Entries by Dude

Guitar Hero Albert Lee to play the Alberta Rose Theatre

Guitar Hero Albert Lee to play the Alberta Rose Theatre

 

Albert Lee - press photoOriginally from England, guitar master Albert Lee has worked with a who’s who of the best musicians in a variety of genres. He was first influenced by the sounds of British skiffle artist Lonnie Donegan and Americans like Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent, and later the sounds of Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Lee has worked with Chris Farlowe, Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, The Everly Brothers, Roseanne Cash and Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings amongst many others and at 70 years of age he shows no signs of letting up

The California Honeydrops

 

California Honeydrops CD coverLike You Mean It
Tubtone Records

Since their initial release, the Blues Music Award nominated Soul Tub, and despite line-up changes since, The California Honeydrops continue to grow as one of the West Coast’s leading party-enhancing outfits. Their style of blues incorporates soulful and funky rhythms, making it quite easy to shake your booty, too. In fact, they seem more like a displaced New Orleans band with their Mardi Gras second line approach to much of their material. Perhaps it’s the grooving horn lines on trumpet and sax intermixed with some tasty keyboards that does that trick. But it

Hank Shreve Band

Hank Shreve Band CD coverI’ve Had It
Boogie Boss Records

 

I’ve Had It is the debut release by the Hank Shreve Band, winners of the Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Award for Best New Band in 2012. It is exactly what you were hoping for. Fast paced rhythms being driven by a terrific band with Hank front and center on voice, keys and razor-sharp harmonica. There is jumping blues and some mighty fine soulful tunes throughout a very nicely produced recording.

Hank Shreve was influenced immensely on the Mississippi saxophone by the likes of Paul deLay and Norton Buffalo and those impressions are quite

James Cotton

James Cotton CD coverCotton Mouth Man
Alligator Records

 

One may argue the point, but in the long run it’d be fruitless. James Cotton is the most important blues harmonica player on earth today. His is a lengthy and storied career that has seen him work with the greats of the genre like Muddy Waters flowing into a brilliant solo path of his own. Even today, in his late 70s, he still blows fiery harp licks with the best of them.

Cotton’s newest release, Cotton Mouth Man, is sensational. Released by Alligator Records, this disc finds Cotton reminiscing about his life in story

Kirsten Thien

Kirsten Thien CD coverSolo Live From The Meisenfrei Blues Club
Screen Door Records

New York City-based blues artist Kirsten Thien is most often found touring with a full band to compliment her amazing vocals, but this new release, Solo Live From The Meisenfrei Blues Club finds her baring herself alone on the German stage armed with only her guitar and voice. It is quite intimate and she has a very receptive audience. Kirsten is an engaging performer, always smiling and giving the impression that she is having a good time that is reciprocated by those in attendance.

Solo Live From Meisenfrei showcases Kirsten

Southern Hospitaility

Southern Hospitality CD coverEasy Livin’
Blind Pig Records

There have been many attempts over the years to put together “super groups” of multiple talented artists. Sometimes they work and other times not. Southern Hospitality were three good friends who were performing at an event with their own individual bands when they happened to be placed on stage with one another and really dug what they heard. Damon Fowler, J.P. Soars and Victor Wainwright liked it so much that they decided to do some tour dates with each other and to release a recording. That recording, titled Easy Livin’ is an outstanding collection that

Too Slim & The Taildraggers

 

Too Slim & Taildraggers CDBlue Heart 
Underworld Records

Tim “Too Slim” Langford has always been a fan favorite here in the Pacific Northwest as well as on the touring road. As of late, I just cannot fathom Langford doing anything wrong and that just might include his recent relocation to Nashville. Hate to see him move from the area, but if he is going to produce impressive new recordings like this latest release, Blue Heart, then all the more power to him. His previous two discs still receive a substantive amount of airplay in my car and at home, the brilliant Blues Music

Tracey Fordice and the 8-Balls

Happy Summer everybody!

We’ve been real busy this past month, playing gigs around town, rehearsing, getting our website and Reverbnation page up and running. We’ve worked hard at the Reverbnation page (thanks to Rudi-bob Spain) and thanks to all of our fans, we have moved up the Portland Blues charts to #9. Also, we are getting ready to go on a little tour this month, taking the band to Montana to the great towns of Kalispell, Whitefish, and Great Falls. It’s going to be fun and we look forward to taking our music on the road!

Of course the Waterfront …

Lisa Mann

Greetings, blues people! The band and I would like to thank the many among you who supported our Indiegogo campaign for tour sponsorship, and all the rest of you who sent us well-wishes. While we were sadly forced to cut the tour short, it was an adventure to travel the western states with Jeff Knudson, Brian Harris and the hilarious Dave Melyan. And thank you from Allen and I for the condolences on the death of his father. Hank Markel was a loving father and husband, a Korean War vet and a Yankees fan, he will be sorely missed.

The …

Robbie Laws

Greetings friends! Hope all is well in your world. I can hardly believe festival season is upon us once again. I have been very busy with teaching, writing, recording, gigging and somewhere in there, finding some balance at our beautiful new home in the country. From all of this hard work does come the fruits of our labor and I am so happy to let you all know about what’s been going on.

Start your Waterfront Blues Festival day out right on Thursday, July 4th where you’ll find the Robbie Laws Band on the North Stage from 1:15-2:30 pm. It’s …