August 2017 - Cascade Blues Association

What’s on Tap for September’s General Membership Meeting …

General Membership Meeting Slated for Wednesday, December 5

Catfish Lou’s, 2460 NW 24th Ave, Portland
Wednesday, September 6 – 7:00 pm
Members always Free ~ Non-members $5.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Mick Schafer & Friends
Second Electric Set – Rose City Kings

Last month was our first membership meeting at Catfish Lou’s, and the room was packed. Despite temperatures soaring above 100 degrees. I truly feel that the heat kept some of the members that would normally attend away, so if the weather is cooler this month plan on arriving early because tables and room near the stage will probably fill up quickly.

Please note that with this new format our meetings will need to end about fifteen minutes earlier than they have in the past. This is to accommodate the jam that has been scheduled there prior to our arrival, and the necessary time for stage change-over. We’re the new kids at the venue so we plan on making everybody happy. Big thanks to Robbie Laws and the guys for fitting us into their night, and also to Marty Henninger and Ed Neumann who have graciously decided to make things easier for the change time have offered to bring their drums and keyboards for us to use. Marty did this last month and worked out terrifically!

Opening the night will be local guitarist and songwriter Mick Schafer who may be best recognized as one of the co-founders and leaders of the band Tree Top Tribe. He discovered his love for music when he was young. Mick noted that he “really heard my singing voice for the first time in the 8th grade choir at Our Lady of the Valley Church. A couple kids in the pew ahead of me turned around, surprised as I was….. something emotional and resonant.” He continued his path, explaining that “later, when I quit school and traveled around Europe performing, I got used to playing in front of audiences. Much later and after fronting for Blackberry Jam and, currently Tree Top Tribe, I am playing solo shows as well.”

Though our opening sets are usually totally acoustic, we have strayed on occasion. Mick told us that he’d put together a small group of friends to help out on the night and boy howdy did he ever. Starting off with guitarist Jason “JT” Thomas who just performed for us as a solo act last month, we all know that JT has worked with both Franco Paletta and Lisa Mann the past few years showcasing his guitar prowess. From the Thunder Brothers bassist Timmer Blakely will hold down the pace and drive of the band. Timmer has been a frequent performer with several projects that Mick has thrown together recently. And filling out the group will be guitarist (yes three guitar players!) Ken Scandlyn. Usually Ken would be found touring the country as a member of Shemekia Copeland’s band, but during a current break in his schedule he will joining Mick and the guys for what is certain to be a powerfully entertaining opening set for our meeting.

For the second set of the night, don’t expect anything to slow down as one of the strongest and most popular acts in Portland will be taking over the stage, the Rose City Kings. When the band first formed back in 2002 they quickly established their spot amongst the elite blues acts in Portland, garnering multiple awards and accolades not only from the Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Awards, but high recognition from well-renowned press outlets like Real Blues magazine.

After taking a hiatus from music, band leader Dan Berkerey decided to bring the group back together about a year ago and they have been hitting the best stages and West Coast festivals since. Dan is an exceptional songwriter and guitarist, but with the new incarnation of the band he brought together some of the city’s best musicians, Louisiana-bred pianist Steve Kerin, the electric David Lipkind who has worked his harmonica magic with many bands in Portland, original Rose City King bassist Tim Shaughnessy, vocalist and percussionist Katy Oberg, and drummer Gary Keeney who first hooked up with Dan when the band performed under the name Kolvane. The group released their most recent album, A Love So Strong, about a year ago which has been called a homage to music, love and life.

When it comes to performing, Dan explained about the band and their quest: “My focus is ensuring that we keep what makes Rose City Kings special – whether you’re playing a Rose City Kings album or coming to a live performance, it’s a great and memorable experience.” And you’re sure to get that same perspective at our September meeting.

It’s a great night each and every month. And now that we’re holding court at Catfish Lou’s you have the opportunity to sample their food selections from their Southern themed menu. Plus we’ll still be having our free ticket drawing and winner-take-all multiple CD raffle. So don’t miss out on any of our meetings, especially this month because it is going to be a big time fun night!

