Kim Wilson & The Fabulous Thunderbirds Perform In Bend For Scholarship Program

Kim Wilson & The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Kim Wilson & The Fabulous ThunderbirdsFor over 30 years, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the quintessential American band. The group’s distinctive and powerful sound, influenced by a diversity of musical styles, evolved into a unique musical hybrid via such barnburners as “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap It Up.” Co-founder Kim Wilson, the sole original member, still spearheads the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation.

“We started as a straight blues band,” vocalist and harmonica player Wilson explains. “We now incorporate a mixture of a lot of different styles. We’re an American music band and we’re much higher energy than we were before.”

In addition to Wilson, the current Thunderbirds line-up features Jay Moeller on drums, Johnny Moeller and Mike Keller on guitar, and Randy Bermudes on bass.

The Umpqua Bank Band Together for Scholarships Benefit presents The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson at the Tower Theatre, 835 Wall Street in Bend. Tickets are $39.00 to $59.00 and can be purchased at Tickets.towertheatre.org.  Bring your cell phones and participate via mobile bidding in the silent auction throughout the evening.  All proceeds from the event are awarded as scholarships to graduates from Central Oregon high schools who demonstrate a serious commitment to a career in healthcare.  Also appearing will be special guest Doc Ryan and the Whychus Creek Band.

Sista Otis Schedules Two Oregon Appearances

Sista Otis

Sista Otis“She has enough power to fuel a fire and enough soul to make James Brown proud” – The Detroit News

Sista Otis is a good-god-all-mighty force of nature! A songwriting/soul singing prophetess of rock & roll, highly acclaimed by the critics and with a wall full of awards, whose voice pumps out 100% proof soul-shine so warm and good, it’ll make you throw your hands up and shout! Sista Otis cut her teeth as a traveling street kid musician, writing and performing her own songs for pocket change, and now has become a national touring artist. Born in Detroit and raised in New Orleans, Sista Otis has been named one of the top 10 indie artists to see live in America. The Windy City Times described Otis this way: “ . . . with the feverish fervor of a faith healer, Otis rolls through a series of songs that sound as if she were baptized in funk, modern rock and the blues, bringing the listener to the brink of testifying.” Her raw, honest, folksy, bluesy, gospel gumbo of rock ‘n’ roll fits perfectly in today’s musical scene.

Sista Otis will be touring through Oregon in October, making three stops throughout the state. It all starts on Thursday, October 12 in Portland at the O’Neill Public House, 6000 NE Glisan Street. She will be joined by blues harmonica player  Sky Berns. Showtime is 8:30 pm.

On Friday, October 13, Sista Otis heads down river to Salem where she’ll be appearing at Venti’s Café, 2840 Commercial Street SE, at 6:30 pm.

Then on Saturday, October 14, she will be heading to Southern Oregon for an appearance at The Sound Lounge, 225 Southeast H Street, in Grants Pass. Show time is 8:00 pm.

The Portland Blues Cruise Returns To Help Raise Funds For CBA Acts Heading To The IBC

Portland Spirit of Portland Blues Cruise

Portland Spirit of Portland Blues CruiseA few years back, the Rae Gordon Band, while seeking a way to raise funds to help it pay for its trip to Memphis representing the Cascade Blues Association at the International Blues Challenge, hit upon the idea of organizing a concert on the Portland Spirit, Portland Blues Cruise. The event was extremely successful, and Rae decided to make it an annual event to help subsequent acts representing the CBA and the region in Memphis at the IBC.

The 2017 version of the Portland Blues Cruise will take to the Willamette on Saturday, October 7 and will feature the 2017 IBC third-place finishers The Rae Gordon Band as headliners along with all three acts representing the Cascade Blues Association in January 2018: Sister Mercy, Julie Amici Duo, and Timothy James & The Portland Blues Revival.

