood & His Rocket 88’s, Joey Fender & the 55’s from Alaska, Robbie Laws Band from Portland, and Nick Vigarino. September’s 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 club’s seating changed a few times, but the changes always resulted in improved

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 club’s 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 décor, 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 kitchen’s menu is straight from the Mississippi Delta and the Crescent City.

The Highway 99 Blues Club has been a strong supporter of the Washington Blues Society and the regional blues community. It’s 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.

Ed’s brother Eric Maloney (a frequent Best of the Blues

The Highway 99 Blues ClubLive Blues. Cool Joint.By Malcolm “Yard Dog” Kennedy

Photo by Jef Jaisun

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 aren’t 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 club’s 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. Randy’s dedicated this gig to Washington Blues Society Secretary Rocky Nelson, who’s 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. I’d 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 Seattle’s 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 America’s 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 Society’s nominee in the Blues Club category for a 2013 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation.

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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 ‘thank-you’ 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 right-handed Gibson played left-handed. 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 Charlie’s 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 “Can’t Dress It Up,” “Mississippi Moon,” “ Fortune Teller,” “One More Shot,” and one of my old favorites, “Chicken Shake.”

Saturday night’s headliner, the Most Blueswailing Yardbirds, were no longer the band that included Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page’s 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 didn’t affect their abilities to play

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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 don’t 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. Anita’s set included “1-800 Blues for You,” Paul DeLay’s “On My Merry Way,” Muddy Waters’ “Don’t the Moon Look Lonesome,” and they finished up with Freddie King’s “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 Spokane’s 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 “Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You”, “Caledonia”, “Little By Little”, “Ain’t 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.

The Yardbirds

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2 3Blues Reviews

New Blues that you can Use

Mikey JuniorLook Inside My Pocket8th 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 Mikey’s vocal talents as well as a short; but searing guitar solo. You a certain to enjoy the swinging rhythm of “Ain’t Your Baby Now” with Mikey singing ‘I used to be the one in love with your foolish heart/well I ain’t your baby now/you tore it all apart.’ Mikey’s 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

John “Scooch” CugnoMoonlighting in Vermont(Self-Released)

Local bluesman John “Scooch” Cugno was touring back east earlier this year, and while at Nectar’s 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 II’s song of that name in the set? The 13 songs include five originals. “Too Blue For You” is paired in a medley with Ronnie Earl’s “It’s My Soul.” Highlights include a fantastic cover of Albert King’s “As The Years Go Passing By” which features outstanding guitar work by Scooch and tasteful harp by Harmonica Bob, Jimmy Reed’s “Bright Lights” again features the stellar blues harp stylings of McKenzie. “Nightcrawler,” one of John’s originals, has a driving beat, and Kim Wilson’s Baby Don’t 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

Vicki Stevens BandMs. Vicki’s In Town(Self-Released)

If you aren’t familiar with the wonderful big voice of Vicki Stevens, all I can say is the opening cut on her new release, Ms Vicki’s In Town, “Sweet, Sweet, Sweet, Sweet” says it all. It is easy to see why Eugene’s 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 can’t beat a woman’ and I agree whole heartedly with both of its meanings. Monroe’s soaring guitars and Vicki’s 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 Vicki’s superb vocals yet? Ms Vicki’s In Town is a wonderful album that shows she’s got the right stuff. -Malcolm Kennedy

The BlastersFun On Saturday Night(Rip Cat Records)

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 1980’s LA punk scene, takes over vocals for Phil on “Jackson” Fun On Saturday Night opens with a rousing take on Tiny Bradshaw’s “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/she’s probably bi-polar….although I might be a cheater/does the law let me beat her when she’s holding the knife to my throat/I mean she’s holding a knife on me.’ They do Magic Sam’s “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

Alice Stuart DVD reviewAlice 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 who’s 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

Make sure you check them out at wablues.org for all

the Blues you can use.Blues Reviews

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 Alice’s 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 Cash’s “Train of Love” and Bob Dylan’s “It’s 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 Flynn’s 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 Can’t 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.

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

Last Month

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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.

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

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

at the Red CraneBy Robert Horn, Photos by Blues Boss

The September 2012 Blues Bash

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 Didn’t Think About That.” One thing I didn’t 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.

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” ain’t for the faint of heart. The long, grueling hours of driving, hauling equipment in and out of venues (“locals” don’t 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. Let’s 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 ! That’s a Road Warrior.