Ramblings On My Mind – September 2017

Ramblings

Greg Johnson / CBA President

Goodbye Melody Ballroom and thank you. Well, we knew that the day was probably going to come eventually, and it did for us in late July, just a couple weeks prior to our August meeting. We met with the manager of The Melody Ballroom and learned that in order to remain being able to use the room for our monthly meetings we would have to take on a rental fee each month. At this time, it just is not feasible for us to do so. We had just held a large 30th anniversary concert at The Crystal Ballroom in order to help us raise funds to keep the organization financially stable to get by, so absorbing this extra expense would become a hardship for us.

Fortunately for us, Michelle Bean stepped in and has given us the use of Catfish Lou’s for our meetings. Though the room is smaller and we cannot have all ages, it is very much appreciated as it allows us to keep our meetings going on as originally scheduled, with the exception of having to replace a couple under-age acts. We will work on finding a way to showcase them, however.

The Melody Ballroom was home for the CBA monthly meetings for more than 25 years, all donated to us by the original owner Kathleen Kaad. That same set-up was given to us the past six months by the new owners, but with the expenses they are incurring with the purchase of the building and renovations, they simply were not making enough to cover their expenses being open to us for our dates.

It is a huge loss to us, but in the long run we cannot be angry by this decision. 25 years is a long time and very generous. The Kaads and the staff became like family to our group and we will miss them. But we will always have amazing memories of the times we had at The Melody Ballroom.

The list of artists who performed at our meetings there is lengthy. A virtual who’s who of the Portland blues community over those years. We also had performers who would travel from places like Seattle, Spokane, Eugene, Northern California, Idaho and every point between. National artists like Geoff Achison asked to play for our meeting, as well as Ralph Borqvist of the Blueass Blues Band from Sweden.

Not only are there memories of our meetings that took place there, but also the Muddy Awards and special events that we held and those that we helped co-sponsor. We had the CBA’s 25th anniversary and a Blues in the Schools fundraiser show there. We numerous touring musicians like Little Charlie & The Nightcats, James Harman, Floyd Dixon, Earl King, Brandon Santini and Sean Carney to name a few. We sponsored Bill Rhoades annual Harmonica Summit events, the Inner City Blues Festival and helped promote others such as a concert with the late Michael Burks.

We truly had a tremendous relationship with The Melody, and even at one point being offered space to rent for our offices when we had to move. They enjoyed having us that much. And they still wanted us to be there each month. We simply cannot afford it. But we will be back for this year’s Muddy Awards show. It may be a little different due to the reconstruction of the upper ballroom, but it is going to take place there rest assured.

It is sad to leave a home that we have had for so long. But we are thankful for all the time and the memories they have provided us. We will continue to make memories with our meetings. It’s just another chapter in the life of the CBA. Thank you to everyone at The Melody Ballroom, past and present.

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats

CD Review

Groovin’ In Greaseland
Alligator Records

Anybody who has listened to Rick Estrin over the past few decades already knows that this man is perhaps the most witty songwriter in the blues. He has a gifted craft for spinning words that are humorous and stinging, full of wit. Oh, and he’s a pretty mean harmonica player, too! All of that is once again evident in the latest release from Rick Estrin & The Nightcats titled “Groovin’ In Greaseland. The Nightcats are definitely one of the most talented blues bands going when you consider guitar master Kid Andersen, longtime keyboardist Lorenzo Farrell and drummer Alex Petersen pulling out no stops in their performances alongside Estrin’s harp and vocals. The bass licks are handled by various players including Joe Kyle Jr on half a dozen tracks, Jerry Jemmott and Kid Andersen covering three apiece and Robby Yamilov on one.

It is very fortunate for the band to have Andersen as a key member as he is also the owner, producer, mixer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, dish-washer, and all-around do-it-all guy at one of the finest recording studios going, Greaseland Studios in San Jose. Plenty of musicians in Northern California always seem to be on hand when needed at the studio and we see people like Nancy Wright, Kyle Jester, Aki Kumar and Terry Hanck all among those dropping by to lend a hand with this recording.

The album opens with a commentary letting everybody know that “The Blues Ain’t Going Nowhere.” Estrin churns this number out on a chromatic as he informs us all that there’s no reason about the genre dying as the blues is gonna live without even trying.

