Bandstand Dec 2013

Kevin Selfe and The Tornadoes

Hi everybody!  Just wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Cascade Blues Association and its members for the Muddy Awards this year.  We are grateful, humbled, and deeply honored to be recognized amongst the world class talent here in Portland, and the NW.   Your support means the world to us, and we are so proud to be part of this community, and proud to be ambassadors of the CBA wherever we travel.

Speaking of traveling, last month was a fun one as we had the opportunity to play the blues at some legendary clubs in Chicago, San Francisco, and Sacramento.  December finds us closer to home with trips to Walla Walla and Lincoln City and lots of great places in between.  Be sure to make plans to join us on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, for our big show at the historic Trails End Saloon in Oregon City!  For our full schedule and more information, please visit our website at www.kevinselfe.com <http://www.kevinselfe.com/>

Thanks again everybody, for all your support of us, and the blues!

Kevin

James Clem

Hi friends, I just got back from playing some gigs in England for three weeks. I played over there two years ago and this time added several new venues. I was surprised by the good crowds we had and the great response I got. Very gratifying. My sideline as a swing ukulele player paid off as I was the “special guest from the USA” headlining a London Ukulele Cabaret concert. Someone even got me an interview on the radio where I played a short set as well. We took a side trip up north to just outside Birmingham and visited the workshop of Diamond Bottlenecks that makes the best slides on the planet, by far. Owner Ian McWee gave me a royal tour and we spent a couple of days hanging out together and just talking music. Ian is a great guy with a real quality product. Check out their slides at www.diamondbottlenecks.com . They are even coming out with a “James Clem model” slide! Not sure I am worthy, but it I am flattered they would do that.

Here is a movie pick that any blues lover would like. While in London my wife and I scored two tickets to the UK red carpet premier of the new Coen Brothers film “Inside Llewyn Davis” which is about the folk (and blues) scene in Greenwich Village in 1961. The Coens and the cast were there in person and it was quite an event and movie. The music is excellent with real musicians playing the parts and it has the usual Coen Brothers dark humor. Not some lame Hollywood rags to riches story but it has a gritty, down to earth quality. This will be out here in mid December. Thumbs up!

Anyway, that was a great trip and I am already planning a return next year. Now I can finally finish my new CD that I have been putting off. Be sure to keep me in mind for any holiday gatherings and also acoustic blues guitar (and ukulele) lessons.

Happy Holidays,

James Clem
www.jamesclem.com

Strange Tones

Greetings!

2013 has been a busy year for Crime-A-Billy! We sure appreciate all the support and enthusiasm for our new CD, first and foremost by our CBA friends and family, and also by DJs and fans worldwide! It has made several charts, including Roots Music Report-Top 50 Blues, and Blues Debut-Top 25. If you don’t have a copy of “At Home With The Strange Tones”  and your 3D goggles yet, don’t forget, it’d make a great Christmas gift to yourself or to someone else 😉

Our next exciting project is this year’s December 14th Christmas show at the Hollywood Theatre, “Crime-A-Billy Christmas Carol”. Last year’s Christmas show/Food Drive was such a success, and this year’s is going to be even better! Along with the live show filled with special guests, and Volcano Snow Vixens, and many other unexpected treats, the plot thickens in this year’s Strange Tones-created movie. The nearly 30 minute film, “Crime-A-Billy Christmas Carol” is a holiday tale of fame, fortune, power… and dreams forgotten! Imagine “A Christmas Carol” with a Crime-A-Billy twist on the giant screen. And before the movie begins, prepare to be entertained by the ever-talented, D.K. Stewart performing a set of holiday spirited tunes on keys.

Advance tickets available at: http://hollywoodtheatre.org/strange-tones/. This is a CBA cosponsored event, and there’s a $2 member discount: code “SANTA”. In the holiday spirit of giving, please consider bringing at least 2 cans of food to donate to the Oregon Food Bank.

Happy Holidays!

– Your Friendly Neighborhood Strange Tones

Dover Weinberg Quartet

As many of you already know, Dover Weinberg will be joining the Robert Cray Band. While we will miss him, we wish him the best in his journey. For somewhere around 15 years, Dover has been doing a regular Tuesday night gig, joined by Chris Carlson, Dave Kahl, Kelly Dunn (and a host of other great drummers over the years), with Duff’s Garage being only their second venue, our home for the last several years. While Duff’s will have a national act booked on the second Tuesday, there will still be a chance to say goodbye and good luck to Dover on December 3rd and, after that, you will see a change in the seat, but not the name.

Dave Fleschner has agreed to join us for continued merriment and musical communion. Dave brings a basketful of musical talent to the table – his 2013 Muddy Award nomination and work with Curtis Salgado, Alan Hager, and Duffy Bishop are testament to this fact. The Dover Weinberg Quartet is happy to welcome him on board.

