Fe ature d Ar ticles

M ark Dalton: Ke eping the Gro ove Guitar Slinger Kills: An Inter v ie w w ith Roy Rogers Bluesin the Northend

On the C over : Mark Dalton

by Dan Hi l l

In This Issue...

Letter from the President 7 Bluesin the Northend 9 Preview: Untapped 10 Boise Boy Conquers the World 12

Guitar Slinger Kills 14 Mark Your Calendars 16 Mark Dalton: Keeping the Groove 16 Dry Side Blues 18
people to write about the blues from all corners of the state. I had a long conversation via email with an ardent blues supporter who wished that more people knew what was going on in his neck of the woods add wanted to know how he could make that happen. Tell us about it! I replied. The Bluesletter is 100% volunteer run, which means that I cant send a blue eyed Clark Kent out to every corner of the world to tell me whats going on. Which means that I depend on each of you. If you know of an incredible event or you have an amazing blues experience and the rest of us should know about it, bring it on. Youll also notice that we missed our regular coverage of the Blues Bash this month - but we do want to say a special thanks to Dean Reichert and Blues Redemption for playing the April Blues Bash at the Red Crane in Shoreline. While we did not have a writer to cover this monthly event, well feature these performers who donated their time in future Bluesletters. And lastly, I hope to see you all at the Best of the Blues Awards on May 6th! Until next time, Jesse Phillips, Editor Washington Blues Society Bluesletter

Blues Reviews 20 Walla Walla Guitar Fest Review 22 Press Release: Mt Baker R&B 22 Talent Guide 24

Letter from
the

Editor

Some Important Details

By Eric Steiner I wanted to offer an apology to Bluesletter contributors, and suggest ways to improve how we credit photographers and writers in these pages. First of all, I understand that some photographers did not receive photo credit for recent pictures in the Bluesletter, and I apologize to Tom Hunnewell, the Blues Boss, Bob Horn, Jef Jaisun, and any other photographer editor Jesse Phillips and I may have missed. I also apologize to any writer who was not property credited or listed in the Contributing Writers section of our publications masthead. To move forward, I offer the following suggestion to all contributing photographers: how about titling each image with the subjects name and photographers name? Something like: Too Slim by Blues Boss? Some contributors forward images directly from their cameras with camera-supplied identification, and wed appreciate a little more details than DCFS1234. jpg. For writers, please consider adding your name in the name of the story, like Air Supply Article by Eric Steiner. (continued next page)

I was going to sit down and write about the best time to go out and hear live blues music, what with the summer cranking out so many incredible events all across our great state, but once I got to thinking about it, I realized that seasons dont change the blues; whether you are drinking an iced tea on your front porch in the sweltering summer heat or curled up next to a fire place with a hot toddy - the blues are there to challenge, the encourage, to comfort and most of all, to remind each of us that we are not alone. But, since spring is here...lets have that conversation: the Northwest offers the perfect weather during the summertime - not to hot, not to cold, and the sunshine makes the world shine. Which means that we have the best weather to go out and experience the blues at one (or twelve) of the incredible blues festivals coming up this summer. Then, of course, we have an entire calendar full of indoor and outdoor events, the Seattle Secret Music Festival and so much more. Seattle loves the blues, and more importantly, supports its blues bands. And now for some housework: just a couple of 2 quick reminders: we are always looking for more

Also, please note that the Bluesletter accepts stories submitted in plain text or Microsoft Word. Please use the submission guidelines on page three for formatting suggestions for pictures and articles.

2 3 4 5 6 6
On the

Celebrating 23 Years of Blues

May 2012 Bluesletter
Vol. XXIV, Number V
Publisher Editor & Art Director Secretary Calendar Advertising Printer Washington Blues Society Jesse Phillips (jesse@jessephillipsdesigns.com) Rocky Nelson Maridel Fliss (mflissm@aol.com) Malcolm Kennedy (advertising@wablues.org) Pacific Publishing Company www.pacificpublishingcompany.com

1989 - 2012

Blues on the Radio Dial Jam Guide Venue Guide Calendar

26 26 27 30

Contributing Writers: Robert Horn, Eric Steiner, Malcolm Kennedy, Jerry Peterson, Chrisda Hamilton, Cindy Dyer, Oogie Richards, Roy Brown Contributing Photographers: Robert Horn,The Blues Boss, Jerry Peterson,
Margene Schotz

Cover Photo:

Mark Dalton, Photo by Dan Hill

Cover:

Mark Dalton Photo by Dan Hill Dan Hill is a retired music fan who unflaggingly holds court at the Spar Tavern in North Tacoma. On Sunday nights Dan can be found on his perch, camera in hand, ready to capture the moment of those locals musicians who grace the stage. From Lil Bill to Junkyard Jane, from Blues Redemption to Mia Vermillion; if they play the Spar Dan Hill has photographed them and applied his own little twist to the images. A true blues fan a true blues image artist.

The Bluesletter welcomes stories and photos from WBS members! Features, columns and reviews are due by the 10th of each month in the following formats: plain text or Microsoft Word. Graphics must be in high-res 300 dpi .pdf, jpg, or .tiff formats. We encourage submissions. If a submitter intends to retain the rights to material (e.g., photos, videos, lyrics, textual matter) submitted for publication in the Bluesletter, or the WaBlues.org website, he or she must so state at the time of submission; otherwise, submitters rights to the material will be transferred to WBS, upon publication. We reserve the right to edit all content. The Bluesletter is the official monthly publication of the Washington Blues Society. The WBS is not responsible for the views and opinions expressed in The Bluesletter by any individual. WBS 2011 The Washington Blues Society is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote, preserve, and advance the culture and tradition of blues music as an art form. Annual membership is $25 for individuals, $35 for couples, and $40 for overseas memberships. The Washington Blues Society is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible. The Washington Blues Society is affiliated with The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.

Mission Statement

Washington Blues Society P.O. Box 70604 Seattle, WA 98127 www.wablues.org

Washington Blues Society Hotline: 1-888-90BLUES 1-888-902-5837

Proud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation 2012 Officers
President

Eric Steiner

Vice President Secretary

president@wablues.org vicepres@wablues.org

Tony Frederickson Rocky Nelson

secretary@wablues.org treasurer@wablues.org

Treasurer (Acting) Chad Creamer Editor Jesse Phillips

president@wablues.org

2012 Directors
Music

Suze Sims

Membership Education Volunteers Merchandise Advertising

music@wablues.org

Michelle Burge Vacant

membership@wablues.org education@wablues.org

Rhea Rolfe

volunteers@wablues.org

Tony Frederickson Malcolm Kennedy

merchandise@wablues.org advertising@wablues.org

2012 Street Team

Downtown Seattle Tim & Michelle Burge

West Seattle Eastside Northern WA Peninsula South Sound Central WA Eastern WA Ballard Lopez Island Middle East

blueslover206@comcast.net

Rev Deb Engelhardt Jim DiIanni

deb@revdeb.com

education@wablues.org

Lloyd Peterson Dan Wilson Smoke

freesprt@televar.com allstarguitar@centurytel.net smkndrms@aol.com

Steven J. Lefebvre Cindy Dyer

s.j.lefebvre@gmail.com, cindalucy@hotmail.com

George Jordy Sigler

jordysigler@yahoo.com

Carolyn & Dean Jacobsen

cjacobsen@rockisland.com

Rocky Rock Khan Nelson

rocknafghanistan@gmail.com

Editorial Advisory Board & Proofeaders

Mary McPage Carolyn Kennedy Eric Steiner Son Jack Jr.

Webmaster

Special Thanks
The Sheriff
(webmaster@wablues.org) Adhost (www.adhost.com)

Web Hosting WBS Logo

Phil Chesnut

(philustr8r@aol.com)

May 2012 DEADLINES:

Advertising Space Reservations: May 5th malcarken@comcast.net Calendar: May 10th calendar@wablues.org Editorial Submissions: May 5th editor@wablues.org Camera Ready Ad Art Due: May 12th malcarken@comcast.net Camera Ready Art should be in CMYK, with a 300dpi for printing.

Advertising Rates:
Space Reservations 5th of the month Camera Ready Art 12th of every month Graphics: 300 dpi PDF, TIF or JPG Text: Plain .txt or Word Full Page: $260 (8.5 x 11) Half Page: $150 (8.5 x 5.5) Back Half Page: $200 (8.5 x 5.5) Quarter Page: $90 (4.25 x 5.5) Fifth Page: $65 (4.25 x 3.5) Business Card: $25 (3.5 x 2) ADD COLOR: ADD 25% Weve Got Discounts! 20% off- 12 month pre-payment 15% off- 6 month pre-payment 10% off- 3 month pre-payment Contact: advertising@wablues.org We value your business. Please send all advertising inquriries and ad copy to advertising@wablues.org with a copy to Malcolm Yard Dog Kennedy at malcarken@comcast.net

ATTENTION BLUES MUSICIANS: WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LATEST CD REVIEWED IN THE BLUESLETTER? GOT A BLUES CD FOR US?
Need help in getting the word about your music? Wed like to help. While we cannot predict when or if a review will land in the pages of the Bluesletter, wed like to encourage musicians to consider the Washington Blues Society a resource. If you would like your CD reviewed by one of our reviewers, please send two copies (one for the reviewer and one for our monthly CD giveaways at the Blues Bash) to the following address: Washington Blues Society ATTN: CD Reviews PO Box 70604 Seattle, WA 98027

THANK YOU FOR READING THE BLUESLETTER AND SUPPORTING LIVE BLUES IN THE EVERGREEN STATE!

Hi Blues Fans! This past Easter Sunday, I had the great pleasure of accompanying Vice President and Merchandise Director Tony Frederickson to Marcos in Lynnwood as he gave out this years Best of the Blues Awards Certificates of Nomination to nominees Scotty Harris in the Horn category and the Dirty Rice Band in the Best New Band Category. Tony has led this effort, and this year, well likely break our record of giving nominees their certificates before the night of the actual awards show on Sunday, May 6th at Seattles Triple Door. In addition to Dirty Rice holding down the Sunday night spot, Marcos offer live music eight nights a week, and their calendar includes blues, too. As Eric and his Dirty Rice trio worked through Trouble in Mind and Jimmie Vaughans You Dont Know, I noticed a long-time blues fan across the bar. Id seen him at blues festivals, the Red Crane, and at Charles Whites tribute at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant.

