Hey Everybody,…Nice seein’ you again. Just wanted to throw out a BIG THANK YOU to all those who made donations that helped us get to Memphis! We appreciate each and every one of you.

The new cd is finished, and we’ll be announcing a cd release party somewhere soon.

Thanks for your support of Franco Paletta and The Stingers, and LIVE BLUES MUSIC!!! See y’all in the clubs!

Hey Blues Lovers. The Gustos want to thank the CBA for having us up to play at the Jan. meeting. We had an awesome time as always. Hope you all had a great holiday season. Just wanted to get a quick note in to let everyone know, that in addition to our show at the super cool Duff’s Garage on Feb. 21st, we will also be rockin’ that Soul Brand Gusto Music all night in Salem on Feb. 9th, 9pm at the newly rejuvenated Duffy’s Hangar. Look forward to seeing you guys out there as we get up to Portland more. You guys got gusto! See you soon.

Gusto Brothers
www.gustobrothers.com/

Believe it or not, it’s now been a year that Soul Cookin’ – Lloyd Jones, Carlton Jackson, Dover Weinberg, and Dave Kahl – have been holding down the groove at Blackwell’s on Wednesdays and hosting a ridiculous lineup of talent that is mind-boggling. LaRhonda Steele, Karen Lovely, Curtis Salgado, Ural Thomas, Peter Dammann, Richard Arnold, Arietta Ward, Lloyd Allen, Peter Moss, Mike Klinger, Brian Harris, Lisa Mann, Allen Markel, and a whole bunch more have turned this into a veritable who’s who and what’s next kind of night.

From 8:30-11:30pm, the place is jumping with activity – joking, laughter, heckling, encouragement, and applause. It’s all in good fun and everyone gives as good as they receive. Located at 1815 N.E. 41st Avenue, across Sandy Boulevard from the Hollywood Theater, Blackwell’s has a great vibe. Roomy, but intimate, the sound in the club is stellar – strong and even, but not too loud. There’s a good menu – you can even get a night time breakfast – plenty of available parking, central location, and affordable prices. No cover makes this all the more compelling. Come out and join us. We’d love to see you.

For the past few months, the Dover Weinberg Quartet has been extremely fortunate to have had our good friend and world-class guitarist, Alan Hager, join us for some pretty serious music in a not-so-serious setting for our Tuesday nights at Duff’s Garage. Alan always brings the right touch to the stage, whether we’ve delved into the trove of Tommy Johnson, the funkiness of Johnny “Guitar” Watson, the grit of Muddy Waters, or the hard bop of Charlie Parker. He’ll still be working with us for a few more of these in February, but, with the return of Chris Carlson, there are only a couple more chances for you to catch this incredible talent in a fully supportive ensemble of band mates and friends. Thanks, Alan. You’ve elevated our game each time you’re with us. While we’re at it, we’d also like to thank Duff’s owners, Jon and Jennifer Wallace, and bartender, Chris Olson, for giving us a home where we can just do our thing.

The Dover Weinberg Quartet – with the rhythm section of Kelly Dunn and Dave Kahl – sets a solid bar for others, not by their musical capacities and capabilities, alone, but by just playing the tunes for their own sake, finding the joy and adventure in each one, and sharing the goodwill with a very receptive and supportive audience. From 9pm to midnight, you can catch these guys, as well as a bunch of other truly special players who regularly sit in.

While we’re at it, let’s add a welcome home to Chris Carlson and Duffy Bishop. You two have been deeply missed. Maybe you folks ought to come out and say so, yourselves. It’ll only cost you a $3.00 cover charge. Duff’s is located on S.E. 7th Avenue at the corner of Market Street. You can’t miss it. It’s where all the noise and laughter is coming from.

I just want to take a minute to thank the Portland clubs that hired [And paid], Bolt Upright in 2012. Thanks to Montavilla Station for giving us a great place to stage our Sunday Blues Jam. Every week is an exciting mix of new and old friends and great musicianship. Also,The Blue Diamond/The Lodge/Mad Greek Deli/ The M&M Lounge/ and the now closed Knuckleheads. We hope to add to this list of venues in the New Year. I want to also thank my wife Susie and friend Lynn Axtell for helping me continue to perform with Bolt Upright. We’ve been doing it since 2001 so we’re in our 12th year together and I hope to continue for a long while. Also, I personally thank Chad Rupp/Norman Sylvester/Dub DeBrie/Ken M./Angel Bouchet/The Bros.of Baladi/Lady True Blue/LaRhonda Steele/ Sandy Sanders/Kerry Dean Stickler and Danny Hay Davis for hiring me to play with them this past year and to Jeff Knudson for recording our 2012 Bolt Upright disk! Band leaders, please call on me in 2013 if you need a singing drummer! The Beat Goes On!

Lucky 2013 is getting off to a good start for us right here in P-Town!

Starting out the year with our first “Hometown” gig, Friday, Feb 8th at Portland’s funnest place on earth… Duffs Garage!!

We will become “Highway Bound” soon, with winter- fests in the NW & Canada, and summer dates in Denmark, Norway and the U.S. Midwest.

April looks like a “Radio tour” back east too!

Stay in touch at www.lloydjonesmusic.com.

For “guitar heads”, there is a nice article in Vintage Guitar Magazine this month covering my “gear” setup.

Thanks for listening.

PS – Every Monday at the Muddy Rudder (8105 SE 7th Ave., Portland, OR 97202) 7:30-10:30pm,

I’ll continue the acoustic “Cityfied Country Blues” Piedmont pickin’ by the fireplace!

Lloyd Jones
“Groove Merchant”
www.lloydjonesmusic.com

I gotta thank the nice folks putting together the 2013 Winterfest for inviting AC and The LiveWires to play their cool shindig! AC and the band will be doing a raucous set at Winterfest on Friday, February 15th from 6:30 to 7:30pm, AND THEN hitchhiking across town right on down to the Blue Diamond that same Friday night to finish what they started! 9pm to Midnight, No Cover, and lots of blues and originals done in the only way the LiveWires do it… full ON!

Sure would be a gas to see a bunch of old and new friends shakin’ it at these gigs!

Somethin’ a lil’ different for Tuesdays in February! Every Tuesday at the Blue Diamond (20th and NE Sandy), Bluesman and NW Harmonica icon-extraordinaire BILL RHOADES will be holding court in a cool, laidback style with local blues guitarists WHIT DRAPER (Sportin’ Lifers, etc…) and AC PORTER (LiveWires, etc…) in a trio that just wants to have a good time and lay down some serious blues for y’all. Some acoustic, some electric, some city, some country, some sweet, some stanky….you get the idea. This will be the first time all three of these cats have had the chance to play together at the same time, and it will absolutely be a jukin’ good time! Starts at 8pm to 11 every Tuesday, and NO Cover! (I bet a few choice friends sneak in to add to the musical atmosphere, too!)