What prompted this article was a weekend schedule in September of 2012 that epitomizes the life of a local musician. Let’s take a look at Rod’s 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. That’s over 300 miles a day in “commuting” to work. In my book – total Road Warrior.

Cheri Robbins and Janice Cleven Gage will be having fun and working to bring great talent here each month.

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 T. Whitmire - Grand Prize, a Cabin for Two Aboard the October 2012 Legendary Blues CruisePapa Ron Meek – 2013 Mount Baker Rhythm and Blues Festival pair of ticketsAndrea Sievert - Spring Sunbanks 2013 pair of ticketsLloyd Peterson - Untapped Brews and Blues 2013 Festival pair of ticketsJanice Emery - Winthrop 2013 Rhythm and Blues Festival pair of ticketsMercer – A Pair of tickets to the New Orleans Creole RestaurantVivienne Teets – A Pair of Tickets to Jazz AlleyTed Todd – A Pair of Tickets to the Highway 99 Blues ClubPapa Ron Meek – A Pair of Tickets to the Triple DoorMike Snowden – One mp3 PlayerW. R. Cope – One mp3 Player

CD Winners

ROADWARRIOR

George AkunaVince AlmondJanice AubinJeff BaconDebra BalintJoann BeldockBob BleilerPaul BlumGeorge BoswellKathy BotuAl BrownJudy BudrowDennis ColemanAlison CookCindy CoyneRick CranleyH.S. DascenzoBill DavisSusan DawsonCristina Del AlmaBobbi DoupeAmy DownerArlene DownieAnnie EastwoodCapt EllisNancy EvansRobert FarrisDon FleurySharon GaglioneLL GordlyRuss GorlieJulia GowanSara Gray

Don GrurchDennis HackerDave HammonDoug HansenJoy HarperAndy HeathJeff HerzogBruce Horst (2)Cynthia HurlbuttJoel JacobsenJesse JamesJosie JimenezSouthside JohnnySteve JohnsonSteve JohnstonAl JonesKathleen JuddKristin KelleyNeil KellySusie KingJack KinneyLaddy KiteKen KnoxGary LackeyMike LambertCynthia LandryJoel LaneJ & S LochmannDebarah MalonShelly MearsDoreen MorashMorgan MorganAlan Niven

Robert OchsDaniel PackardEve PerilloRicki PetoRob PocrnichDeb RhymerJB RobinsonRita RogersMark RowePete SankalisTom SchoonoverRobert SeidmanBruce ShelleyMarkSibleyDarlene SievertRuth SimsNancy SlocumMarty SmithGeoff SmithTeresa StephensVickie StevensBilly StoopsMartha TaylorJoan ThomasJeff UttechKim Van KlinkenJohn VioletteRich WarinVicki WelterBruce WigginsLarry WilliamsDoug WoodDeverie Wood

2012

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By Blues Boss - photo by ML Sutton

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NOVNovember 1 - ThursdayJazz Alley: Manhattan TransferNew Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet

November 2 - FridayJazz Alley: Manhattan TransferNew Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Yuppie Tavern: Drummerboy w/Kimbal Conant

November 3 -SaturdayJazz Alley: Manhattan TransferNew Orleans: Gin Creek Rockfish Grill, Anacortes, Brian Lee & the Orbiters Yuppie Tavern: Red House

November 4 - SundayJazz Alley: Manhattan Transfer

October 1 - MondayJazz 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, 7:30pmNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Pl. Bar & Grill: John Stephan Band, 6pmRoyal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88’s 7pm

October 4 - ThursdayNew Orleans: Selbred/JacksonSalmon Bay Eagles: Nick Vigarino’s Back Porch StompTwo Twelve on Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm

October 5 - FridayBig Rock Café, Mt Vernon: Nick Vigarino’s Meantown BluesOxford Saloon, Snohomish: Stacy Jones BandRockfish Grill: Black River BluesThird Place Books, Lake Forest Park, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, 7pmVino Bella, Issaquah: Chris Steven’s Surf Monkeys, 7:30pmYuppie Tavern: Blues Buskers w/Robbie Law