President

Letter

from the

Mark Riley & Cindy Chinchen by Blues Boss

Roy Rogers by Robet Horn

Hey Eric, my name is Richard or Dick Take Your Pick, and he told me about why Marcos is one of his blues haunts. I looked at Marcos menu, and it featured home style meatloaf, old fashioned pot roast, turkey pot pie, plus teriyaki, select Mexican entrees. Local wines include 14 Hands, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling. Local beers include Redhook and Mac and Jacks, and they are on special every day from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM daily at happy hour. Richard or Dick Take Your Pick advised me of the importance of getting the Bluesletter mailing right, and Tony and I assured him that were working hard to build a better Bluesletter, but more importantly, we have innovators behind the scenes like Membership Director Michelle Burge whos developed a new system to better keep track of those paper membership forms. I am filing this story from the great state of Michigan on a business trip, and Im fortunate that tomorrow night, Ill return to Billys

Tavern in Grand Rapids to see Janiva Magness as she celebrates her latest Alligator release, Stronger for It. Its one of my favorite new releases for this multiple Blues Music Award winning blueswoman wholl return this month to Jazz Alley. Shes also a spokesperson for National Foster Care Month, which is the month of May. For more information on Janivas music and work on behalf of fellow alumni of Americas foster care system, please visit www.janivamagness.com. Until next month, please support live blues music at clubs like the Highway 99 Blues Club, the New Orleans Creole Restaurant, and the Oxford Saloon. Eric Steiner President, Washington Blues Society Member, Board of Directors, The Blues Foundation

Bluesin the Northend Blueshouse on KSER

By Oogie Richards

I was drawn to the Blues at an early age from hearing my Fathers collection of music and his favorite Blues radio show on Sundays. As a teenager, I made the connection between my favorite Rock and Country Artists and quickly traced the Music DNA back to the Blues. At that point the hook was set and my journey began. Little did I know that the highs and lows of life would have a soundtrack so perfect every step of the way The Blues knew me! At the age of 5 listening to KJR AM in Seattle I was bitten by the radio bug. Cruising my Big Wheel near the shores of Lake Sammamish I will always remember wanting two things when I grew up. Number one I had to be on the radio and two, I wanted to be a movie star! I soon discovered I had a face for radio and breaking into Hollywood would be bit more challenging, though I havent given up on it just yet! My passion for radio is real and I have been very fortunate to have been on the air for 19 years in the Seattle market. I didnt choose a fulltime radio career for family and business reasons, so volunteering my time at a Community Radio Station was my ticket. It has afforded me an incredible opportunity that I cant put a monetary value on. To present the Blues on the radio the way I want to, while helping keep great, Independent, Community Radio like KSER on the air has been a cherished gift. My dream came true and you can hear that little 5 years old kid come out to play every Thursday Night on the radio! For those who have tuned in to The Blueshouse, you know this is NOT a traditional Blues Radio Show. There are great radio shows with Blues Historians at the helm that dig deep into the roots, while making the tie to Contemporary Artists of today. These shows are wonderful to listen to and important that we support them like John Kesslers All Blues on KPLU, Johnny Horns Preachin The Blues on KEXP, Blowtorch Blues with Brion & Ted from Spokane on KKZX, Blues Therapy with Big Daddy Ray Hansen and Armand The Doctor Parada from Walla Walla on KCOR and my colleague at KSER; Clancy Dunigan, Leslie Fluery and Robin K. I would be remiss if I didnt mention Dave Samson, formerly of KBCS he needs to be back on the radio! Washington has the great fortune of having so many quality Blues radio shows to tune into!

The Blueshouse has never tried to be something it is not. Yes, what we do is on purpose! We are real, honest, humorous and at times, raw aint that the Blues? We focus on Independent Artists and Bands from the PacNW and beyond who rarely get the air play on the big stations in the country. Good music is good music and we strive to find and support those who need to be heard. The best Blues is LIVE and we feature live performance and interviews on The Blueshouse nearly every week. Showcasing and capturing the essence

Good music is good music...

of the Artists and Bands who come on the air with us is paramount. It is their time to share their music with the World and we turn the stage over to them and as a result we have had some legendary performances! My Co-Host Sweet Danny Ray OBryant says we have the smallest Blues Club in the Country. We bring the music directly to your radio wherever you may be in this great World of ours! Sweet Danny Ray OBryant has been a great addition to the team! He came up to perform with Tommy Walls Raging River Blues Jam two years ago and he never left so I put him to work! Danny was the former Co-Host of Thats The Blues, a nationally syndicated radio show from California. He is the front man for The Roaddogz which he has Vocal and Harp duties. His musical knowledge and influence backed by his passion for radio and Blues made him the perfect Co-Host for me. Sweet Danny Ray has a wicked sense of humor that is subtle and plays nicely off my comedic shtick. We hear that some people just tune to hear what we are going to say next and the music is a bonus. Either way, what you hear is us having a Natural Ball with the Blues!

There is much value in collaborating together. I must commend Tony Frederickson and Eric Steiner for being positive examples of that. As leaders of the WBS they set the tone and attitude of its Membership, job well done! Collectively we all help keep the Blues alive. It takes the effort of caring and talented people coming together in a common cause. I am proud to be a member of the WBS and the Blues Community in the PacNW. I need to sincerely thank the musicians who have touched my life and blessed The Blueshouse with their music over the years, you know who you are and the big fella loves you! To our fans who appreciate the music we play and our unique way of presenting it, without you there would be no Blueshouse thank you for listening and thank you for your support! Note: Jonathan Oogie Richards founded The Blueshouse in 1993 at KBCS 91.3FM in Bellevue. Today he hosts his show from KSER 90.7FM in Everett Thursday Nights at 10:30PM PST.

Rocky Allen

PREVIEW: UnTapped Blues and Brews

Festival: 2012 Preview

Blues on the Columbia River, returns Friday, May 11th at Clover Island in the parking lot of the Clover Island Inn in Kennewick. Last year, approximately 1,100 fans attended this event. Clover Island Inn is the Official UnTapped Blues Festival Hotel. All performers and event guests and staff will be staying at the hotel with the remainder of the rooms filled with guests taking advantage of the Hotels Blues Weekend Package. The Friday festivities will begin at 3:00 pm with area bands battling in a judged completion. The winner will be awarded seat in the finals for the Washington Blues Society contest to send one band from our state to Memphis for the 30th annual event sponsored by the Blues Foundation. The event in Memphis features nearly 200 blues acts from around the globe competing as bands or solo/duo acts. From 7 pm to 10:45 pm there will be two bands playing outdoors including Roberson BZ & Flores and two time IBC winner the Lionel Young Band. After that, there will be two bands playing indoors in the Ballroom/ Crows Nest of Clover Island Inn. The bands

will include the Kenny James Miller Band and a fun Vaughn Jensen Open Jam Session. The music continues with the UnTapped Blues and Brews Festival on Saturday, May 12th with a full day of music for fans at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick. Music will begin at Noon and extend until 11:00 pm. The bands performing will include: Blues Music Award winners Tommy Castro and the Painkillers Kenny Blues Boss Wayne and funk master Russell Jackson Sammy Eubanks, 2011 Washington Blues Societys winner for Male Vocalist of the Year The 44s, Southern Californias newest hard hitting, in your face blues band Old, Fat, and Cripplingly Loud Blues with Jimmy Lloyd Rea & The Switch Masters Mia Vermillion, who has a voice that reminds you of Janis Joplin Ticket sales will in the Tri-Cities as well as

outlets in Spokane, Yakima and Walla Walla. Clover Island Inn the Official Hotel and Blues Weekend Headquarters. In 2009, the Festival and Clover Island Inn developed a weekend package for Festival attendees. Demand for the package continues to grow. The 2012 Festival and Clover Island Inn will sponsor a similar package and have agreed to boost the room block to a record level. On-Site Festival Camping. On May 11th and 12th we will be offering camping at the Benton County Fairgrounds. There is room for about 120 campsites accommodating approximately 300 guests. We anticipate selling out all of the spaces with the bulk of the sites going to festival fans from outside the Tri-Cities. The festival has a strong collaboration with community-based non-profit partners. Working with Columbia Energy Charitable Foundation, our local charity partners for 2012 include: Girls on the Run of the Tri-Cities, a life-changing, non-profit prevention program for girls in the 3rd through 8th grade; and My Friends Place at Safe Harbor Nursery, a shelter for homeless teens in our community who currently have no such available alternative.

10

11

By Robert Horn, with interview by Chrisda Hamilton and Robert Horn

Boise Boy
every time. That is what thousands have said every day now for almost ten years. But wait, theres more: he is one of the great harmonica players, song writers, and showman. This guy is not normal. Before he went on stage at Highway 99 Blues Club on March 23 John met with Chrisda Hamilton and I backstage. Before talking about music we talked a little about football. I knew he played it when in school. He mentioned that he weighed 240 at one point and played on the defensive line. He told about the fun he had making opposing quarterbacks eat a little turf and loose yardage. I told him I can relate: I played too and had a memory I told him about. He asked how the Washington Blues Society was doing and we told him about its growth over the last few years and told him about The Wired Band winning the International Blues Challenge. He asked questions about their music and we encouraged him to check out Youtube videos of them. Then we asked questions of John about his music. RH (Robert Horn): You have played with guitar players like Anson Funderberg, Junior Watson, and Elvin Bishop. What different challenges and opportunities would you say each guitar player presented for your performance? JN (John Nemeth): In terms of material, Junior Watson is different than me. Anson Funderberg was a challenge because I had to learn the Sam Myers song book, BB Kingesque. Elvin Bishop is on the other side, a style closer to mine, easier stylistically for me (by the time you read this he will have performed with Elvin Bishop again at the Egyptian Theater in Boise on March 30th). CH (Chrisda Hamilton): Where have you not played but would like to play? JN: Anywhere that I have not yet played (we got it and chuckled). CH: Where have you liked playing the most? JN: I suppose it was the Montreal Jazz Festival. What was cool about that was that I first played there when I was unknown but the promoter liked my music and I was on the main stage from 8 PM to 10 PM. I sold all my CDs and had to get Chicago to send more CDs. RH: In growing up you had some experience with jazz and country. What lead to blues? JN: When I heard it I thought, This guy is speaking my language. Some people are wired