There are many typical Estrin lines that just fall natural in his mind. I was “Looking For A Woman” when I met you, so he’s no stranger to seeking somebody new, he just needs to put himself back into circulation. He states that he has seen more action than a Saturday night, but he isn’t bragging because “I Ain’t All That” but I’m alright. In “Big Money” he calls out those who feel that they have it all because they have the money to live a high life. They have a lot of class but he says it’s all low. In “Living Hand To Mouth” we have all been in this situation where we keep working hard for a living but we just can’t seem to get ahead. “Dissed Again” is another tale of not getting anywhere, maybe a little more personal for him this time as seen from a working musician’s view.

Groovin’ In Greaseland is everything that you have come to expect from Rick Estrin & The Nightcats. Memorable storytelling that rates amongst the best of Estrin’s career. Over the top musicianship from the entire band.; there are three instrumentals on this album and plenty more solo breaks that are more than convincing of that fact. Destined to become a favorite and one of the most popular albums of the year, expect to be hearing a lot of this broadcast on blues radio for months to come.

Total Time: 54:38

The Blues Ain’t Going Nowhere / Looking For A Woman / Dissed Again / Tender Hearted / Mwah! / I Ain’t All That / Another Lonesome Day / Hands Of Time / Cool Slaw / Big Money / Hot In Here / Living Hand To Mouth / So Long (for Jay P.)

Chicago Slickers – Various Artists

CD Review

Chicago Slickers
Nighthawk Records 102

“Once I had a woman, who treat me nice and kind. But these Chicago slickers make my baby change her mind.” — Guitar Pete Franklin

The charm of many blues anthologies lies in the fact that not only will they introduce you to important recordings you’ve never heard, but occasionally some you’ve never heard of. On this account, Chicago Slickers doesn’t disappoint.

This nifty little compilation walks us down some of the forgotten side streets and less-traveled back alleys of Chicago’s nascent post-war blues landscape between 1948 and 1953. It’s a terrific collection and includes several priceless recordings — a remarkable 1950 Little Walter rendition of “Just Keep Lovin’ Her” where Muddy Waters and Baby Face Leroy joins Walter for an animated performance that highlights Walter’s splendid musicianship. It’s easy to see why so many harmonica players look to Little Walter as their patron saint — his playing is at once subtle and majestic.

But “Just Keep Lovin’ Her” is far from the only highlight on this anthology. Arthur “Big Boy” Spires’s (father of the late harmonica player Bud Spires) performance of Big Joe Williams’s “About to Lose My Mind” from 1953 feature a marvelous vocal interpretation. Spires didn’t record too many tunes during his performing years — as far as I can tell, he held only three recording sessions, but after after listening to his sublime version of “About to Lose My Mind” it’s easy to wish that there had been many more.

If you’re looking to explore some rare recordings from the titans of early Chicago blues, this album should be on your itinerary.

Little Walter/ I Want My Baby — Floyd Jones/ School Days, Hard Times — Forest City Joe/

A Woman On Every Street — Little Walter/ Just Keep Lovin’ Her —John Brim/ Dark Clouds, Lonesome Man Blues —Earl Hooker/ Sweet Angel — Johnny Shines/ Ramblin’, Cool Driver —

Homesick James/ Lonesome Ole Train, Farmer’s Blues — Delta Joe/ Train Time — Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Spires/ About To Lose My Mind — Floyd Jones/ Early Morning — Robert Nighthawk/

Maggie Campbell.

Spirit Mountain Presents George Thorogood and The Destroyers Rock Party Tour

Past PDX Blues Event

Legendary rock band George Thorogood And The Destroyers has stormed the rock & roll charts for more than 40 years, and now the group is putting their talents to work by helping The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. Thorogood and the Destroyers will be donating $1 from each ticket sale of their “Rock Party Tour” to LLS. The tour will continue through September 16 at Oregon’s largest casino, Spirit Mountain Casino, in Grand Ronde, OR.

With more than four decades years of touring and recording, 15 million albums sold, and 8,000 live shows, George and his longtime band – Jeff Simon (drums, percussion), Bill Blough (bass guitar), Jim Suhler (rhythm guitar) and Buddy Leach (saxophone) – remain among the most relevant classic rock acts on tour today. The band has amassed a catalog of hits that includes “Who Do You Love,” “I Drink Alone,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “Move It On Over,” “Get A Haircut” and the anthemic, “Bad To The Bone.” The band has released sixteen studio albums – including six Gold and two Platinum discs on Rounder, EMI and Capitol – but it’s their powerhouse live performances that have made George Thorogood And The Destroyers legendary.