Tickets for this year’s event can be found at Brownpapertickets.com for $25.00. Tickets, if still available, can be purchased pre-boarding for $30.00. Boarding starts at 1:30 pm at Tom McCall Waterfront Park at the Salmon Springs fountain off SW Naito Parkway. The cruise will depart at 2:00 pm. Food and beverages are available on board.

McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom Welcomes JD McPherson

JD McPherson

JD McPhersonJD McPherson could be mistaken for a revivalist given how few other contemporary artists are likely to assert, as he boldly does, that “’Keep a Knockin’ by Little Richard is the best record ever made.” But in a very real sense, McPherson is much more a pioneer than roots resuscitator. He’s knocking at the door of something that arguably hasn’t yet been accomplished— a spirited, almost spiritual hybrid that brings the forgotten lessons from the earliest days of rock & roll into a future that has room for the modernities of studio technique and 21st century singer/songwriter idiosyncrasies that Richard Penniman would not recognize.  As a visual artist, McPherson is well versed in the process of working within clearly defined formal parameters, and he employs a similarly rigorous discipline with his music. His music will satisfy traditional American rock ’n’ roll and R&B purists while also exhibiting McPherson’s rarefied gift for mixing and matching disparate stylistic shapes and textures.

JD McPherson, who was a highly praised act at this past summer’s Waterfront Blues Festival, will be returning to town for a show at McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom on Thursday, October 5. His newest release will hit stores world-wide on October 6, so expect many new selections to be presented at this show. Tickets can be purchased at Cascadetickets.com for $22.00. Opening the show will be singer-songwriter Nikki Lane. The Crystal Ballroom is located at 1332 W Burnside. Show time is 8:00 pm.

2017 Acoustic Blues Masters Concert

Gorge Acoustic Blues Masters

Gorge Acoustic Blues MastersIt’s too late to jump into the workshops at this year’s Blues in the Gorge, but that doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on the magic of the four staff instructors — Mary Flower, Guy Davis, Orville Johnson, and Valerie Turner — all sensational and renowned masters on the acoustic guitar at the annual Acoustic Blues Masters Concert.

The Menucha Retreat & Conference Center will host this year’s concert and workshops, and The Cascade Blues Association is cosponsoring the event, which is open to the public. For convenience, this year’s concert will be held in Corbett, which allows everyone to remain at the retreat rather then come into Portland for the performance. It will take place on Sunday, October 1 at 7:00 pm at the Corbett Grange Hall (Columbia Grange #267), 37493 NE Grange Hall Rd. Tickets are $15.00 in advance through the Menucha.org website or $20.00 at door. Blues in the Gorge participants are free.

Canadian Blues At Its Best — Catfish Lou’s hosts JW-Jones Band

JW-Jones Band

JW-Jones BandAward-winning JW-Jones is one of the hottest blues acts in Canada. A stellar guitarist and songwriter with nine CDs under his belt, including High Temperature, named the best self-produced CD by The Blues Foundation at this year’s International Blues Challenge.  Jones has been a perennial nominee for Canada’s Juno Awards and has reached Billboard’s top ten for blues artists multiple times. Known for his energy shows, he has opened for such renowned acts as Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, and Canned Heat as well as headlining venues and festivals across North America.

It has been a number of years since JW-Jones last brought his band to Portland and he is an act to catch whenever the opportunity arises. He will be returning to Portland for one night only at Catfish Lou’s on Monday, October 2 for a FREE 7:00 pm show. Catfish Lou’s is located at 2460 NW 24th Avenue. Make plans to be there early because this is a show that should definitely fill the house.

Rising Blues Artist Toney Rocks Back in Oregon

Toney Rocks

Toney RocksSinger-songwriter, Toney Rocks delivers intimate and diverse concerts featuring his soulful singing while supported by acoustic guitars, ukulele, and piano. The Las Vegas Weekly recently named Rocks as one of ten Las Vegas Artists to Watch in 2017. His engaging songwriting is steeped in folk, blues, and rock influences, which led to Toney Rocks sharing the stage as a guest with folk music legend David Bromberg. In addition to headlining concerts around the U.S., Rocks has opened for artists such as Corey Harris and Jarekus Singleton. With three albums under his belt, his latest album, 2016’s No Road Too Long, was recored at the famous Las Vegas Tone Factory studio with Vinnie Castaldo occupying the producer’s chair. Rock’s latest single is “Run to the Night.”