Here is a question: is any male singer better than John Nemeth? Here is an answer: No. Of course such a question gets a subjective and opinionated answer but John Nemeth is clearly one of the greatest male blues singers alive. He has only been alive 37 years and has a band made up of guys in their 20s, so you have plenty of time to get familiar with him if you havent done so already. He has played all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. This year he travels all over the U.S. (details later in this article) and performs at a major event in Switzerland. His first performance in Russia was at a 700 seat sold out show in St Petersburg. The club owners were big fans as well as everyone else there. A few years back someone representing Alligator Records heard him perform and a statement was issued saying that never before have they signed an artist based on one performance, but that was not a normal performance. That is from the record company that signed the greatest blues legends alive today. I had the same impression a couple years earlier when I heard him for the first time and wrote that he is either one of the best vocalists around, or that was the performance of a lifetime, or both. When he performed at Highway 99 Blues Club on March 23rd, WBS member Kristen Davey pointed out that his singing gets better

12

Conquers the World An Interview with John Nemeth

that way. I am moved by emotional singers. CH: Who are some of the women you would have loved to sing with? JN: Etta James, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, and Dolly Partonso its not just the genre CH: What kind of music do you listen to in your spare time if it is not blues? JN: I channel surf,late night jazz, and Mexican music, real players, instruments, and real tunes,not much 80s, 90s and in this decade. RH: When you were growing up in Boise and started playing harmonica as well as singing, did you think you would make a living at music? JN: I played for a living from 1993 out of high school to 1998 in Boise. I played five nights a week locally(He told about his successful career since and talked a little about how live music still has not recovered from the hit it took after 911, with more fear in society and a decrease in people going out at night to catch live entertainment in nightclubs.) RH: You have some young guys in your band. How did you find them and who are they tonight? JN: I interview and audition young musicians. Tonight I have Tommy Folen on bass, Nick Fishman on drums, AC Myles on guitar, and Elliot Sowell on guitar. RH: What advice do you give young harmonica players? JN: Poverty stuck advice, buy a digital recorder and a small Casio style keyboard. Use the keyboard to improve your pitch while playing bends. Find a good teacher and be sure to practice every day. Play along with your favorite records and record yourself until you sound exactly like your favorite harmonica players. Same goes for singing.Another tip is to sing songs with the right emotion for the lyrics. RH: What makes a good rhythm section? JN: Its a question of do they give energy to the song, and not just plod and plod or play something having nothing to do with the song? They have to understand what the song is trying to say. CH: What song makes you feel humble? JN: Reconsider Me by Johnny Adams he can go from B flat to way down, with effortlessness. CH: What is one of the most memorable moments on stage, (and this can be a funny story or something light hearted)? JN: At Winthrop at the afterhours jam. There was a shallow stage. The drummer fell of the back of the stage and got tangled up in orange security netting. RH: When is another CD coming out? IN: It may be summer and May. There will be two CDs. One blues and one funky soul. We Still have not finalized an album title. We are finalizing the song list now, 90 percent popular request. It will be self-released. My contract with Blind Pig has run out and I havent resigned yet. I havent spent time thinking about it (the re-signing). RH: You will be playing harmonica and singing at some summer festivals, right? JN: Ya. Winthrop again, and Rock Cut (in Kettle Falls, WA), Illinois in June, the east coast in August (including performances from Florida to Massachusetts), Switzerland and Europe in October. CH: I like that song, Fuel For Your Fire. Id like to know more about that one and if you are going to sing it tonight. JN: I will sing it, and I will dedicate it to you. John then went out on stage. Ed Mahoney introduced John to the audience and told how John has auditioned and hired young musicians to play blues. Hes taken the music to new generations, keeping the blues alive. That night we heard some of the best harmonica playing ever, and the longer John sang the more astounding his vocals got. His range is always among the greatest: he can go down low and take you to a number of levels all the way to the heavens. It is also his songs that drive deep into the heart as well as head and take over to bring you to the mountain tops he sets out to take you to. Nobody is better at making an audience come to tears and laughter both on different songs and maybe even the same song. He has as much soul in his blues as anyone. John had a birthday that week and so did one of his fans who attended. So we got to see them on stage with a birthday cake as Happy Birthday was sung. If you are in Washington State in July make sure you are in Winthrop the weekend of July 20-22 and in Kettle Falls the weekend of July 27th29th. Look up www.winthropbluesfestival.com and www.rockcutblues.com. If you are reading this far away from Washington State go to his website to see when he plays in your part of the country next: www.johnnemethblues.com

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Guitar Slinger

I didnt know a HUMAN could do THAT.

kills at Triple Door

an interview with Roy Rogers by Robert Horn

The woman next to me at the event said those words half way through the last song of the evening. After that moment everyone was either screaming or had an emotion too intense to let out a sound. Her statement had a 30% emphasis on the word human and a 60% emphasis on the word THAT. The That she made reference to was the cathartic overwhelming powerful guitar artillery fired into the audience by Roy Rogers. It seemed as if he had six arms come out of each shoulder and ten hands come out of each arm, with ten fingers on each hand coming over and under the guitar from a thousand angles and several slides on the guitar, and the sight as well as the sound of this will be unforgettable. In a YouTube video where Robert Santelli interviewed Roy a while back, Roy explains the genius of Robert Johnson. A big part of Robert Johnsons powerful influence was his understanding of both rhythm and especially emotional tension expressed by the guitar. Great musicians like Roy Rogers and Beethoven understand that you build on that tension for some time, building a musical movement that you must eventually resolve. The bigger you make it and the longer it goes on before being resolved the more overwhelming it can be when you bring it on home. But to bring it on home with the power it needs you must be on the level of a Beethoven or a Roy Rogers. When knowledgeable music fans are asked who is the greatest slide guitar player alive some may say Sonny Landreth, but all the others will say Roy Rogers. The power of his music is not something words can explain. Even when I spoke with him sometimes hed say I cant really explain it without showing it to you. I talked with Roy after the sound check. Roy is polite, friendly, modest and a good person. I also knew that I was in the presence of greatness. Our conversation went on for a good amount of time and I only included most of the interview part of it here. RH (Robert Horn): I have listened to you for years and read everything there was including interviews. The Bob Santelli interview impressed me a lot. You were talking about Robert Johnson. That was great. RR (Roy Rogers): Explaining how I play. RH: Yeah, talking about Robert Johnson. That was one of my questions. The first question I wanted to ask. You were 13 when you started playing guitar and your brother brought home a Robert Johnson album. What happened? RR: My older brother. He was four years my senior. Yea, I was probably 14 when I first

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heard Robert Johnson. I was already playing in bands. I was already playing in bands when I was 13. I was a little rock n roller. Wed play the stuff of the day: Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Little Richard, thats what I started out with. Then I got into deep blues thereafter when I heard Robert Johnson My guitar teacher turned me on to Johnny Guitar Watson,.I heard a lot of stuff from the British Invasion. (Roy told a number of stories about the artists of the 1960s that created modern rock n roll off of blues) and I also listened to the Library of Congress recordings that Allan Lomax created. I heard the early Muddy stuff. As a teenager you are a little sponge. So when my older brother brought home this record, Robert Johnson: King of The Delta Blues I asked what is that? RH: So, you even played some blues before you heard Robert Johnson. What effect did he have specifically on the music you played after that? RR: Specifically slide guitar. The only slide I heard before that was Deep Feeling by Chuck Berry. (Roy talked a lot about that too. That was Chuck Berry on lap steel). From Robert Johnson I studied all the Delta Blues guys. The Delta Blues as opposed to Piedmont is much more of an emotional experience. It is moving. Those guys have the emotional fire power. Thats why the Chicago blues comes from itit is moving as opposed to technical like Piedmont. RH: What does slide guitar do emotionally that is so different than any other instrument? RR: The only other instrument that can do it is sax. You can put your breath in the sax. But you can do it with slide guitar... It is the sound of the voice... (Roy showed me some of what he was talking about with sound.) You know the story about BB. He was trying to imitate slide guitar when he was bending notes. Slide can go between the notes to do the call and response of voice. Thats Delta. Thats formative stuff, and it will always be part of me. (Roy talked more about his passion for reaching greater heights artistically and quoted Robert Browning writing that a mans reach should exceed his grasp.) RH: What did you learn from John Lee Hooker? RR: You didnt learn just about music, you learned about life. His music was his life and his life was about music. He was a deep man. He had very strong feelings about everything in the world. He was a very sensitive man. He could take it as deep as he felt like taking it musically. He would talk softly and slowly and everyone would be quiet, listening to him youd hanging on to every word.He is so beloved.

RH: Is there any living artist that can make you feel humble? RR: I am humbled every day by all the great artists I hear, young and old. There is not one in particular. So many have something to say. RH: What other genres may influence what you do? RR: Jazz. I am not a jazz player but you may hear a lick here and there that I do. I love listening to Ben Webster, Les Montgomery, Charlie Christian,I love that kind of stuff. Not too much of the fusion. I love some classical: the Russian composers are passionate(We then got back to discussing Robert Johnson and early blues, its timing and complexity.) RH: When you talked to Robert Santelli you talked about the tension in Robert Johnsons music. Can you talk about that more? RR: His timing shows he was a complex guy. There is great tension to his music. He creates that by playing with the rhythms and melody, in and out with the vocals, which is a Delta tradition, the way he messed with rhythm: slowing it down, coming down on the beat just, just hesitating a little enough to create the anticipation and the listener is grabbed. (I knew what he was talking about and talked about Curtis Salgado a while in terms of how he sometimes does that with vocals. Roy then told more about some things John Lee Hooker did musically to change things up). It is all about telling a story you cant think straight 12 bar, gotta think outside the box. RH: I have been asking guitar players and singers what creates a good rhythm section. What do you think? RR: You know. Rhythm sections are so important, especially in a trio for Gods sake. Listening, youve got to have good listeners. You cant have a good rhythm section without good listeners. They dont just play, they have to listen. If you arent a good listener and care more about struttin your stuff then chances are you can become a great player but not a good rhythm section member. Its also about the feel. The drummer has a lot to do with that. Thats the interaction. If you have band members who listen there is an interaction. If I define what everybody does it cannot go higher than I already have. If you are bringing something to the party it is an interactive thing. I dont want two guys just backing me up, I want to interact with you guys. Where are going to take this music.beyond where I have taken it so far? The music can shift depending on who is playing.

