West Coast Toast Tour With Mitch Kashmar and Jr. Watson

Join blues masters Mitch Kashmar and Jr. Watson for one of the hottest shows of the summer celebrating Kashmar’s most recent recording, West Coast Toast, at one of Portland’s newest music venues, Mekong Bistro.

Mitch Kashmar’s blues harp playing is second to none for creativity, drive and excitement. Moving on to a solo career and recording “Crazy Mixed-Up World” in ’99, Kashmar started making a name for himself and touring with his own band but it wasn’t until his 2005 effort “Nickels & Dimes”, featuring guitar great Junior Watson on Delta Groove Music’s label, that his stock really began to rise. Kashmar was recognized two consecutive years in a row by the Blues Music Awards with nominations in 2006 as Best New Artist Debut and followed in 2007 as Best Instrumentalist – Harmonica. Adding to his resume was his stint in the Lonnie Jordan/Jerry Goldstein version of War from  2006-2011, where he recreated  the soulful licks of War’s original harp player, the great Lee Oskar.

With nearly thirty years of experience, Junior Watson has reached cult status. Junior has done what all great artists have done: melting diverse styles to create a style all his own. With influences as diverse as Tiny Grimes, Oscar Moore, Bill Jennings, Rene Hall, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Jimmy Rogers, Eddie Taylor, Guitar Slim, Earl Hooker and others he has truly created one of the most unique and original guitar voices to come along in years. Besides his mastery of blues and swing he often adds his own cartoon-like twist to everything he plays. You’ll never know what he will do and when asked he doesn’t know himself. His energy and playing gives you a feeling of reckless abandonment.

The pair will be performing at Mekong Bistro, 8200 NE Siskiyou Street Suite 107 on Wednesday, August 29. Tickets for this all ages event are $20.00 advance through Tickettomato.com or $25.00 at the door. Show time is 8:30 pm.