October 6 - Saturday Issaquah Salmon Days: Stacy Jones Band, 12:30pm, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, 3pmNew Orleans; Nick Vigarino’s Meantown BluesOwl ‘n Thistle, Seattle: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 10pmOxford Saloon, Snohomish: Stacy Jones BandPony Keg, Kent: Shoot Jake CD Release PartyRockfish Grill: Lil’ Bill & the BluenotesScotch & Vine, Des Moines, Brian Lee Trio, 7pm Yuppie Tavern: Triple Treat Band

October 7 - SundayTwo Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7:30pm

October 8 - Monday New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

CalendarBlues

October 9 - TuesdayNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pmRed Crane, Shoreline: Reggie Miles and Palmers Junction - WBS Blues Bash

October 10 - Wednesday Musicquarium Loung at The Triple Door: Gin CreekNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pmRockfish Grill: Stilly River bandRoyal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88’s, 7pm

October 11 - ThursdayJazz Alley: Leela James New Orleans: Ham Carson QuintetSalmon Bay Eagles: Daddy Treetops & the Howlin’ Tomcats

October 12 - FridayJazz Alley: Leela James Jet Bar, Mill Creek: Stacy Jones Band 9pm, the Wired Band 11pm Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park: Gin CreekYuppie Tavern: Blues Redemption

October 13 - SaturdayBrother Don’s, Bremerton: Bill Brown & the King Bees, 8:30pmJazz Alley: Leela James Pony Keg, Kent: Nick Vigarino Back Porch StompRepp: Alice Stuart & the FromerlysRockfish Grill: T-Town AcesSalmon Bay Eagles: Super Harp Showcase w/ Mike Lynch, Brian Lee, Mike Moothart & Boneyard Preachers, 8pmThird Place Books, Lake Forest Park: Gin CreekYuppie 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- TuesdayNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pmTriple Door: Betty LaVette

October 17 - Wednesday New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pmPike Place Bar & Grill, Seattle: Tim Turner Band, 6pmRoyal Lounge, Olympia: Blues County Sheriff, 7pm

October 18 - Thursday Conway Muse, Conway: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pmNew Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Greg Roberts bandTwo Twelve On Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm

October 19 - Friday Blakes Place,Bellevue: Stacy Jones Band, 8pm Dawsons, Tacoma: Steve CooleyGarden 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 MarriottProhibition Grille, Everett: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 8pmPort Townsend Dance, Port Townsend Elks: Stickshift Annie w/Kimball & the Fugitives, 8pmYuppie Tavern: Brian Lee Trio

October 20 - Saturday New Orleans: Chris Steven’s Surf MonkeysPony Keg, Kent: Dirty RiceRockfish Grill: el Colonel & DoubleshotScarlet Tree: Lady A & the new baby Funk band, 8pmYuppie Tavern: Astro Cats Scott E. Lind, Charlie Mcdowell Tom Austin

October 21 – SundayTripleDoor: 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, 7:30pmUpstage, Pt. Townsend: Stacy Jones Band, 8pm

October 22 - Monday New Orleans: New Orleans QuintetScarlett Tree, Seattle: Lady “A” & the NEW Baby Blues Funk Band, 8pm

October 23 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm

October 24 - Wednesday Royal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88’s, 7pmNew Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pmPike Place Bar & Grill at the Market: Stickshift Annie w/Kimball & the Fugitives, 6pm

October 25 - Thursday Jazz Alley: Average White BandNew 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, 7pmJazz Alley: Average White BandYuppie Tavern: the Davanos

October 27 - Saturday H2o: Curtis Hammond bandIndoor Acoustic Blues Fest, Spokane Valley: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pmJazz Alley: Average White Band Pony Keg, Kent: James King & the Southsiders - Halloween Bash!Rockfish, Anacortes, Alice Stuart & the FormerlysScotch & 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 Vigarino’s Meantown BluesYuppie Tavern: Lil’ Bill & the Bluenotes

October 28 - SundayJazz Alley: Average White BandTwo Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7:30pm

October 29 - Monday New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

October 30 - TuesdayNew Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm

October 31 - WednesdayEngles Pub, Edmonds: Tim Turner Band, 8pmPike Pl. Bar & Grill, John Stephan Band, 6pmRoyal Lounge, Olympia: John Scooch Cugno & the 88’s, 7pm