RH: You emphasize the feeling of the music, the feeling of the interaction, and what slide guitar feels like. Does blues give rise to a more musical connection than other genres? I suppose someone can be passionate about Norwegian folk music but blues seems special to me. What do you think? RR: I think so. I think certain melodies can do that in classical music but blues cuts through everything. It is universal, from the depths of the heart, it can go right to the gut and you dont even have to think about it. It can then go out anywhere on the planet. Part of the attraction to this for us all whether you are a singer or guitar player or whatever, if you are real about it you have the capacity to communicate with anybody with it. I have always aspired to be like the guys we are talking about. When I was a kid I respected those middle age black guys, Howlin Wolf, Chuck Berry,.(Roy told more about his life story and seeing the blues greats in the mid 1960s, and their influence on him). It is such a joy to communicate with people through this music till my dying day. RH: Are you working on a new CD? RR: Yes, with Ray Manzarek (co-founder of The Doors). I am doing another record with Ray and we are having a ball. The last one, Translucent Blues, was blues oriented. This one has some interesting material: there is some Latin stuff, theres certainly some blues, and then theres some rock stuff. Do you know who Jim Carroll was? He had some strange lyrics, basically poetry, that we are putting to music. Its fun to create a song with what Ray has been sitting on. Were going to mix it in the next couple weeks. Creatively it has been a joy. Ray is a Southside of Chicago guy. The irony is that I was never a big Doors fan, and I have told Ray that. Well go to Poland and then Florida. That is a different band than the Rhythm Kings. We talked about the band members of his main band (The Delta Rhythm Kings. Billy Lee Lewis is on drums and Steve Ehrmann on bass.) Steve is responsible for me playing with John Lee Hooker. He recommended me to the band. I went on the road with John sight unseen in 1982. I spent the next four years doing that with John Lee Hooker, and then in 1988 started producing his music. That night Roy put on another amazing show, and the next day he performed at the Coeur DAlene Blues Festival along with Coco Montoya and The Fat Tones. Roy does a lot of shows, and is in high demand for the same reason he got eight Grammy nominations: because he proves who he is every time he touches a guitar.

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Mark Dalton: Keeping the Groove

By Malcolm Kennedy

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Mark Your Calendars:

The Seattle Secret Music Showcase #12 will be held on Thursday, May 17th at Seattles Triple Doorat 7:30 PM and feature the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival. Proceeds from this all-star event will benefit the Acoustic Blues Festival at Centrum, Washingtons home for the arts in historic Port Townsend. This years Seattle Secret Music showcase artists feature Daryl Davis, Orville Johnson, John Miller, Grant Dermody, and BB Award winners Son Jack, Jr. and Michael Wilde. Yellow Dog recording artist Mary Flower will bring her own unique brand of acoustic blues to the Triple Door, and the bill is rounded out by Ricardo, wholl showcase a diverse musical set. Daryl Davis has worked with Elvis Presleys Jordanaires, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Percy Sledge, and many others. He was the featured pianist on Cephas & Wiggins 1992 Grammy Award winning album, Flip Flop and Fly. In 1985, boogie-woogie pioneer Pinetop Perkins selected Davis to succeed him in the piano and vocal slot of the Muddy Waters Legendary Blues Band. Daryl is the Artistic Director for the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival. Joining Daryl for a rousing set of acoustic blues will be Kitty

Save the Date for the Seattle Secret Music Showcase #12
King on bass and Sonja Lee on vocals. Orville Johnson, John Miller and Grant Dermody had been playing blues music with each other for close to ten years. They got together to perform when all three were on staff at the Port Townsend Blues Workshop and have found occasions to keep doing it though they all maintain busy solo careers. Orville Johnson has a gift for finding the secret ingredient that makes a song sound letter-perfect, whether its an R&B tune from New Orleans, a country blues or a jazz ballad. He moved to Seattle in 1978, where he was a founding member of the much-loved and well-remembered folk/ rock group, the Dynamic Logs. Other musical associates include Laura Love, Ranch Romance, and the File Gumbo Zydeco Band; and hes shared the stage with artists such as Doc Watson, Bonnie Raitt and John Lee Hooker. Orvilles guitar, dobro, and quavering, honeyed vocals have been featured on more than a hundred recordings, soundtracks and countless TV and radio commercials. John Miller has had a forty year career as a professional musician thus far, achieving acclaim

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So, who is that tall, quiet man in the leather jacket playing that thumping bass guitar? Well, if you are at a Chris Stevens and the Surf Monkeys gig, that would be Mark Dalton. Marks storied career dates back to the early 1960s when by age 15 he was playing guitar and/or bass in and around Lincoln, Nebraska. He played in bands like the Starfires, Exploiters, Vogues, Scotties Shadows, and Jacks and the Benders. Around 1967, Mark spent some time in Chicago, but he made his way back to Lincoln when he later hooked up with Denny Zager and Rick Evans. Remember Zager and Evans? Mark played on that Billboard #1 Hot 100 hit single In the Year 2525. The LP In the Year 2525 stayed at that chart position in top-40 radio for six weeks in the summer of 1969. That was the ear of the first lunar landing and the Woodstock music festival at Max Yasgurs farm. In the Year 2525 started out as a breakout local single in 1968 in the Lincoln and Omaha areas, and it sold 14,000 copies locally before the national RCA label picked it up. The song was a #1 hit in the United Kingdom and eventually sold one million units worldwide. Dave Trupp rounded out

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as a solo and ensemble guitarist, composer and teacher in a variety of styles, including country blues, old-time, jazz and Brazilian. By the time he was 27, John had released five solo albums to international critical acclaim. For the past 15 years, John has continued to perform in a variety of styles, but has returned again and again to the country blues that were his first love, releasing 10 instructional DVDs focusing on that music. Says Miller, Ive come to realize that everything Ive played has been informed by my early involvement with country blues and the lessons I learned from that music: the primary importance of rhythm and the need to communicate with clarity and strength of purpose. Grant Dermody is a harmonica player and singer known for his rich tone, tasteful solos, and solid rhythmic playing. Grant moves through a variety of musical styles while maintaining his own distinctive sound. A harmonica player, singer, songwriter, and teacher from Seattle, Washington, Grant has performed with blues legends Leon Bib, Honeyboy Edwards, Robert Lowery, Big Joe Duskin, John Dee Holeman, and Cephas & Wiggins. As a member of The Improbabillies, whose 1998 self-titled CD

the Zager and Evans line up, and Dave also was a member of the Liberation Blues Band with Mark before the decades end. In 1973, Mark made his way to Seattle and fell in with some pretty good company. He played with Tom McFarland and the Rhythm Tones, Issac Scott, Brian Butler, Twist Turner and the Turning Point, The Slamhound Hunters, Kim Field and the Left-Hand Men, Pat Guitar Slim Chase and the original line-up of the Crossroads Band. Marks on the original CD, too! Mark has opened for a number of national touring artists over the years, and in 1992, he received the Washington Blues Societys Best of the Blues Award for Best Blues Bass. In 2000, he was inducted into the Nebraska Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also has been a frequent contributor over the years to the Bluesletter and the Jet City Blues Blog. While he touched an incalculable number of people in his career in human services, its his night job keeping the groove at festivals, clubs and parties that continues to touch the heart of the blues community.

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

made a serious splash in the old-time world, Grant brought a unique blues sensibility and an innovative harmonica style to that genre. He has played on several of Seattle based singer/ songwriter Jim Pages recordings, and was a guest artist on Dan Crarys, Renaissance of the Steel String Guitar. A dedicated mentor of the instrument, Grant has taught harmonica for many years in both private and group settings nationwide to students of all ages. Teaching venues have included Blues Week at The Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins West Virginia, the Telluride Acoustic Blues Camp in Telluride, Colorado, and Blues Week at The University of Northhampton in the United Kingdom. Son Jack Jr & Michael Wildes energetic acoustic performances are what set them apart, and live shows have been described as intoxicating, intense, exciting experiences. Winners of the WA Blues Society Best of the Blues award two years in a row. Son Jack and Michael will be joined by Jim DiIanni on harmonica, who says, Live the blues, feel the blues, know the blues, sing the blues, play the blues. Keep on keepin the blues alive. Mary Flower is renowned for a uniquely personal vision of roots music that blends ragtime, acoustic blues, and folk - technically dazzling yet grounded in the down-to-earth simplicity of early 20th century American music. With eight albums under her belt, Mary has earned rave reviews from critics and audiences alike for her unassuming vocals, and her mastery of the difficult Piedmont blues guitar style. She continues to be a highly regarded teacher whose knowledge and technical mastery have inspired students at the Augusta Heritage Center and the Swannanoa Gathering, among many other educational venues. Mary has played shows all over North America as a regular on the blues and folk festival circuit, including performances at Merlefest, the Kerrville Folk Fest and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Mary performs and teaches internationally, and has released several instructional DVDs, including the highly regarded Homespun Tapes. Ricardo is a Seattle-based artist and musician whose work brings together an eclectic blend of music styles and inspirations. His style has evolved from early folk and rhythm-and-blues influences to his recent explorations of instrumental jazz. His recordings, which include the talented contributions of many local Seattle musicians, are creative metaphors from his personal journey and reflect his life-long love of music.

What if There Was a Blues ShowAnd nobody came?

Or even more bizarrewhat if no musicians came? This is an unlikely scenario, to be sure. But, thoughts about this unfortunate possibility come into my addled brain every so often. I got a call from Zab (Dennis Zyvoloski) who has been partnering with the powers that be at Seattle Teen Music, Jon Scherrer. Zab and the Salmon Bay Eagles provide a venue for the kids to play their music. Jon, Zab, Washington Blues Society Music Director Suze Sims, and I sat down and began to discuss the need to educate and groom a new generation of blues musicians. I am thinking of re-joining the Board of the Washington Blues Society to help implement a new initiative as Education Director if accepted by this years Board. Out of those conversations with Jon, Suze, Zab and me came a brand new program we have dubbed Passing the Torch. The Washington Blues Society, under the direction of the Education Director, will work to provide full or partial scholarships to two young people at the 2012 Acoustic Blues Festival at Centrum, held every summer at the end of July. The Washington Blues Society has yet to earmark any financial support for this endeavor since its really brand new. The societys support, however, of young people participating in events like Centrum, is not. We have brainstormed a few ways to raise cash quickly, one of them being a benefit show. We will be doing this show at the Red Crane, the home of the Washington Blues Societys Blues Bashes at 167th and Aurora Avenue North in Shoreline. The first Red Crane show supporting Passing the Torch will be on Sunday, June 10th. Why are Washington Blues Society fundraisers typically held on a Sunday? It is because we search out talent to volunteer their time by playing at the show, and many of our bands are gainfully employed most of the other days and nights of the week. This show will start in late afternoon and we will be done by 9:30 PM. So even old guys and gals, and most of us are, should be able to get enough sleep to make it through Monday with flying colors.

