Entries by Greg Johnson

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

Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland

Wednesday, September 4th, 7:00 pm

Members always Free – Non-members $3.00

Opening Acoustic Set – David Pinsky & Phil Newton

Second Electric Set – Simplistic Soles

Alright, so we’re rolling into the Fall after a fantastic summer filled with all sorts of great blues music. But there’s no reason to stop going out to see blues music because the weather may be changing. In fact, it should be even more in mind. And living here in the Pacific Northwest, our own little blues mecca, we can certainly catch superb blues musicians …

David Gogo

Come On Down
Cordova Bay Records

David Gogo CD coverCanadian blues rocker David Gogo has released his thirteenth album with Come On Down, continuing on his path of creating exceptional music that features his sizzling guitar work and smooth soulful vocals. The new disc was inspired greatly by a pilgrimage that Gogo took to the Mississippi Delta where he soaked in the history of the blues as well as the landscape and its people. It is not all seen as positive revelations, but takes a realistic view on the worn down buildings, the poverty and otherwise not so glamorous, while still maintaining that …

Clay Swafford

Clay Swafford CD coverRooster
Lost Cause Records

Clay Swafford is like a throw-back to days of yore. This 30-year-old red-headed youngster can lay down piano playing as if he were a direct descendant of Otis Spann, Jimmy Yancey, Roosevelt Sykes, Pinetop Perkins and Memphis Slim all rolled into one. And in many ways, he just may be. Swafford has the knowledge of the blues and it comes rolling across the keys every time he steps to a piano. For somebody who has been gaining notoriety for a number of years, working on stage alongside artists like Bob Margolin, Hubert Sumlin, Paul Oscher and …

Mighty Mike Schermer

Be Somebody
Finedog Records

Mike Schermer CD cover           Mighty Mike Schermer has been a mainstay amongst the elite musicians of the Bay Area for the past two decades, building a name for himself as one of the top guitarists around if you require somebody with the right knack to fill all your needs. He’s been doing so for some of the best over that time, including Elvin Bishop, Bonnie Raitt, Howard Tate and Charlie Musselwhite to drop just a few names. He has also put out five recordings under his own name, with his latest, Be Somebody, standing high above them all and perhaps …

Long Tall Deb

Raise Your Hands
VizzTone Records

Long Tall Deb CD coverOriginally from El Paso, Texas, vocalist Long Tall Deb Landolt moved to Columbus, Ohio a few years back where she instantly became a part of the city’s wealth of blues talent.  Her debut recording for the VizzTone label features many of that city’s most renowned artists as well as a bevy of others from across the country. The album, Raise Your Hands, is a sensational collection showcasing the collaboration between herself, keyboardist John Popovich and bass player Melvin Powe that had built through a standing Wednesday night idea gathering meet.

Raise Your Hands offers ten …

Super Group Southern Hospitality To Make Portland Debut! Sept. 6th

Southern Hospitality press photo  Dubbed by some critics as an upcoming “Southern blues-rock super group,” Southern Hospitality is breathing new life into revered music idioms for the next generation and have been compared to acts like The Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker Band and Little Feat. Big time accolades without doubt, but when you have a core group that’s made up of lap steel guitarist Damon Fowler, guitarist extraordinaire JP Soars and the 2013 Blues Music Award winning keyboard wizard Victor Wainwright, sparks are sure to fly every time they hit a stage.  They share much love for the songs of the South. The hot …

Jamming For Jackson Lee – Sept. 15th

Former Cascade Blues Association President and long-time Board Member Jackson Lee has inoperable esophagus cancer and is terminal. His friends at The Trails End Saloon have put together a special benefit to help raise money for non-medical expenses such as his need to relocate to a new home, rent and other various expenses that are not covered by his Veterans medical benefits. This event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 15th.

Confirmed acts for this benefit at this time are The Rae Gordon Band, Bill Rhoades & The Party Kings, Megan James, Albert Reda, Scott Bouck, …

Music Fest NW Brings Charles Bradley & Shuggie Otis To The Crystal Ballroom – Sept. 7th

As  part of the annual Music Fest NW this season, the powerful double bill of soul man Charles Bradley and funky bluesman Shuggie Otis will be appearing at The Crystal Ballroom on Saturday, September 7th.

Charles Bradley is a soulful R&B crooner and formerly a James Brown impersonator whose career is skyrocketing following a brilliant performance at SXSW in Austin. He has led a rough life as chronicled in the film Soul Of America, but he knows how to capture an audience with his dynamic stage appeal.

Shuggie Otis is the guitar playing son of R&B legendary band …

An Encore Performance From The 44s – Sept. 14th

 

Just a few short weeks following their last show at Duff’s Garage, Los Angeles-based blues-roots band The 44s will be making a return trip for an encore performance on Saturday, September 14th. This is a group of road dogs, constantly on the move across the country and they have found a huge following in Portland, making it one of their favorite stops.  Their outstanding blend of Chicago and West Coast styled blues driven by the sizzling guitar and vocals of Johnny Main alongside harmonica master Tex Nakamura is without doubt some of the hottest material stemming from …

Toney Rocks, Solo Performance at Duff’s Garage – Sept. 16th

Toney Rocks press photoToney Rocks has been described as having the “soul of the blues…”, being “A cross between John Lee Hooker and Albert King”. But, according to Toney Rocks, “I’m much more than a blues cliche’. My sound is progressive and channels influences from country, arena rock, electronic, and world music.” Diving into the abyss of blues rooted rock music, delivering a bold hybrid of high energy music peppered with electronic elements, his show has earned comparisons by fans to jazz fusion great, Jean Luc Ponty and soul blues giant, Robert Cray.

Mentored by American folk hero, David Bromberg, Toney Rocks is …