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SundaysAlki Tavern: Jam hosted b y Manuel MoraisDawson’s, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7pmCastle’s, Sedro Wolley: Gary B’s Church of the Blues, 6-10pmEastlake Zoo Tavern: Eastlake Zoo Social Club & Jam featuring the Seattle Houserockers, 7pmNorthpoint Tacoma: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 7pmPony Keg, Kent: -Rafael Tranquilino JamRaging River: Tommy Wall Oct 7 - Alice StuartSilver Dollar: Big Nasty, 8pm Two Twelve, Kirkland: hosted by HeatherBBlues, 7pm

TuesdaysDawson’s, Tacoma: hosted by Shelley & Jho, 8pmElmer, Burien: hosted by Billy Shew Oct. 23 – Brian LeeJ & M Cafe Jam: May 8 & 22 – Tim TurnerPacific Rim Marysville Best Western: Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks, 7 - 11pmSnohomish Spirits & Sports: Sean Denton & friendsSummit Pub: Tim Hall & the Realtimes, 7:30pmWild Buffalo, Bellingham: hosted by Rick Baunach, 6:30 - 9:30pm

MondaysCaffe Mela, Wenatchee, 7pm (first Mon. of the month)88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Star Drums & Lady Keys host Blue Monday Jam, 8pmJR’s Hideway: Malcolm Clark, 8pmOpal Lounge, South Tacoma Way: Tim Hall, 8pmOxford Saloon: All ages open jam, 7 – 11pmTen Below: hosted by Underground Blues Jam, every 1st Monday of the month, WenatcheeYuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

MondayKUGS 89.3FM Bellingham: Highway 61 8:00AM - 10:00AMwww.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 Samson’s BluesShow 7:00pm - 10:00PM

TuesdayKBCS 91.3FM Bellevue: Eh Toi! 11:00PM - 1:00AMwww.kbcs.fm - DJ, DJ Marte’

WednesdayKEXP 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 - 10:00PMwww.mail@ksvr.org - DJ, Jackson Stewart

KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon: “The Blues Note with Janice” 10:00PM - 12:00AMwww.janice@ksvr.org - DJ, Janice Gage

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

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

SaturdayKPLU 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

SundayKEXP 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

Blues on the Radio Dial

PLEASE SEND ANY RADIO UPDATES TO CALENDAR@WABLUES.ORG

Washington Blues Society Blues Jams

Central & Eastern BBQ & Blues – Clarkston (509) 758-1227Breadline Café – Omak (509) 826-5836Club Crow – Cashmere (509) 782-3001 CrossRoads Steakhouse – Walla Walla (509) 522-1200Lakey’s Grill – Pullman (509) 332-6622Main Street Tavern – Omak (509) 826-2247Peters Inn – Packwood (360) 494-4000Pine Springs Resort - Goldendate (509-773-4434Ram’s Ripple – Moses Lake (509) 765-3942Rattlesnake Brewery – Richland (509) 783-5747Red Lion Hotel Wenatchee (Tomasz Cibicki 509-669-8200)Tumwater Inn Restaurant and Lounge – Leavenworth (509) 548-4232

SeattleBlarney Stone Pub and Restaurant (206) 448-8439China Harbor Restaurant (206) 286-1688Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley (206) 441-9729 x210EMP Liquid Lounge (206) 770-2777EMP Sky Church (206) 770-2777Fiddler’s Inn (206) 525-0752Grinder’s (206) 542-0627Highliner Pub (206) 283-2233Highway 99 Club (206) 382-2171J & M Cafe (206) 467-2666Lock & Keel (206) 781-8023Maple Leaf Grill (206) 523-8449Mr. Villa (206) 517-5660New Orleans (206) 622-2563Paragon (206) 283-4548Pike Place Bar and Grill (206) 624-1365The Rimrock Steak House (206) 362-7979Salmon Bay Eagles (206) 783-7791St. Clouds (206) 726-1522Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park (206) 366-3333Triangle Tavern (206) 763.0714Tractor Tavern (206) 789-3599Triple Door (206) 838-4333