By Roy Brown

The bands, you ask? Im not tellin yet. Two of the four are already in the stable, and Im working on the other two. Look for our full page ad in the June Bluesletter. I can assure you they will all be premier bands that you wont want to miss. Its a good deal for a $10 admission to help pass the torch. We will also have a raffle and silent auction. We hope you will all be there with money in your wallet to help us Pass the Torch to a new generation of blues musicians who will carry on Americas original art form. We have big, long term plans for our project. We are all excited about morphing it into a force for paying the blues forward for many decades that many of us may not be here to see. Its a righteous effort. We hope you will join us in being a righteous supporter and show up at our benefit on June 10th at the Red Crane in Shoreline. Its for the kids, so where are the kids? We will be putting our application form up on the Seattle Teen Music and the Washington Blues Society web sites shortly. Later, we will hold an audition for the finalists, and this audition will be a public event. You can see the kids that emerge there, giving us a sample of their music. Also, we will have youth tweeners at the fundraiser, and some of them will likely apply for a Centrum scholarship. With strong support from the Salmon Bay Eagles in Zab, Seattle Teen Music in Jon, and the Washington Blues Society in Suze, weve got it covered. Please come out to help us. You will not be disappointed, and you will feel great about contributing to a very worthy cause, as we begin Passing the Torch to the kids. Ill close with a special message to youth musicians for the Passing the Torch opportunity. Please sign up now for: What: Scholarship for the 2012 Acoustic Blues Festival at Centrum (amounts of scholarship TBA) When: July 29 thru August 5th Where: Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA Scholarship Applications for download at: wablues.org or seattleteenmusic.com Applications must be received by May 28

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Dry Side Blues

Inland Empire Blues Society

If you are reading this column in the April edition of the Bluesletter, you know that Sammy Eubanks and the Fat Tones are part of what makes Spokane-area blues music so special. Attend the Dry Side Stomp at the Highway 99 on May 11th, and you will have another reason to wave bye-bye to Bellevue in your rear-view mirror as you head for the Dry Side.

A good reason to be on the Dry Side is the annual Blick Wells Blues Jam and benefit for the Women and Childrens Free Restaurant. Last month, we held the 6th annual celebration of Blicks life on Sunday, March 11th. Blick could be seen in the front row at many Eastern Washington festivals and Spokane-area blues shows, snapping pictures and posting them on his web site for all to enjoy and use. One of his good friends, Billy Stoops, had been looking forward to the opportunity to attend the event, and this year, Billy was able to bring the Rectifiers over for the show. Local trio VIBE opened with a set of classic blues songs, and they were followed by the Rectifiers, who wowed the crowd with their original blues music that sported Billys country twang. The benefit was headlined, as it has been since the beginning, by the fabulous Fat Tones, who shared a few stories of their times with Blick. It was very gratifying to be able to help such a worthy cause while listening to excellent music played by Blicks friends. Yet another good reason to be on the Dry Side is the Coeur d Alene Blues Festival, which was held at the Coeur dAlene Resort on March 30th and 31st. We started out on Friday the 30th with the Delta Preachers in the Whispers Lounge. Washington Blues Society Vice President and Merchandise Director Tony Fredrickson can verify that we enjoyed a front-row seat to some of the best Delta blues ever played. Immediately afterwards, we cruised around Lake Coeur d Alene partying with Laffin Bones and the Fat Tones without wind or rain to dampen our spirits. Try THAT on Lake Washington, wet-siders! Suitably prefunctioned, we disembarked and headed to the Splash lounge, where Sammy Eubanks was in rare form, heading out the

By Jerry Peterson, Vice President

front door, in the back door and all around the room while playing the guitar solo during Delbert McClintons Why Me? Saturdays festivities in the convention center started out with the Doghouse Boyz, followed by the Big Mumbo Blues Band, renowned slide guitar maestro Roy Rogers, and nationally known bluesman Coco Montoya. The festivities concluded with our buddies from Kalispell, Montana, the Kenny James Miller Band, whose set hit a crescendo when 19-year old guitar legend-in-themaking Forest Govedare traded some monster licks with Kenny Sederdahl. Yes, he now lives on the Wet Side, but Tim Too Slim Langford has been a part of the Spokane-area blues culture as long as most here can remember. He entertained family and friends at Bluz at the Bend on April 5th, and we had a rockin good time as he blazed his way through some of his older stuff, some of his newer stuff, and everything in between. Tim was assisted by his old friend and lifetime Spokane rocker Cary Fly, whose experience at the venue helped the Taildraggers get the most out of the Bends sound system. Cary was invited onstage at the end of the first set, accompanying Tim on guitar during Freddy Kings Going Down, and during the second set got to sing one of his own blues songs, Gravel on the Drive way. Tim then dedicated ZZ Tops Just Got Paid to yours truly, and finished the night with Peace with the Maker, Last Train and When You Love Somebody from his 2009 release Free Your Mind. Look for Too Slims new solo acoustic CD Broken Halo in May. Please celebrate blues from the Dry Side of Wa s h i n g t o n St at e on May 11th at the Hig hway 99 Blues Club!

2012 May Dry Side Bobby Patterson 2012 May Dry Side Cary Fly and Too Slim

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Blues Reviews
Kay Kay & The Rays The Best of Kay Kay & The Rays Catfood Records www.catfoodrecords.com

New Blues that you can Use

Compiled from three albums released between 1999 and 2003 including Texas Justice and Big Bad Girl, both critically acclaimed albums, The Best of Kay Kay & The Rays, features 15 tracks of tough R&B. Kay Kays vocals range from the brusque blues shouting of Koko Taylor and Big Mama Thornton to the more R&B sounds of Ruth Brown or Shemekia Copeland. The Rays with Johnny Rawls and Steve Lott splitting guitar duties went on to become Rawls backing band and Catfood Records house band with Bob Trenchard-bass, Andy Roman-sax, Dan Ferguson-keyboards and Richie Puga-drums. One of the standout tracks is Crossfire, the song Stevie Ray Vaughan had such success with here featuring the fiery guitar lines provided by Albert Madrid, Abner Burnett on keyboards (The Rays founder along with Trenchard,) Butch Cousins-drums, backing vocals by Jeff Eads, Mary Ellis and Pam Jones and punchy horns. Kay Kay co-wrote nine of the songs with Trenchard, who also penned one himself co-wrote one with Rawls who also penned two along with two covers. Another stand out is Rawls Love Me Baby with Rawls stinging guitar and backing vocals and the addition to the horn section of Alan Hanna and Robert Hinds on trumpet. The other cover is the heartfelt rendering of the Eugene Record (Chi Lites) Floyd Smith penned ballad that was a #2 R&B hit for Betty Everett in 1969. Malcolm Kennedy

Lisa Mills Tempered in Fire Really n Truly Music www.lisamills.com

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Going full circle from Mississippi, where Lisa Mills was born, to England, where Tempered in Fire was recorded, to touring in the UK and Europe back to Mobil Bay, Alabama where she now calls home Lisa has blazed an interesting trail,. Along the way she did a stint as the vocalist for Big Brother & the Holding Company and garnered notice from Robert Plant who is quoted as saying You should check her out, she has a wonderful voice, to performing on a compilation CD along side Junior Wells, Dr John among others, and also put out a couple of albums of her own. Lisa hooked up with Ian Jennings (Jeff Beck, Van Morrison,) her long term performing partner, who plays double bass on this project and co-produced it with Lisa as well as having a hand in the mixing. Along with Lisa on guitars is Andy Fairweather Low whose musical career goes back to a late 60s pop band that had chart success on to being a session and touring musician with the likes of The Who, Eric Clapton, Roger Waters, George Harrison, Bill Wymans Rhythm Kings and others. The ten selections feature two originals that Mils co-wrote along with covers of Wet Willies big hit Keep On Smiling, performed here with a light reggae lilt, and Otis Reddings haunting These Arms of Mine. Mills vocals range from powerful rock edged (Tennessee Tears, Ill Never Fall In Love Again) to country twang (Blue Guitars of Texas) to R&B (Keep On Smiling, Tempered In Fire). The original Why Do I Still Love You as kind of an R&B/rock hybrid where as the other original My Happy Song features soulful vocals and a mellow flugelhorn solo by Matt Winch. I found this to be one of the standouts along with Countryside of Life which has a bluesy feel to it and some tasty guitar work by Andy. From satiny smooth to soaring and assertive, Mills belts it out with gusto and spirit and is reminiscent of Cee Cee James. Malcolm Kennedy

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Boy Wells Blue Skies Calling Marcel Marsupial Records www.boywells.com

Boy Wells debut release Blue Skies Calling on his own Marcel Marsupial Records is a very eclectic mix of country and western to jazz, bluegrass to rock and even a little blues with a dozen original songs and as many artist participating. The opening track is Mr. Coluzzi, a jazzy instrumental piece punctuated by the bubbling bass of John Prevetti the two piece horn section of Bill Watson on sax and Brad Clements on trumpet and Mark Schultzs (Boy Wells) biting guitar. The bluesy harp of Jimi Lee opens the next selection World Weary and Blue a barn burner that displays Boy Wells affable vocals. Bring it Back starts as a rocker then morphs into a mellow jazz piece with floating sax and Marks strong vocals. The guitar solo takes the track back into the realm of rock. Marcel Marsupial is a free form jazz instrumental while the vocals and violin on the title track sounds C&W. The mellow sax and Jeff Beck style piercing guitar that open Love in Vain (no not the Robert Johnson classic) lead into Boy Wells impressive vocals making it one of my favorite cuts. Mark brings back the country both Broke Down and Mon Angel while Tin Winter, another of my favorites, and Traveller are both bluegrass instrumentals featuring the fiddle expertise Rickie Simpkins, the wonderful banjo of Becky Taylor with Boy Wells on acoustic guitar. My favorite track is the low down blues of Devils Backbone Blues with Boy Wells playing gut bucket Delta slide (Jimi Lees blues harp would have accented this cut very nicely.) Blue Skies Calling has a little bit of everything and shows Mark Schultz to be a very talented guitarist, singer and songwriter and I look forward to see what he brings to his next offering. Malcolm Kennedy

