Entries by Wendy Schumer

Alberta Rose Theatre presents a big double bill: Kelley Hunt & Quinn DeVeaux – Aug. 15th

Kelley Hunt press photoOn Thursday, August 15th, the Alberta Rose Theatre will present one of the hottest twin bills to hit town this summer as Kansas City’s blues & roots piano playing Kelley Hunt will be showcased alongside San Francisco’s Quinn DeVeaux & The Blue Beat Review.

In some ways Roots R&B/Americana singer/songwriter/piano player/guitarist Kelley Hunt is a rarity and a challenge to the music industry’s penchant for easy artist definitions — a woman who has muscled her way into the scene on her own terms with an identity steeped in blues/roots/gospel traditions and a refreshing originality. She makes music with …

San Francisco’s Kaye Bohler Band Return To Duff’s Garage – Aug. 22nd

Kaye Bohler press photo“Rhythm and Blues Singing Baby of Soul,” “The White Tina Turner,” a “Power House Blues Woman and Entertainer,” these are a few of the titles given to singer/songwriter Kaye Bohler. The Santa Cruz Sentinel describes Bohler: “In a voice coated with whiskey and honey, Kaye Bohler sings the blues layered with a little bit of funk, R&B, jazz and San Francisco’s psychedelic sound. But it’s her lyrical honesty, trained voice and accomplished musicians that keep her band booked just about every weekend throughout the Bay Area and beyond.”  Sheer charm, personality and magnetism dominate this curvaceous curly-haired diva’s every performance …

Duff’s Garage to Welcome Back West Coast Favorites The 44s – Aug. 9th

The 44s press photoLos Angeles-based blues-roots band The 44s have been making a huge name for themselves touring across the country electrifying audiences with their outstanding blend of Chicago and West Coast styled blues. With front man Johnny Main offering some of the most rambunctious guitar licks and Tex Nakamura blowing the reeds out of his harmonica, The 44s will be bringing the house down with their infectious energy.

Supporting their most recent Rip Cat recording, Americana, The 44s will be making another trip to Duff’s Garage (1635 SE 7th) on Friday, August 9th at 9:00 pm. Opening the night …

Blues Guitar Hero Coco Montoya Set to Light Up the Stage at Jimmy Mak’s – Aug. 21

Coco Montoya press photoCoco Montoya just may be one of the premier blues guitarists of the day. Mentored by Albert Collins and spending a decade playing in John Mayall’s band primed Montoya for a solo career that has seen him filling venues and performing on festival stages around the world. A past Blues Music Award winner, Billboard magazine had this to say about Montoya: “In a world of blues guitar pretenders, Coco Montoya is the real McCoy. Be prepared to get scorched.” Always a sensational, exciting show filled with his toneful playing that can light up a room, Coco Montoya has long been …

The C.D. Woodbury Band

CD Woodbury Band CD coverMonday Night!
Wide Willie Productions

The C.D. Woodbury Band is back following up their fantastic debut disc, Sunbanks Live!, with an ear-catching album of original music titled Monday Night! This Washington-based band works together like a finely-tuned engine, with all of the musicians handing out exceptional craftsmanship. Woodbury can play dynamic guitar, has rich vocals and is a superb songwriter. He is complimented highly by a crack-unit ensemble featuring Chris Kliemann on keys, Mike Marinig on sax, Mike Fish on bass and Don Montana on drums. Marinig and Montana both offer their vocals as well.

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Kara Grainger

Kara Grainger CD coverShiver & Sigh
Eclecto Groove

Kara Grainger, an Australian artist who now resides in Los Angeles, has released an outstanding new CD titled Shiver & Sigh, that showcases her talents as a singer, songwriter and guitarist in the utmost way. It also lets listeners know that she can cover a wide range of stylings and emotions, too. The disc is an eclectic mixture of blues with roots and pop sounds, plus a little bit of country flavoring tossed in just for good measure. It is such a clean sounding recording, very well produced by …

Hard Garden

Hard Garden CD coverExtended Play #1
Hard Garden Music

This is definitely something new for Son Jack Jr. and Michael Wilde, the duo who have represented the Northwest at the International Blues Challenge and twice made the semi-finals. From their past you’d expect them to be releasing more of that traditional Delta style music that has been their mainstay for so many years. But they’re taking a challenging new direction with a new trio format that includes Seattle’s jazz, blues and funk man Garrett Williams. The grouping is called Hard …

Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band with Erica Brown

Tangled Road Again
P&C Plan-It Records

Dan Treanor CD coverI first saw Erica Brown a few years back when she competed in the venue I run at the International Blues Challenge. An exciting performer who had talent in bunches. I also saw Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band perform in Memphis during the event a couple years later and was flat out floored by their presentation. So imagine my thoughts when this past year I discovered both Dan and Erica teamed up. This has got to be a killer pairing for sure. And it was. The band took third place overall in the band competition, …

Roomful Of Blues

Roomful of Blues CD cover45 Live
Alligator Records

Roomful of Blues, in honor of their 45th year as a band, celebrate by releasing 45 Live. Recorded over a three night engagement this past March at The Ocean Mist in Mantunuck, Rhode Island. Forty-five years; this is a band that just never seems to slip on by. And that is certainly great news for blues fans because this group continues to release amazing, jumping music that can set the mood for any dance party.

Vocalist Phil Pemberton holds down the lead with the band, easily gliding …

Lady A

Lady A CD coverHow Did I Get Here?
Self-Produced

For somebody who has spent their life in Seattle, Lady A sure has a lot of Southern feeling within her music. On her latest release How Did I Get Here? there is the gumbo-flavored essence of Louisiana and that deep-down soulful Mississippi blues. It can be quite reminiscent of the great music originating from the Malaco Records label. And her recent trips down South with the Delta Music Experience tours have left quite an impression on this artist that shows through with the songwriting that she shares in the selections with bandmates J. Oliver …