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

South Sound Tacoma, Burien, Federal Way, etcAl Lago, Lake Tapps (253) 863-86362 Wheel Blues Club – TacomaBarnacles Restaurant, Des Moines (206) 878-5000The Barrel – Burien (206) 244-7390CC’s Lounge, Burien (206) 242-0977Capitol Theater/Olympia Film Society – (360) 754-3635Cascade Tavern – Vancouver (360) 254-0749Charlie’s – Olympia (360) 786-8181Cliff House Restaurant – Tacoma (253) 927-0400Destination Harley Davidson – Fife (253) 922-3700 Blues Vespers at Immanuel Presbyterian (253) 627-8371Jazzbones in Tacoma (253) 396-9169(The) Junction Sports Bar, Centralia (360) 273-7586Lighthouse – Des Moines (206) 824-4863Maggie O’Toole’s – Lakewood (253) 584-3278Magnolia Café – Poulsbo (360) 697-1447Mint Alehouse – Enumclaw (360) 825-8361Pat’s Bar & Grill – Kent (253) 852-7287Pick & Shovel – Wilkeson (360) 829-6574The Pony Keg - Kent (253) 395-8022Riverside Pub, Sumner (253) 863-8369Silver Dollar Pub – Spanaway (253) 531-4469The Spar – Tacoma (253) 627-8215The Swiss – Tacoma (253) 572-2821Tugboat Annie’s – Olympia (360) 943-1850Uncle Sam’s Bar & Grill - Spanaway (253) 507-7808Wurlitzer Manor – Gig Harbor (253) 858-1749

North Sound Bellingham, Anacortes, Whidbey Island, etcChina Beach – Langley (360) 530-8888Just Moe’s – Sedro Woolley (360) 855-2997LaConner Tavern – LaConner (360) 466-9932Little Roadside Tavern – Everson (360) 592-5107Old Edison Inn – Edison (360) 766-6266Rockfish Grill – Anacortes (360) 588-1720Stump Bar & Grill – Arlington (360) 653-6774Watertown Pub – Anacortes (360) 293-3587Wild Buffalo – Bellingham (360) 312-3684Viking Bar and Grill – Stanwood (360) 629-9285

Eastside Bellevue, Kirkland, etc.Central Club – Kirkland (425) 827-8808Crossroads Shopping Center – Bellevue (425) 644-1111Damans Pub – RedmondForecasters – Woodinville (425) 483-3212Ice Harbor Brewing Co - Kennewick (509) 582-5340 Raging River Café & Club – Fall City (425) 222-6669Time Out Sports Bar – Kirkland (425) 822-8511Vino Bella – Issaquah (425) 391-1424Wild Vine Bistro, Bothell (425) 877-1334Wilde Rover – Kirkland (425) 822-8940Valhalla Bar & Grill, Kirkland (425) 827 3336

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

WednesdaysCharlies Olympia: Blues AttitudeDaman’s Pub, 8 PMDogghouse Tavern, Mt. Vernon Alan: Hatley Trio, 7pmEddie’s Trackside Bar & Grill, Monroe: every 1st & 3rd Wed., 8pmHalf Time Saloon: Billy Shew & Billy BarnerLocker Room, White Center: Michael Johnson & Lynn Sorensen, 8-12pmMadison 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 DolanSalmon Bay Eagles: Broomdust presents Blues of the Past jam (1st Wed.), 8pmYuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

ThursdaysBad Albert Invitational w/Annieville BluesCC’s Lounge BurienClub Flight Nightclub w/Cory Wilde, 9pmConway PubDawson’s, Tacoma: Billy Shew, 8 pmO’Callahan’s: Tim Hall, 7pmOxford Saloon: Invitational Jam w/Steve Ater, 8pmRuston Inn: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 8pm