The Forty Fours Americana Rip Cat Records www.ripcatrecords.com

So what is Americana, anyway? Well, here is my take on it. You borrow elements of 50s or 60s rock, maybe country, folk, zydeco, rocka-billy, blues, New Orleans or other genres aka American roots music, and combine them together. For different songs maybe you add or take away different bits. Once you have sufficiently defied all hopes of categorization by media types you have achieved Americana. The 44s add a health dose of blues; but toss in some other bits sometimes too. Special guest, and co-producer along with The 44s, Kid Ramos, adds lead and rhythm guitar to several tracks like the opener Hanging Tree which has a Hip Shake Thing vibe to it and also features the wailing harp of Tex Nakamura. The mellow paced Shes Poison where Johnny Main sings every time that I grab your hand now darlin blood turns cold as ice and the stinging guitar solo that follows and Texs tough solo and monster harp throughout make this cut a standout. Ramos adds some keening Elmore James style slide to Pleading My Case which recalls the legendary Dust My Broom. The slow burn of Mr Operator in done in the vein of the great Freddy King, replete with some surf guitar in the fade out. The slow acoustic affair of Hard Times features Ramos on Dobro; while Texs mournful harp fills guide the way. Eleven of the 13 tracks are band originals with covers of Willie Dixons Youll Be Mine done as a fast paced rocker and Howlin Wolf s Mr. Highway Man a meaty blues shuffle with bristling guitar and deft harp fills. Ron Dziubla lends his honking sax to a couple of tracks including the midtempo shuffle Hold On the sax solo just drips blues and Johnnys sharp guitar seals the deal. The 44s, Johnny Main, vocals and guitar; Tex Nakamura, harmonica, Mike Turturro, bass and J.R. Lozano, drums with special guests Kid Ramos, guitar and Ron Dziubla, horns have distilled influences of various artists and genres showcasing stout guitar, vibrant harp and compelling vocals backed by tight rhythm all executed with a touch that is equal parts finesse and sharp edged gusto. Americana is a feast of blues that will satiate your hunger for this unique American art form we call the blues. Malcolm Kennedy

4 5 6
The Wired! Band Washington Blues Self released www.wiredbandinfo.com J.B. Ritchie Power Blues Tear Drop Records www.teardroprecords.com I just recently discovered J.B. Ritchies Power Blues from 1996 and I am glad our blues society president Eric Steiner turned me on to him. Reading the track listings of ten, mostly heavily covered, blues standards along with two originals my first thought was: what can this three piece band add to all these classics? The song choices include three by Muddy Waters and a Willie Dixon song strongly associated with Muddy, one by Howlin Wolf, and a pair penned by Dixon for Wolf, Elmore James and more. Ritchie opens with what is frequently cited as the first rock & roll song, Jackie Brenstons (and Ike Turners) Rocket 88 which between the keyboards, guitar lines and pace of the beat leave the lyrics as only thing recognizable from the original. The shivering slide on Muddys Shes Nineteen Years Old is more recognizable; but as is found on the other tracks, J.B. doesnt attempt to copy the vocal mannerisms or phrasing of the legends he is covering. Muddys Trouble No More sounds like it could be a stripped down Allman Brothers Band, while Messin With The Kid, struts and percolates in a manner not unlike the original by Junior Wells. Ritchies originals Nervous Breakdown and You Dont Gotta fit seamlessly with this set of blues masterpieces. I particularly enjoyed the latter, a slow simmered number performed with a deft touch and understated playing making it easily one of my favorite cuts. A couple other favorites are Wolf s Howlin For My Darlin and Shake It For Me which along with Red Rooster is one of the tunes Dixon wrote for Wolf. J.B. closes out Power Blues with a rollicking version of Elmores Shake Your Moneymaker featuring blistering slide guitar work. An expert at slide guitar and a very proficient guitarist overall, strong songwriter and seasoned vocalist J.B. Ritchies unpretentious and reverent, fresh and full of vitality. There was nothing about Power Blues that hints that these recording were made over 15 years ago and it is definitely not blues rock as the name might imply. I think a more apt title would be Powerful Blues. I found this set to be very enjoyable throughout. Malcolm Kennedy

Ok, I think just maybe you know who these guys are. You voted them Best Band two years in a row at the BB Awards. Kevin Sutton on guitar and lead vocals brought home the hardware for two of his three personal nominations in 2011, and they have nine more nominations for 2012. Then there is that other thing, the various Washington judges sending Wired! twice in a row to represent the Washington Blues Society at the Blues Foundations International Blues Challenge in Memphis where they were crowned the 28th IBC Champions over hundreds of contestants from across the United States, Canada and the World. So what about the new CD Washington Blues you ask? Well, in short, it rocks my world. The long awaited and anticipated follow up to Wired! Bands 2008 debut In Like Flynn, which showed their varied influences of rock-a-billy, rock & roll, blues and more, Washington Blues shows their full on blues groove. Kevin shows he has the slide guitar chops to be mentioned along with the best in the Northwest (which also means some of the finest in the world) on tunes like Im A Train and the title track Washington Blues. Woe Is Me sounds like a long lost Chester Burnett song and I could easily hear Albert King singing Talk ToThe Boss too. Suttons artistic and refined guitar lines on the humorous Politicians Song are notable and he brings the sting to Loser. My favorite song in the set is Find The Blues In You a contemporary blues that show cases Kevins strong vocal abilities as well as Rick and Keiths back-up vocals. Kevin Sutton and Wired! penned nine of the ten tracks the exception being the Wired! Bands short; but tasteful acappella call and response take on John The Revelator replete with hand claps and foot stomps to keep the rhythm. This song is one of the deepest blues out there; in fact it is where blues and gospel meet. My only complaint about Washington Blues is that it ends way too quickly; I mean seriously guys, where are the other five songs? I guess they are saving them for their next release. I thoroughly enjoyed Washington Blues from beginning to end; there isnt a weak track on it. The Wired! Bands Washington Blues is absolutely fantastic and belongs in every serious blues fans collection. The December 31st, 2011 release date also makes it eligible for the 2013 BB Awards and the Blues Foundations prestigious Best Self Produced CD Keeping The Blues Alive Award. Malcolm Kennedy

For more Blues Reviews go to wablues.org 21

Festival Review:

First Annual Coyote Kings Invitational Walla Walla Guitar Festival By Cindy Dyer
I love the blues, but not when it comes to my mood, and towards the end of winter, Ive got some of that moody blues. For me, the best way to beat the blues is go listen to some blues. Or better, go dance to the blues. And even better, go to a festival in a town Ive never visited before! Yay! Road trip! It was hard not to catch the excitement of the day, as Robin Barrett of Coyote Kings shared his excitement of organizing this new festival in his home town of Walla Walla. Ive had enough of the cold, the rain, and the wind, so I was really excited to wake up to a beautiful sunny day in Central Washington. I was so ready for a road trip to another corner of the state. In the name of blues, Ive been able to visit several areas of our beautiful state. A BIG thank you for all the sponsors, including several blues societies represented there, the volunteers, and all the wonderful people of Walla Walla. Robin Barrett did an excellent job hosting this event and was around a lot to show his love and appreciation. Everything was well-organized with schedules and maps, and the venues were friendly and accommodating for the large crowds. For a Guitar festival, there was a wide variety of music, and for us blues lovers, there was plenty of that, too. It was good to see so many of my blues friends there from all over the state to support this new event. It started at noon, with an Acoustic Showcase at Walla Faces, one of many wine tasting rooms around the town. We arrived a little late, so we missed the first band, SIOL, but I heard it was a great tribute to St. Patricks Day. Next was Laredo Drive, which Robin describes as Dog Grass, which is a mixed fare of blue grass, jazz, roots, Americana, and the kitchen sink. Joe Smart is a flat picking champion, which he describes as a blue grass style of picking fiddle tunes on an acoustic guitar. He was accompied by a stand-up bass and mandolin which made for an entertaining set. At three oclock, there was the large show at the Walla Walla Elks. This was my favorite of the day since it was a large room with plenty of room to dance. And that is what a lot of us did as the first on stage was our host, Coyote Kings with Mush (Michelle Morgan). They were joined by Kenny Blue Ray, well known on the West Coast, making some great guitar sounds with Robin and Mondo Mike. They played several songs from their new CD, Move. I have all their CDs and this is my favorite with the addition of Mush that really adds that real blues sound. I love All Tangled Up and Only Love I Know. Drummer Curtis Rocket Johnson, also a writer and singer, announced lets play some blues and proceeded with Downtown. Next was the Randy Oxford Band. It was the first Ive seen these fantastic lead guitar players who went back and forth singing and playing, joined by the enthusiasm and high energy of Randy Oxford on his trombone. Then the beautiful Jada Amy joined them with her dynamic, sexy, soulful voice. The final show at the Elks was Jimmy Lloyd Rea and the Switchmasters. He announced they were all blues, great blues, and nothing but the blues and as his first song says, he is the Brother with the Blues. I loved how he rocked Shake Your Money Maker with slide guitar. The rest of the night was the Guitar Crawl with six bands at three venues. Of course, I wanted to check out all of them, so I figured out a schedule to do just that. To enjoy some long time favorites, like Junkyard Jane (with Billy jumping on the bar and playing) and the seemingly effortless guitar playing and vocals of Sammy Eubanks, and the rocking high energy of Vaughn Jensen. Amid the crowd, I enjoyed and watched Kevin Selfe play while slow dancing with a girl between him and his guitar. I also enjoyed the local bands, Philly KingB & The Stingers and Gary Winston & The Real Deal with their variety of Keys, Harmonica, and Trombone. After dancing and walking around all day, I have to admit, I couldnt stay for the All Star Jam, hosted by Vaughn Jensen and Curtis Rocket Johnson (from Coyote Kings), but I have confidence in the fact that they rounded out the great day of music. As you can see, we had a variety of great music, which made for a fantastic day. Thats why I love festivals and the people who put them on. Lets all find joy in the journey and dance away!

