Entries by Greg Johnson

John Nemeth

Memphis Grease
Blue Corn Music

John Nemeth CD coverIn a recent show, John Nemeth explained how he became a songwriter. While performing in a harmonica summit in Portland, he was on the bill with the late Paul deLay. After playing a handful of classic blues cover tunes by people like Little Walter, deLay spoke to Nemeth and told him he had done a great job, but if he ever wanted to get anywhere in the business he needed to start creating his own original music. Nemeth took this to heart. In a big way. After all, deLay was not only an exceptionally scary …

Lisa Mann

Move On
Self Produced

Lisa Mann CD coverLisa Mann’s last album, Satisfied, was one of those rising star releases that propelled her and The Really Good Band into the attention of those far out-reaching the Pacific Northwest. The numbers on that disc were prominently featured in her International Blues Challenge semi-final appearance and she has since been featured alongside pals like Diane Blue in Boston and with Karen Lovely on tours to Europe, showcased at the huge Sin City Blues Festival in Las Vegas and a short national tour called ‘Til The Wheels Come Off. So how do you follow-up on a highly …

Mississippi Studios Presents An Evening with The Holmes Brothers

The Holmes Brothers – Wendell Holmes (guitarist/pianist/vocalist/songwriter), Sherman Holmes (bassist/ vocalist/songwriter) and brother-in-spirit Popsy Dixon (drummer/vocalist) – are true treasures of American roots music. For 35 years, The Holmes Brothers’ joyous and moving blend of blues, gospel, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and country has been captivating audiences around the world. Their spine-tingling three-part harmony singing, mixing Wendell’s gruff and gravelly vocals with Popsy’s soaring falsetto and Sherman’s rich baritone, brings the spirit of gospel-inflected deep soul music into every song they perform. Equally gripping is the rhythmic foundation laid down by Sherman’s bass playing and Popsy’s drumming, perfectly complementing …

Gabriel Cox

Gabriel Cox
Self Produced

Gabriel Cox CD coverThere are a lot of talented musicians out there today that have come to be categorized under the heading of Americana or Roots Music. It is a broad label that encompasses a variety of music, most of it with some form of blues base behind it. Unfortunately a lot of terrific artists seem to get lost due to this, because people just cannot see the connection or because it is too diverse in the multitudes of directions that have been thrown under the heading. But there are many exceptional artists who deserve to be heard. Some …

Tess Barr

Do What You Want
Barrbarian Records

Tess Barr CD coverHere is proof that not all blues happening in the State of Oregon comes from along the I-5 corridor. For the past thirty years Tess Barr has been mixing things up out in the Columbia River Gorge, blending her early exposures to country & western and her love of rock in her teens into her own blues format that has made her a favorite act in the clubs around Hood River and The Dalles. Tess has recently released a new CD titled Do What You Want that should make those fans very happy and …

Matthew Curry & The Fury at Lola’s Room, with Sonny Hess Opening

At just 18 years old, young blues-rock slinger Matthew Curry has been receiving a great deal of acclaim as the next bright star amongst guitar heroes. Possessing mature vocals and a true knack for awe-inspiring guitar work that belies his age, Matthew Curry and his band The Fury have been amassing a great deal of recognition over the past couple of years. Now touring in support of his second release, Electric Religion, he has traveled across the country, playing major festivals such as the Chicago Blues Festival, Telluride, Mississippi Valley Blues Festival and King Biscuit Blues Festival. He has performed …

A Benefit For Tom Royer

benefit for tom royerTom Royer has provided the city with a steady back beat for quite some time, playing with many of the local blues community’s elite artists, especially behind his wife Lily Wilde. For a while now Tom has been living with pulmonary fibrosis and is in serious need of a lung transplant. So with the help of his wealth of friends, there will be a benefit show taking place at Duff’s Garage on Sunday, March 16th, to help raise what we can to assist with Tom’s receiving a new lung.

The show will start at 5:00 pm, with a …

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

Wednesday, March 5th – 7:00 pm
Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Opening Acoustic Set – Ralph Broqvist & Jim Wallace
Second Electric Set – Kenny Kofler & The Third Power

We want to apologize for canceling the meeting in February at the last minute. We did not foresee the inclement weather that decided to hit town that day and pretty much close  everything down for the following few days after. But it is better safe than sorry when this happens and after speaking with The Melody Ballroom and the performers it was considered the best option for …

3rd Annual Inner City Blues Festival: “Healing the Health Care Blues” – April 5th

The Inner City Blues Festival: Healing the Healthcare Blues was created three years ago to help benefit the growing campaign for Health Care for All Oregon (www.hcao.org). The mission is to provide no cost health care to all Oregonians, young and old. Everybody’s In, Nobody’s Out! This event is aimed at furthering the goal while at the same time being the party of the year to attend!

Performers at this year’s event will include: Norman Sylvester Band featuring LaRhonda Steele, Duffy Bishop Band, The Strange Tones with The Volcano Vixens, Boogie Cat Blues Guitar Explosion with Lloyd Jones …

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Jimmy Mak’s Welcomes Back Janiva Magness

“One of the most fiery and original vocalists in contemporary blues and soul…thoughtful, inventive and almost unerringly on the money.” – Mojo Magazine

One of the blues most electrifying entertainers, Janiva Magness returns to Portland for what is sure to be another spell-binding performance at Jimmy Mak’s on Thursday, March 6th. The awards and accolades attributed to Magness keep piling up, as in this last year alone she was honored with the Living Blues Readers’ Award for Blues Artist of the Year and took home two Blues Music Awards for Female Artist of the Year and Song of …