Washington Blues Society

Venue Guide

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A.H.L. (206) 935-4592AlleyKattz (425) 273-4172Annieville Blues (206) 994-9413Author Unknown (206) 355-5952Baby Gramps Trio (425) 483-2835BackGround Noise (425) 931-8084Back Porch Blues (425) 299-0468Badd Dog Blues Society (360) 733-7464Bare Roots (206) 818-8141Billy Barner (253) 884-6308Bay Street Blues Band (360) 731-1975Norm Bellas & the Funkstars (206) 722-6551Black River Blues (206) 396-1563Blackstone Players (425) 327-0018Blues Attitude (360) 701-6490Blue 55 (206) 216-0554Blue Healers (206) 440-7867Blues To Do Monthly (206) 328-0662Blues Playground (425) 359-3755Blues Redemption http://www.bluesredemption.com(The) Blues Sheriff (206) 979-0666Blues to Burn (253) 945-7441Boneyard Preachers (206) 755-0766/ 206-547-1772Bill Brown & the Kingbees 206-276-6600Bump Kitchen (253) 223-4333, (360) 259-1545Brian Butler Band (206) 361-9625Charlie Butts & the Filtertips (509) 325-3016Ellis Carter - 206-935-3188Malcolm Clark Band (253) 853-7749Colonel (360) 293-7931Kimball Conant & the Fugitives (206) 938-6096Jack Cook & Phantoms of Soul (206) 517-5294Rod Cook & Toast (206) 878-7910James Curley Cooke (253)945-7441Cooke & Green (253) 945-7441Coyote Blues (360) 420-2535John Scooch Cugno’s Delta 88 Revival (360) 352-3735Crossroads Band (206) 935-8985Daddy Treetops (206) 601-1769Sean Denton Band (425)387-0620Double Cookin’ (253) 945-7441Double Scott’s on the Rocks (206) 418-1180Julie Duke Band 206-459-0860Al Earick Band (253) 278-0330Sammy Eubanks (509) 879-0340Richard Evans (206) 799-4856Fat Cat (425) 487-6139Fat Tones (509) 869-0350Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone (206) 295-8306Gary Frazier (206) 851-1169Free Reign Blues Band (425) 823-3561Filé Gumbo (425) 788-2776Nicole Fournier & Her 3 Lb Universe (253) 576-7600Jimmy Free’s Friends (206) 546-3733Gin Creek (206) 588-1924Charlene Grant & the Love Doctors (206) 763-5074Paul Green (206)795-3694Dennis “Juxtamuse” Hacker (425) 512-8111Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band (425)576-5673Tim Hall Band (253) 857-8652Curtis Hammond Band (206) 696-6134)Ryan Harder (253) 226-1230Scotty Harris & Lissa Ramaglia/Bassic Sax (206) 418-1180Terry Hartness (425) 931-5755Ron Hendee (425) 280-3994JD Hobson (206) 235-3234Hot Rod Blues Revue (206)790-9934Bobby Holland & the Breadline (425)681-5644James Howard band (206) 250-7494David Hudson / Satellite 4 (253) 630-5276Raven Humphres (425) 308-3752Hungry Dogs (425) 299-6435Brian Hurst (360) 708-1653K. G. Jackson & the Shakers (360) 896-4175Jeff & the Jet City Fliers (206) 469-0363Vaughn Jensen Band (509) 554-6914Stacy Jones Band (206) 992-3285Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937

Harry “The Man” Joynes (360) 871-4438Junkyard Jane (253) 238-7908

James King & the Southsiders (206) 715-6511Virginia Klemens / Jerry Lee Davidson (206) 632-6130

Mick Knight (206) 373-1681Bruce Koenigsberg / the Fabulous Roof Shakers (425) 766-7253

Kolvane (503) 804-7966Lady “A” & the Baby Blues Funk Band (425) 518-9100

Brian Lee & the Orbiters www.brianleeorbiters.comBrian Lee Trio (206) 390-2408

Scott E. Lind (206) 789-8002Little Bill & the Bluenotes (425) 774-7503

Loose Gravel & the Quarry (253) 927-1212Dana Lupinacci Band (206) 860-4961

Eric Madis & Blue Madness (206) 362 8331Bill Mattocks Band (206) 601-2615

Albritten McClain & Bridge of Souls (206) 650-8254Brian “Jelly Belly” McGhee (253) 777-5972

Doug McGrew (206) 679-2655Mary McPage Band (206) 850-4849Miles from Chicago (206) 440-8016

Reggie Miles (360) 793-9577Michal Miller Band (253) 222-2538

Rob Moitoza / House of Reprehensibles (206) 768-2820Moon Daddy Band (425) 923-9081

Jim Nardo’s Boogie Train Blues Band (360) 779-4300Keith 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) 973-9024Robert Patterson (509) 869-0350

Dick Powell Band (425) 742-4108Bruce Ransom (206) 618-6210

Red Hot Blues Sisters (206) 940-2589Mark Riley (206) 313-7849

Gunnar Roads (360) 828-1210Greg Roberts (206) 473-0659

Roger Rogers Band (206) 255-6427Maia Santell & House Blend (253) 983-7071

Sciaticats Band (206) 246-3105Shadow Creek Project (360) 826-4068

Tim Sherman Band (206) 547-1772Billy Shew Band (253) 514-3637

Doug Skoog (253) 921-7506Smoke N Blues Allstars (253) 620-5737

Smokin’ Jays (425)746-8186Son Jack Jr. (425) 591-3034

Soulshaker Blues Band (360) 4171145Star Drums & Lady Keys (206) 522-2779

John Stephan Band (206) 244-0498Chris Stevens’ Surf Monkeys (206) 236-0412

Stickshift Annie Eastwood (206) 522-4935Alice Stuart & the Formerlys (360) 753-8949