17TH Annual MOUNT BAKER R&B FESTIVAL

August, 3rd, 4th & 5th, 2012 Deming Log Show Fairgrounds 3295 Cedarville Rd. Bellingham WA 98226 As always, the most fantastic lineup of worldclass music in the Pacific Northwest! The most amazing venue plus the coolest vibe around Friday, August 3rd: OLI BROWN BAND, RAFAEL TRANQUILINO BAND, JUMPIN JOSH & FELICIA Saturday, August 4th: HOT TUNA, DANA FUCHS BAND, GUITAR SHORTY, THE FAT TONES, THE CHRIS EGER BAND, JASMINE GREENE Sunday, August 5th: HAMILTON LOOMIS, HARPER & MIDWEST KIND, THE KIRBY SEWELL BAND, REDHOUSE, BOBBY HOLLAND and the BREADLINE Free after-hours jams in our indoor museum building are worth the price of admission themselves. Its an opportunity for amateur players from around the State to take the stage with the pros. Jams go until 2am each night. TICKETS ON SALE AT: Avalon Music, Bellingham, (360)676-9573 Hugo Helmer Music, Burlington, (360)757-0270 or online at bakerblues.com or (360)383-0850

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A.H.L. (206) 935-4592 AlleyKattz (425) 273-4172 Annieville Blues (206) 994-9413 Author Unknown (206) 355-5952 Baby Gramps Trio (425) 483-2835 BackGround Noise (425) 931-8084 Back Porch Blues (425) 299-0468 Badd Dog Blues Society (360) 733-7464 Billy Barner (253) 884-6308 Bay Street Blues Band (360) 731-1975 Norm Bellas & the Funkstars (206) 722-6551 Black River Blues (206) 396-1563 Blackstone Players (425) 327-0018 Blues Attitude (360) 701-6490 Blue 55 (206) 216-0554 Blue Healers (206) 440-7867 Blues To Do Monthly (206) 328-0662 Blues Playground (425) 359-3755 Blues Redemption http://www.bluesredemption.com (The) Blues Sheriff (206) 979-0666 Blues to Burn (253) 945-7441 Boneyard Preachers (206) 755-0766/ 206-547-1772 Bill Brown & the Kingbees 206-276-6600 Bump Kitchen (253) 223-4333, (360) 259-1545 Brian Butler Band (206) 361-9625 Charlie Butts & the Filtertips (509) 325-3016 Ellis Carter - 206-935-3188 Malcolm Clark Band (253) 853-7749 Colonel (360) 293-7931 Kimball Conant & the Fugitives (206) 938-6096 Jack Cook & Phantoms of Soul (206) 517-5294 Rod Cook & Toast (206) 878-7910 James Curley Cooke (253)945-7441 Cooke & Green (253) 945-7441 Coyote Blues (360) 420-2535 John Scooch Cugnos Delta 88 Revival (360) 352-3735 Crossroads Band (206) 935-8985 Daddy Treetops (206) 601-1769 Sean Denton Band (425)387-0620 Double Cookin (253) 945-7441 Double Scotts on the Rocks (206) 418-1180 Julie Duke Band 206-459-0860 Al Earick Band (253) 278-0330 Sammy Eubanks (509) 879-0340 Richard Evans (206) 799-4856 Fat Cat (425) 487-6139 Fat Tones (509) 869-0350 Kim Field & the Mighty Titans of Tone (206) 295-8306 Gary Frazier (206) 851-1169 Free Reign Blues Band (425) 823-3561 Fil Gumbo (425) 788-2776 Nicole Fournier & Her 3 Lb Universe (253) 576-7600 Jimmy Frees Friends (206) 546-3733 Charlene Grant & the Love Doctors (206) 763-5074 Paul Green (206)795-3694 Dennis Juxtamuse Hacker (425) 512-8111 Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band (425)576-5673 Tim Hall Band (253) 857-8652 Curtis Hammond Band (206) 696-6134) Ryan Harder (253) 226-1230 Scotty Harris & Lissa Ramaglia/Bassic Sax (206) 418-1180 Terry Hartness (425) 931-5755 Ron Hendee (425) 280-3994 JD Hobson (206) 235-3234 Hot Rod Blues Revue (206)790-9934 Bobby Holland & the Breadline (425)681-5644 James Howard band (206) 250-7494 David Hudson / Satellite 4 (253) 630-5276 Raven Humphres (425) 308-3752 Hungry Dogs (425) 299-6435 Brian Hurst (360) 708-1653 K. G. Jackson & the Shakers (360) 896-4175 Jeff & the Jet City Fliers (206) 469-0363 Junkyard Jane (253) 238-7908 Stacy Jones Band (206) 992-3285 Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937

Talent Guide

Washington Blues Society

Harry The Man Joynes (360) 871-4438 James King & the Southsiders (206) 715-6511 Virginia Klemens / Jerry Lee Davidson (206) 632-6130 Mick Knight (206) 373-1681 Bruce Koenigsberg / the Fabulous Roof Shakers (425) 766-7253 Kolvane (503) 804-7966 Lady A & the Baby Blues Funk Band (425) 518-9100 Brian Lee & the Orbiters www.brianleeorbiters.com Brian Lee Trio (206) 390-2408 Scott E. Lind (206) 789-8002 Little Bill & the Bluenotes (425) 774-7503 Loose Gravel & the Quarry (253) 927-1212 Dana Lupinacci Band (206) 860-4961 Eric Madis & Blue Madness (206) 362 8331 Bill Mattocks Band (206) 601-2615 Albritten McClain & Bridge of Souls (206) 650-8254 Brian Jelly Belly McGhee (253) 777-5972 Doug McGrew (206) 679-2655 Mary McPage Band (206) 850-4849 Miles from Chicago (206) 440-8016 Reggie Miles (360) 793-9577 Michal Miller Band (253) 222-2538 Rob Moitoza / House of Reprehensibles (206) 768-2820 Moon Daddy Band (425) 923-9081 Jim Nardos Boogie Train Blues Band (360) 779-4300 Keith Nordquist (253) 639-3206 Randy Norris & The Full Degree (425) 239-3876 Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely (425) 239-3876/(425) 359-3755 Randy Oxford Band (253) 973-9024 Robert Patterson (509) 869-0350 Dick Powell Band (425) 742-4108 Bruce Ransom (206) 618-6210 Red Hot Blues Sisters (206) 940-2589 Mark Riley (206) 313-7849 Gunnar Roads (360) 828-1210 Greg Roberts (206) 473-0659 Roger Rogers Band (206) 255-6427 Maia Santell & House Blend (253) 983-7071 Sciaticats Band (206) 246-3105 Shadow Creek Project (360) 826-4068 Tim Sherman Band (206) 547-1772 Billy Shew Band (253) 514-3637 Doug Skoog (253) 921-7506 Smoke N Blues Allstars (253) 620-5737 Smokin Js (425) 746-8186 Son Jack Jr. (425) 591-3034 Soulshaker Blues Band (360) 4171145 Star Drums & Lady Keys (206) 522-2779 John Stephan Band (206) 244-0498 Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys (206) 236-0412 Stickshift Annie Eastwood (206) 522-4935 Alice Stuart & the Formerlys (360) 753-8949 Richard Sysinger (206) 412-8212 Annette Taborn (206) 679-4113 Dudley Taft (206)795-6509 Tahoma Tones (253)851-6559 Ten Second Tom (509) 954-4101 Tone Kings (425) 698-5841 Too Slim & the Taildraggers (425) 891-4487 Leanne Trevalyan (253)238-7908 Tim Turner Band (206) 271-5384 T-Town Aces (206)935-8985 Two Scoops Combo (206) 933-9566 Unbound (425) 258-4477 Uncle Ted Barton (253) 627-0420 Nick Vigarinos Meantown Blues (360) 387-0374 Tommy Wall (206) 914-9413 Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks (360) 652-0699 / (425) 327-0944 Charles White Revue (425) 327-0018 Mark Whitman Band (206) 697-7739 Michael Wilde (425) 672-3206 / (206) 200-3363 Rusty Williams (206) 282-0877 Hambone Wilson (360) 739-7740 C.D. Woodbury (425) 502-1917 Beth Wulff Band (206) 367-6186, (206) 604-2829

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Blues on the Radio Dial

PLEASE SEND ANY RADIO UPDATES TO CALENDAR@WABLUES.ORG

Monday

KUGS 89.3FM Bellingham: Highway 61 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kugs.org - DJ, Chalkie McStevenson KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: Blues On Rye 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Val Vaughn Northwest Convergence Zone Online Radio: NWCZradio.com: Dave Samsons BluesShow 7:00pm - 10:00PM

KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler KAOS 89.3FM Olympia: Blues For Breakfast 8:00AM - 10:00AM www.kaosradio.org - DJ, Jerry Drummond KSER 90.7FM Everett: Audio Indigo 7:00PM - 9:00 PM www.kser.org - DJ, Robin K KPBX 91.1FM Spokane: Blues Kitchen 10:00PM - 12:00AM www.kpbx.org - DJ, Tina Bjorklund KZPH 106.7FM Wenatachee: The Blues 11:00PM - 12:00AM www.therock1067.com - DJ, Dave Keefe KSER 90.7FM Everett: Blues Odessey 9:00PM - 11:00pM www.kser.org - DJ, Leslie Fleury KEXP 90.3 Seattle Preaching the Blues with Johny Horn Sunday Mornings 9am to Noon KYRS 92.3 FM, KYRS.org Blues Now and Then 6-8 PM. DJ, Patrick Henry and Jumpin Jerry. KPLU 88.5FM Tacoma: All Blues 6:00PM - 12:00AM www.kplu.org - DJ, John Kessler KWCW 90.5FM Walla Walla: Blues Therapy 7:00PM - 9:00PM www.kwcw.net - DJ, Biggdaddy Ray Hansen and Armand The Doctor Parada KKZX 98.9FM Spokane: Blowtorch Blues 7:00PM - 10:00PM www.kkzx.com - DJ, Ted Todd Brion Foster.