On Monday, October 4, Toney Rocks will be bringing his “Soul-stirring acoustic Americana show to the Hood River Library, 502 State Street, at 7:00 pm. This is a free show.

Toney Rocks then returns to the Portland area for a performance at The Fremont Theater, 2393 NE Fremont Street, on Tuesday, October 5 at 8:00 pm. This is an all ages event and admission at the door is $5.00

Bay Area Slide Guitarist Dennis Johnson Celebrates New Disc With Two Local Shows

Dennis Johnson

Dennis JohnsonSan Francisco area based slide guitar master Dennis Johnson has released a new album, Rhythmland, and he’ll be heading to the Portland area soon to celebrate his new disc. Johnson explores Americana, roots, blues, Latin, rock, swing, and folk rhythms with improvisational sections within his diverse music. He discovered his musically calling at a young age when the sounds of Chuck Berry enchanted and motivated him to teach himself slide guitar. Continuing his pursuit of the music, he came across the works of Robert Johnson, Honeyboy Edwards, Roy Rogers, and Norton Buffalo and was hooked for life. Nowadays he is often compared to those very guitarists who inspired him. Many respected media outlets have praised Johnson as an “absolutely superb guitarist” (BBC Radio), “one of the best slide guitarists” (Blues Byte Magazine) and a “must see performer” (Modesto View Magazine).

Dennis Johnson and his band, The Mississippi Ramblers, will be appearing at Mcmenamin’s White Eagle Saloon, 836 N Russell Street, on Tuesday, October 10, starting at 8:00 pm.

On Wednesday, October 11, the group will be in Wilsonville at McMenamin’s Old Church, 30340 SW Boones Ferry Road. Show time is 7:00 pm.

Both shows are free and open to 21 & over only.

Revolution Hall Presents North Mississippi Allstars

North Mississippi Allstars

North Mississippi AllstarsFounded by brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson in 1996, the North Mississippi Allstars begin their third decade as the leaders of the modern Hill Country sound of Northern Mississippi following in the path of renown bluesmen like Fred McDowell, RL Burnside, Otha Turner and Junior Kimbrough. Their combination of a deep, soulful mix of blues and Southern rock has spread their sound around the world and is brilliantly exemplified with their latest recording, Prayer For Peace, which is already receiving accolades as their best yet.

The band is currently touring in support of the new album and will be hitting the stage at Revolution Hall in Portland on Saturday, October 14. This is an all ages event (minors permitted in the balcony only) with tickets available through Ticketfly.com for $22.00 general admission. Revolution Hall is located at 1300 SE Stark Street. Show time is 9:00 pm.

 

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band Invites Us To The Front Porch

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn BandReverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band is America’s foremost country blues outfit and critics are already having their latest release, The Front Porch Sessions, as career-defining. Reverend Peyton himself is a larger-than-life, compelling performer and a persuasive evangelist for the rootsy styles that inspired the band. Their original music is as passionate and authentic as the vintage blues numbers they cover. There’s a lot of sound that comes from this amazing acoustic trio with the Reverend Peyton on guitar, Breezy Peyton on washboard, and Maxwell Senteney laying down the beat on a suitcase drum set.

The band will be playing two nights in Oregon, with the first taking place at The Volcanic Theater Pub in Bend on Thursday, October 12. Tickets are $15.00 available at Bendticket.com. This is an all ages show. The Volcanic Theater Pub is located at 70 SW Century Drive.

The next night, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band will appear in Portland at Dante’s, 350 W Burnside Street at 9:00 pm. Tickets are $12.00 through Ticket.com. This is a 21 & over show.