Bandstand December 2015

Billy D

Hi everyone — Billy D here. We don’t submit to bandstand that often, so first, congrats to all the Muddy winners and nominees. There’s a lot of great music and musicians in Portland and the surrounding area. I’m honored to be part of it. The current line-up in Billy D & The Hoodoos is myself, Mark Nerby on drums, and Joe Casimir on bass and vox. We have two upcoming shows, at our absolute two favorite venues. Our Christmas Party will be on Saturday December 19, at O’Connors, then New Years Eve at The Trails End Saloon. After two years together, these will be our last two shows—no big drama, just different phases of life happening for people. I have truly enjoyed playing with these dudes and will miss it but am also looking forward to making a new CD after the first of the year and coming back in spring, or so, with a new album and new Shows.

I’ve been traveling—played Chicago, L.A. and the southwest this summer. All awesome and with great musicians who took the time to learn my tunes and play them with feeling. I’m looking forward to more of that, including heading to the UK in May.

Thank you guys! Hope we see you at one of these holiday shows and at the new CD release next year. Happy and safe holidays to all.

Keep Rockin’ my friends!!!
Billy D

The Strange Tones

Happy Holidays everybody! We wanted to spread the word that we will be playing a couple of Christmas shows this year! We decided to try something a little different and do two shows in two great local venues. “A Cozy Crime-A-Billy Christmas” will take place in the intimate confines of Duff’s Garage and the Skyway Bar & Grill. We picked these venues because they are two of our very favorites in the area, and they’re about as comfortable as sitting home, next to the old toasty yule log. Saturday, December 12 will be at Duff’s and Saturday, December 19 will be at the Skyway. We look forward to spreading a little holiday cheer and sharing the holiday spirit in these two great locations. Both shows will feature our partners in Crime-A-Billy, the lovely Volcano Vixens and many other special guests and surprises.

So as Elvin says, “Reach out and take the hand of Crime-A-Billy!”

–Guitar Julie, Andy Strange, Suburban Slim, Andy Gauthier

Dean Mueller

As most of you know, I am booking the Music Mondays at Lake Theater and Cafe and helping bring world class music to a world class venue. Although I book a variety of styles at the theater, and quality is of the utmost importance, attendance and a full house are also important. My heart is closest to the blues and my fellow blues musicians are my family. In addition to local greats we have booked touring acts such as Janiva Magness, Rich Delgrosso, Doug MacLeod, and Nathan James. These folks love the venue, the sound, the food, and the first class treatment that they get. Unfortunately, with the exception of a couple performances a year, the attendance at these shows is lower than much of the other styles of music I bring to the theater. Last month’s show with Nathan James and Ben Rice deserved to been seen, and it needed support from CBA members. It was a great show, but the attendance was very disappointing. As blues fans we need to go out and support live music or the venues will die out, and so will the musicians.

December will be amazing for blues fans at the theater with performances from Duffy Bishop, LaRhonda Steele, Terry Robb, and Mitch Kashmar. Please check the calendar and get out and support the music you love. I’ll continue to do my best to bringing great blues to Lake Theater & Cafe and you should check it out, you will not be disappointed.

Julie Amici

Julie Amici would like to thank the CBA members and all of the great musician friends that have helped along the way. The Muddy nomination for Best New Act was an honor and I very much appreciate the support. Congratulations to Sister Mercy for their nomination, and to the Bottleneck Blues Band for taking home the award!

The morning after the Awards, I received a very special phone call telling me not to be discouraged by not winning. They told me this was my introduction into this blues community and to keep going. I feel like I have been told that by members over and over again, keep going! Keep doing what you love, because “we” need it. This support is truly the only thing that will keep me going, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you haven’t had a chance to catch a Julie Amici show, I invite you to do so. Thanks again and look forward to meeting you!

Bolt Upright

I want to take a moment to thank Greg Johnson and the CBA crew for all the hard work they put in every month to promote Portland Blues!  Also, thanks to Ben Rice for including me in the All Star JAM at The Muddy Awards, and congrats to my great friend Norman Sylvester and his band for finally taking home the R&B award. I’ve had a very eventful 2015 including celebrating 14 years co-leading the Bolt Upright Band with my wife, Susie, and playing the Waterfront Blues Fest and Lil Lou’s in CA. with my Beats Workin’ project, (with me as the frontman). As the year winds down, I’ve joined four new projects: Honeybaked & Choice Cuts (with Daniel Hamm); Billy Hagen’s The Trip; The Pollinators (w/Kenny Lavits); and Where’s Danny (with Silky Mayer). When you see these names in the CBA calendar, please stop in and support fresh faces and sounds on the Portland Blues Scene. Also, please support new clubs (and old clubs) that believe that live music makes a difference!  Peace & Pulsation in 2016!

Bolt Upright
boltupright.net

 Rae Gordon

They say things come in threes….I believe it now after the Muddys!  It was an honor in itself to be nominated by CBA members for 2 awards and then one by the CBA board and another honor to be on the list along not only some of my favorite musicians, but favorite people.  So to receive them all, was an overwhelming moment….well….three overwhelming moments to be exact.  Thank you CBA and members for all your hard work to support the musicians.  I want to call out in particular the award form Best NW Recording.  Dirty Flowers was a team effort for sure.  Special thanks to Gaddis Cavenah who wrote the music and worked hard and the other guys who made it possible for the 2nd CD from the Rae Gordon Band project happen.  Special shout out to Ben Partain, Joseph Conrad, Scott Franklin, Ed Pierce, Edwin Coleman III, Kevin Nettlingham Audio and Kathy Rose for the cover photography.  It was so fun to bring that concept to life!  And thanks to all the people who waited patiently for it to happen.

Now the hard but happy work….to live up to it!  December will give me a chance to continue to hopefully “bring it” to live music lovers with Christmas Joy all month.  December 6th A Youthful Christmas has me sharing the stage with some kids for the 1st Sunday Gospel Show at Trails, then joining Sonny Hess in her incredible annual offering of the best in the northwest Women in Blues Christmas on Dec 10 and 13.  And I hope you join me and WE THREE KINGS December 19th for a Christmas show like no other at the Trails End Saloon.  Guitar kings Robbie Laws, Ben Rice and Lloyd Jones will bring gifts of groove to the stage along with featured artists Big Monti Amundson, Ben Partain, Joseph Conrad, Ed Pierce and the Holy Horns of Joe McCarthy and Scott Franklin.  Ol’ Saint Nick will also be stopping by to sing and bring joy and a comfy lap.  Please bring a good used coat to donate to needy and you will get a chance to win a prize.

As we head nearer to a close on the year 2015, it has truly been a blessing to be able to play in such a rich soil that makes us all grow as musicians and most importantly, as people.