Richard Sysinger (206) 412-8212Annette Taborn (206) 679-4113

Dudley Taft (206)795-6509Tahoma Tones (253)851-6559

Ten Second Tom (509) 954-4101Tone Kings (425) 698-5841

Too Slim & the Taildraggers (425) 891-4487Leanne Trevalyan (253)238-7908Tim Turner Band (206) 271-5384

T-Town Aces (206)935-8985Two Scoops Combo (206) 933-9566

Unbound (425)212-7608 Uncle Ted Barton (253) 627-0420

Nick Vigarino’s Meantown Blues (360) 387-0374Tommy Wall (206) 914-9413

Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks (360) 652-0699 /(425) 327-0944

Charles White Revue (425) 327-0018Mark Whitman Band (206) 697-7739

Michael Wilde (425) 672-3206 / (206) 200-3363Rusty Williams (206) 282-0877

Hambone Wilson (360) 739-7740C.D. Woodbury (425) 502-1917

Beth Wulff Band (206) 367-6186, (206) 604-2829

Washington Blues Society Talent Guide

I’ve read in the newspapers that our economy needs to be stimulated. I’m 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 year’s 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 year’s Taste of Music. Like many fans of live music, I came into town a little early and got a beer at Mardini’s. 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 Stewart’s 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 Sunday’s 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 Stewart’s 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

When the Washington Blues S ociety ’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 Mardini’s, Stewart’s, The Oxford, The Repp, Grilla Bites, and those downtown antique stores… if we spend our money locally, we’ll help stimulate the local economy.

I can’t think of a better way than to support local live music events like the Taste of Music. Again, I’m 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.

Economic Stimulus 101: This Year’s Taste of Music in Snohomish

By Robert Horn

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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 harm’s way for the Department of the Army and Department of Defense as a civilian.

Blues music has always been in Rocky’s life. From Kalispell to Kabul, and from Clarkston to Clarksdale, Rocky Nelson has always enjoyed what Morgan Freeman has called “America’s 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 Everett’s 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.” “It’s 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 Rocky’s 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 “she’s such a sweet person and so fun to interview, I can’t thank

her enough for all those shout outs to the troops she gave that night!”

“I actually started the program to help bring Steve Simon’s “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. He’s 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 can’t 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, “It’s good to be home. I’m 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 he’s 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!

Rocky NelsonComing Home to the Highway 99 Blues Club

By Randy Oxford

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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 don’t 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

all. I thought I heard some new songs, and in the beer garden I heard other people say “Hey, that’s 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 “I’d 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.

There was out-of-town talent and as this event grows the visiting acts may have even bigger

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

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 don’t 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.

Blues for Food By Robert Horn Photos by the Blues Boss

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This past April, Carolyn and I sat next to Mitch Kasmar’s 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 Mitch’s Nickels & Dimes, and I told him that it was also my first published CD review in Marlee Walker’s Blues To Do Monthly. Mitch opened the show with the title track with a shout out to me. Right from the get go, Kevin’s band of Jimi Bott and Allen Markel was tight and funky, Kevin’s 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 Didn’t 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 King’s “Feel Like Breakin’ Up Somebody’s 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 Walter’s 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 aren’t 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 Bott’s drum solo showed why he’s been nominated Best Drummer 13 times for a Blues Music Award. Bass player Allen Markel’s 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 Kevin’s 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 haven’t talked to Randy Chortkoff at Delta Groove yet, I don’t 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 didn’t 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.

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 Walter’s, 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 haven’t done yet.

MK: Well you got me on this one. Probably a Lou Rawls thing (Interviewer’s 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, that’s a hard question, let me think about that one a bit. (Interviewer’s note: We never did get back to this before he had to leave. I’d love to continue this conversation with Mr. Kashmar). WBS: What’s 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 band’s 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 isn’t 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. Isn’t 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.

Kevin Selfe & the Tornadoes with Mitch KashmarLive at the Highway 99 Blues Club!

By Malcolm Kennedy Photos by Jef Jaisun

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

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