Spirit Mountain Casino is located at 27100 SW Salmon River Hwy, in Grande Ronde, OR. This 21 & over show starts at 7:00 pm and tickets can be purchased atspiritmountain.com with prices ranging from $31.00 to $51.00.

The Uptown Dance Party: BB King & Boogie Cat Birthday Celebration

Past PDX Blues Event

Join us for an evening of up-tempo, funky grooves with your dancing shoes while we celebrate the birthday of “The Boogie Cat” Norman Sylvester who shares the date with the late, great BB King, on Saturday, September 16.

If you ever have attended one of Norman’s Birthday parties… the room is transformed into a Southern Blues “Juke Joint” filled with special guests and surprises. For your dancing enjoyment, The Norman Sylvester Band will host the evening, featuring vocalist Lenanne Sylvester and saxophone master Renato Caranto honoring both the King of the Blues and our own local blues icon. There will be a free photo booth available, so make sure to dress to impress and put on your “uptown best.” There will be a limited food menu plus two full no host bars set up serving cocktails, a nice selection of wines, microbrews — and even champagne!

It all happens at The Adrianna Hill Ballroom located in heart of downtown Portland on the second floor of the Pythian Building, 918 SW Yamhill. It has a huge ballroom dance floor with a raised stage and a balcony. Plenty of parking nearby at Smart Park for $5.00 for the full night and a Max light rail stop is right outside the entrance door. Street parking is free after 7:00 pm.

Presented by Ron Beardon, tickets are available in advance through Tickettomato.com for $10.00. Admission at the door is $12.00. Show time begins at 7:00 pm.

Nathaniel Rateliff to Headline Widmer Brothers Oktoberfest

Past PDX Blues Event

Celebrating their thirteenth annual Oktoberfest, Widmer Brothers Brewing will be holding this year’s event in Pioneer Courthouse Square in the heart of downtown Portland on Saturday, September 30. The longest running Oktoberfest in the city will be bigger than ever featuring all of your favorite brews from Widmer, plus small-batch brews only available for the event. There will be plenty of music happening, too, with local bands and DJs and this year’s headliner Nathaniel Ratefliff & The Night Sweats.

The Denver-based band, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats’ popularity has been soaring the past couple of years, becoming an in-demand act at festivals and venues all around the country. Their style of Americana music blends a soulful mix of R&B, country, folk, and rock, and are perhaps best known for their hit single “SOB” from the band’s debut album.

Pioneer Courthouse Square is located at 701 SW 6^th Avenue. This is an all ages event (under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian), but you must be over 21 to purchase drink tokens. It all starts at 2:00 pm and runs until 10:00 pm. General admission tickets are $35.00 in advance ($40.00 day of show) and include a commemorative beer stein. Premium admission includes reserved viewing for the concert on an elevated area, access to a private speed bar, a commemorative stein and gift, and one free beverage for $75.00. There is also a Meet & Greet VIP admission for $150.00 that includes everything in the premium ticket as well as being able to meet Nathaniel Rateliff and the band, have a downloadable photo taken with them, and a VIP lanyard. A portion of the proceeds for the Meet & Greet admission will benefit Rock & Roll Camp for Girls. Tickets are available at Getmyperks.com.

Mick Kolassa & Mark Telesca

CD Review

You Can’t Do That! Acoustic Beatles Blues
Swingsuit Records

The music of the first British Invasion had a very distinct background based on influence from American blues and popular artists of the time. This is true with most of the bands that broke out, and The Beatles were no exception. And since theirs is perhaps one of the most loved and best-known collections of songs it’s easy to imagine when a group of musicians casually get together, just sitting facing each other while swapping a guitar back and forth and playing favorite songs that come to mind, The Beatles are likely to come up. Of course when you have two musicians get together like Mick Kolassa and Mark Telesca who are self-proclaimed Beatles fanatics, it’s just destined to occur. And being the true bluesmen that they are, they’re going to spin that flavor into the mix, too. This is exactly what happened with this pair and the more Beatles songs that they brought up, played in this bluesy manner obviously made them smile. And like an epiphany, the idea jumped into their minds to take this music into the studio.