While we’re at it, we’d like to mention that you should take the opportunity to see Chris Carlson while you can. Chris and Duffy will be making a seasonal move after the holidays, off to warmer places. While they’re gone, we will have Alan Hager filling in. Alan, Muddy Award winner in the acoustic guitar category, is a stellar player, a good friend, and a pretty funny guy. Over the years, Alan has been the go-to guy when Chris has been gone, so there is already a solid familiarity and continuity. All in all, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Come down to Duff’s on a Tuesday or two, say goodbye, say hello, and say you’re glad you made it. Duff’s Garage is located on S.E. 7th Avenue at the corner of Market Street. Music goes from 9pm to midnight.

Soul Cookin’

Wednesday nights are picking up steam at Blackwell’s, 1815 N.E. 41st Avenue. Soul Cookin’ – with Lloyd Jones, Carlton Jackson, Dave Kahl, and Dover Weinberg – is serving up some steaming hot blues, soul, funk, and swing to a very appreciative audience, from 8:30-11:30pm. December will be no different, but there will be one change.

With Dover leaving to join the Robert Cray band, there will be a new member playing keyboards. We’ve been somewhat overwhelmed by the offers of many top-notch players to join us and we’re flattered. You can’t get any better affirmation than that. We promise you that you will be pleasantly surprised when we make the announcement, but you’ll have to come down to find out ahead of time. Soul Cookin’ will make sure that you have a good time when you get there.

Blackwell’s is conveniently located across Sandy Boulevard from the historic Hollywood Theater.

Ty Curtis

Ty Curtis is on his way to bigger things. His move to Austin is one step in that direction. Ty is also deeply attached to his home base here in Oregon and the December holiday season gives him a chance to visit for a couple of weeks. While here, he’s going to take the opportunity to play some special shows.

For you Salem fans, Ty will be playing the Half Penny on the 20th and Willamette Valley Vineyards on the 22nd. If you’re Portland based, then you will be pleased to know that you have a chance to see something even more special.

Several months back, Ty and his band (Jerry Jacques, Alex Shakeri, and Dave Kahl) were joined by Terry Robb at Jimmy Mak’s for a show that had both audience and staff excited. In fact, it was so special that they were featured at the Waterfront Blues Festival’s Super Sunday. Well, in December, you’ll have another shot at it. Jimmy Mak’s will be bringing back this dynamic pairing for a show on the 27th. This is one you’ll want to reserve early, as the last time they played there was a full house.

And, what’s a holiday season without a New Year’s Eve celebration? Chinook Winds will host a party, featuring Ty, at the Aces Bar and Grill, overlooking their golf course on the beach. Not a bad way to wind up one year and wake up to a new one.

If you’re looking for memorable events, then Ty Curtis and friends will deliver. It will be the last chance for a few more months. Ty promises to come back, but there’s a lot of time in between.

Drop Dead Red Band

Hello everyone!! Our wonderful summer came and went and out beautiful fall is nearing an end with the holidays approaching very fast! October’s beautiful weather was the best I remember in over 35 years. We all got to rake light and fluffy pretty leaves!!!!!!!!! Right! We would like to thank everyone for their enthusiastic support at many of our fun-filled musical events this year. We do so much appreciate you spending your time with us and hope you will continue to do so. A big thank you goes out to Kevin Lebaron and Fenix for doing such an amazing job on the sax, filling in for our sax player Bob, who was off enjoying time in many various countries. It was really fun having them aboard!!!!!!!!  Happy Holidays to all and hope to see you soon out and about.  Enjoy every moment you can with your family, friends, and band mates during our wonderful holiday season.

Drop Dead Red Band

Bolt Upright

I want to take a moment to thank the CBA staff for posting local band’s blues dates every month! Special thanks to Wendy, Greg and Bruce. It really helps and I’m grateful!

Back in Sept. ‘01, after a BluesNotes cover article by Rose Allen, I was nominated for best drummer by CBA members. [Jimi Bott won!] This past month, my band Bolt Upright was honored to be selected best Portland Blues JAM by the members of The Westside Blues Association. Greg was at the awards bash, and I thought that was cool! We’ve been hosting jams for over ten years and it felt good to be recognized! The quality and quantity of weekly musicians and merry makers on Sunday’s at The Montavilla Station has been stellar every week for more than 2 years, and we’ve just signed up for the JAM to continue on Sundays in 2014, plus, we play there for the 3rd year this Dec. 31st for New Years Eve! Thanks to my partners, Susie and Lynn Axtell, and the Portland Peeps for keeping us alive!

I also play with The Buzz Holland Trio doing all originals [including cool blues] every Mon. 4-7 at Montvilla Station and Tuesdays at Eugenio’s on 36th & SE Division 7:30-10ishPM. We’ve just released a 21 song C.D. called the First 21, featuring the trio plus Paul Brainard and Dave Fleschner! Check out Buzz Holland.com.

Thanks also to all the funsters that showed Up at my B.D. party back in October. Boogie Cat Norman Sylvester and Richard Arnold even showed Up & played that night! I’ve been bumping around the clubs in Portland since 1990, and feel like I’m just coming into my own! I feel blessed! Have a great Holiday Season everyone, and thanks for the support!

Ashbolt Stewart
boltupright.net