Along with good friends Jeff Jensen, Eric Hughes, James Cunningham, Mark Franklin and Tommy Boroughs they dropped in at Cotton Row Studios in Memphis with a collection of songs from John Lennon and Paul McCartney and pieced together a work that is truly magical. The Beatles molded to the blues is not far-fetched when you think about it, and one listen to the eleven tracks offered is quite convincing that this pattern does work. Unlike a lot of tributes to The Beatles, they did not focus on the hits and the tracks are each given just the right mix to offer fresh takes while still being true to the originals.

Being true to that first sit-down trading the guitar back and forth, they recorded the album completely acoustic. It adds to the authenticity of the blues feeling and the guitar work on songs like “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Fixing A Hole,” “You Can’t Do That” or “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road” for example all strike home with a Delta-like emphasis. The blues can take a variety of directions, too, and that is not lost with the interpretations of some of these songs. Mark Franklin delivers a very distinct Bourbon Street Dixieland feeling on “I’ll Cry Instead” and later with a muted flugelhorn enhances “She’s A Woman” from the original quick-paced jumper to a slow blues. That slow down direction also works to perfection on the latter half of “Mean Mr. Mustard/Polythene Pam” with Telesca taking the brisk original to an emotional and haunting description of the titular character. Tommy Boroughs fiddle helps close out the album in a bluegrass delivery on “She Came In Through The Batroom Window.”

Some ideas are just natural fits. Taking on The Beatles in the blues direction that Mick Kolassa and Mark Telesca have done is exceptional. It works. There have been many variations of recreating The Beatles in tributes throughout the years, but this is one of the best. Just like Mick and Mark surely did when they first sat together tossing out favorite songs of The Beatles, this one will make you smile, too. Over and over again.

Total Time: 37:04

I’ll Cry Instead / Can’t Buy Me Love / I Feel Fine / Fixing A Hole / You Can’t Do That / Got To Get You Into My Life / Lady Madonna / Why Don’t We Do It In The Road / She’s A Woman / Mean Mr. Mustard – Polythene Pam / She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

Dustbowl Revival Brings Their Unique Americana Back To The Lake Theater

Past PDX Blues Event

It really says a lot about how amazing a band truly is when the LA Weekly names an Americana act the best live band to see in a city as musically diverse as Los Angeles. But that is exactly the title that they handed out to Dustbowl Revival. Fresh off their recent outstanding performance at the Waterfront Blues Festival in July, Dustbowl Revival returns to the Portland area for a show taking place at The Lake Theater & Café on Monday, September 11.

Music City Roots further describes a recent performance as: “We’ve had big brassy funky vintage soul-meets-country-blues bands before, but none has had more chair-by-chair excellence in musicianship, showmanship and vocal power than The Dustbowl Revival out of Los Angeles. They kicked off with a bit of Beale Street rumba blues then slid into a sharp and funky film noir vibe built on the acoustic bass of James Klopfleisch. He and the other instrumentalists showed incredible polish and schooling. But the band’s signature vibe radiates from lead vocalists Liz Beebe and Zach Lupetin. He is stylish and charismatic, with great rhythm. She’s a vocal powerhouse with shaky-shaky seductiveness. “

Don’t miss out on a band that is definitely on the rise. The Lake Theater & Café is located at 106 N State Street in Lake Oswego. Show time is 7:00 pm. Tickets are available at Laketheatercafe.com for $20.00 general admission or purchase a VIP table for four with seating right up close to the stage for $100.00.

Gov’t Mule Returns To Rock The Roseland

Past PDX Blues Event

Gov’t Mule is steeped in the roots and mystique of rock, blues, soul, and jazz. The quartet — Warren Haynes, Matt Abts, Danny Louis, and Jorgen Carlsson — is equally recognized for its stirring songwriting and storytelling as it is for the improvisational virtuosity that fuels their countless live performances. Their music has galvanized a fan base of millions around the world, reaching a place of preeminence as one of the most timeless, revered, and active bands in the world whose place among rock titans remains unshakable.

Touring in support of their latest release, Revolution Come … Revolution Go, Gov’t Mule returns to The Roseland Theater in Portland on Tuesday, September 19 for another certain- to-be-rocking night of music for an appreciative audience. Presented by Double Tee, this 21 & over event will take place at 8:00 pm. General admission tickets for the floor are $29.50 and reserved seating in the balcony is $40.00. Tickets can be purchased at Cascadetickets.com. The Roseland Theater is located at 8 NW 6^th Avenue.