Tuesday

KBCS 91.3FM Bellevue: Eh Toi! 11:00PM - 1:00AM www.kbcs.fm - DJ, DJ Marte

Wednesday

KEXP 90.3FM Seattle: The Roadhouse 6:00PM to 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Greg Vandy KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon: The Blue Boulevard 8:00PM - 10:00PM www.mail@ksvr.org - DJ, Jackson Stewart KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon: The Blues Note with Janice 10:00PM - 12:00AM www.janice@ksvr.org - DJ, Janice Gage

Sunday

Thursday

KSER 90.7FM Everett: Clancys Bar and Grill 8:30PM - 10:30PM www.kser.org - DJ, Clancy Dunigan KSER 90.7FM Everett: The Blueshouse 10:30PM - 12:30AM www.kser.org - DJ, Jonathan Oogie Richards

Friday

KEXP 90.3FM Seattle: Shack The Shack 6:00PM - 9:00PM www.kexp.org - DJ, Leon Berman

Washington Blues Society

Sundays

Saturday

Blues Jams

KSER 90.7FM Everett: The Juke Joint 1:00PM - 3:00PM www.kser.org - DJ, Jon Noe

Mondays

Alki Tavern: Jam hosted b y Manuel Morais Dawsons, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7pmn Eastlake Zoo Tavern: Eastlake Zoo Social Club & Jam featuring the Seattle Houserockers, 7pm Evelyns Tavern, Clear Lake: Gary Bs Church of the Blues 6 10pm Lighthouse, Des Moines: Northpoint Tacoma: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 7pm Raging River: Tommy Wall May 13 Mark Whitman Silver Dollar: Big Nasty, 8pm Two Twelve, Kirkland: hosted by HeatherBBlues, 7pm

Caffe Mela, Wenatchee, 7pm (first Mon. of the month) 88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Star Drums & Lady Keys host Blue Monday Jam, 8pm JRs Hideway: Malcolm Clark, 8pm Oxford Saloon: All ages open jam, 7 11pm Ten Below: hosted by Underground Blues Jam, every 1st Monday of the month, Wenatchee

Tuesdays

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Barrel Invitational: hosted by Billy Shew, 8pm Barrel Invitational: hosted by Billy Shew, 8pm Dawsons, Tacoma: hosted by Shelley & Jho, 8pm J & M Cafe Jam: May 8 & 22 Tim Turner Pacific Rim Marysville Best Western: Mike Wright & the Blue Sharks, 7 11pm Snohomish Spirits & Sports: Sean Denton & friends Summit Pub: Tim Hall & the Realtimes, 7:30pm Wild Buffalo, Bellingham: hosted by Rick Baunach, 6:30 - 9:30pm Yuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

Venue Guide
Seattle
Clearwater Casino Suquamish (360) 598-6889 Destiny Seafood & Grill Port Angeles (360) 452-4665 Halftime Saloon Gig Harbor (253) 853-1456 Junction Tavern Port Angeles (360) 452-9880 Little Creek Casino Shelton (360) 427-7711 Seven Cedars Casino Sequim (360) 683-7777 Sirens Port Townsend (360) 379-1100 Upstage Port Townsend (360) 385-2216

Washington Blues Society

Peninsula

Al Lago, Lake Tapps (253) 863-8636 2 Wheel Blues Club Tacoma Barnacles Restaurant, Des Moines (206) 878-5000 The Barrel Burien (206) 244-7390

Tacoma, Burien, Federal Way, etc

South Sound

CCs Lounge, Burien (206) 242-0977

Blarney Stone Pub and Restaurant (206) 448-8439 China Harbor Restaurant (206) 286-1688 Dimitrious Jazz Alley (206) 441-9729 x210 EMP Liquid Lounge (206) 770-2777 EMP Sky Church (206) 770-2777 Fiddlers Inn (206) 525-0752 Bellingham, Anacortes, Whidbey Island, etc Grinders (206) 542-0627 China Beach Langley (360) 530-8888 Highliner Pub (206) 283-2233 Just Moes Sedro Woolley (360) 855-2997 Highway 99 Club (206) 382-2171 LaConner Tavern LaConner (360) 466-9932 J & M Cafe (206) 467-2666 Little Roadside Tavern Everson (360) 592-5107 Lock & Keel (206) 781-8023 Old Edison Inn Edison (360) 766-6266 Maple Leaf Grill (206) 523-8449 Rockfish Grill Anacortes (360) 588-1720 Mr. Villa (206) 517-5660 Stump Bar & Grill Arlington (360) 653-6774 New Orleans (206) 622-2563 Watertown Pub Anacortes (360) 293-3587 Paragon (206) 283-4548 Wild Buffalo Bellingham (360) 312-3684 Pike Place Bar and Grill (206) 624-1365 Viking Bar and Grill Stanwood (360) 629-9285 The Rimrock Steak House (206) 362-7979 Salmon Bay Eagles (206) 783-7791 St. Clouds (206) 726-1522 Third Place Commons, Lake Forest Park (206) 366-3333 Triangle Tavern (206) 763.0714 Bellevue, Kirkland, etc. Tractor Tavern (206) 789-3599 Central Club Kirkland (425) 827-8808 Triple Door (206) 838-4333 Crossroads Shopping Center Bellevue (425) 644-1111 Damans Pub Redmond Forecasters Woodinville (425) 483-3212 Ice Harbor Brewing Co - Kennewick (509) 582-5340 Raging River Caf & Club Fall City (425) 222-6669 Time Out Sports Bar Kirkland (425) 822-8511 BBQ & Blues Clarkston (509) 758-1227 Vino Bella Issaquah (425) 391-1424 Breadline Caf Omak (509) 826-5836 Wild Vine Bistro, Bothell (425) 877-1334 Club Crow Cashmere (509) 782-3001 Wilde Rover Kirkland (425) 822-8940 CrossRoads Steakhouse Walla Walla (509) 522-1200 Valhalla Bar & Grill, Kirkland (425) 827 3336 Lakeys Grill Pullman (509) 332-6622 Main Street Tavern Omak (509) 826-2247 Peters Inn Packwood (360) 494-4000 Pine Springs Resort - Goldendate (509-773-4434 Rams Ripple Moses Lake (509) 765-3942 Rattlesnake Brewery Richland (509) 783-5747

North Sound

Capitol Theater/Olympia Film Society (360) 754-3635 Charlies Olympia (360) 786-8181 Cliff House Restaurant Tacoma (253) 927-0400 Destination Harley Davidson Fife (253) 922-3700 Blues Vespers at Immanuel Presbyterian (253) 627-8371 Jazzbones in Tacoma (253) 396-9169 (The) Junction Sports Bar, Centralia (360) 273-7586 Lighthouse Des Moines (206) 824-4863 Maggie OTooles Lakewood (253) 584-3278 Magnolia Caf Poulsbo (360) 697-1447 Mint Alehouse Enumclaw (360) 825-8361 Pats Bar & Grill Kent (253) 852-7287 Pick & Shovel Wilkeson (360) 829-6574 Riverside Pub, Sumner (253) 863-8369 Silver Dollar Pub Spanaway (253) 531-4469 The Spar Tacoma (253) 627-8215 The Swiss Tacoma (253) 572-2821 Tugboat Annies Olympia (360) 943-1850 Uncle Sams Bar & Grill - Spanaway (253) 507-7808 Wurlitzer Manor Gig Harbor (253) 858-1749 Cascade Tavern Vancouver (360) 254-0749

Eastside

Central & Eastern

Red Lion Hotel Wenatchee (Tomasz Cibicki 509-669-8200)

Tumwater Inn Restaurant and Lounge Leavenworth (509) 548-4232

Anchor Pub Everett (425) 252-2288 Balefire Everett (425) 374-7248 Bubbas Roadhouse Sultan, (360) 793-3950 Canoes Cabaret Tulalip (888) 272-1111 The Conway Muse in Conway (360) 445-3000 Demetris Woodstone Taverna, Edmonds (425) 744-9999 Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse Mukilteo (425) 355-4488 Engels Pub Edmonds (425) 778-2900 Historic Spar Tree Granite Falls (360) 691-6888 Madison Pub - Everett (425) 348-7402 Mardinis Snohomish (360) 568-8080 Mirkwood & Shire Caf Arlington (360) 403-9020 North Sound:Star Bar, Anacortes (360) 299-2120 ( The) Oxford Saloon Snohomish (360) 568-3845 Prohibition Grille, Everett (425) 258-6100 Stanwood Hotel & Saloon Stanwood (360) 629-2888 Stewarts Snohomish (360) 568-4684 Timberline Caf Granite Falls (360) 691-7011 Traceys Place Everett (425) 259-0811 Wicked Rack BBQ Everett (425) 334-3800

(Lynnwood, Everett, Edmonds, etc.):

North End

Wednesdays

Charlies Olympia: Blues Attitude Damans Pub, 8 PM Dogghouse Tavern, Mt. Vernon Alan: Hatley Trio, 7pm Eddies Trackside Bar & Grill, Monroe: every 1st & 3rd Wed., 8pm Half Time Saloon: Billy Shew & Billy Barner Locker Room, White Center: Michael Johnson & Lynn Sorensen, 8-12pm Madison Pub, Everett: hosted by Unbound w/special guests 7:30pm May2 - Scott E. Lind May9 - Jimmy Free May16 - Duffy Bishop, Chris Carleson & Raven Humphres May 23 - Ken Caldwell a&Travis Johnson May30 - Tim Turner Salmon Bay Eagles: Broomdust presents Blues of the Past jam (1st Wed.) starting April 4th , 8pm

Thursdays

Bad Albert Invitational w/Annieville Blues CCs Lounge Burien Club Flight Nightclub w/Cory Wilde, 9pm Conway Pub Dawsons, Tacoma: Billy Shew, 8 pm OCallahans: Tim Hall, 7pm Oxford Saloon: Invitational Jam w/Steve Ater, 8pm Ruston Inn: Loose Gravel & the Quarry, 8pm

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Calendar
May 1- Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Yuppie Tavern, Totem Lake: HeatherBBlues, 8pm May 2 - Wednesday Highway 99: Drummerboy w/Eric Madis Mr. Villa,Lake City:Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie Trio,7pm New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Orcas Landing: Joanne Klein Trio, featuring Norm Bellas, 8pm Pike Pl. Bar & Grill, John Stephan Band, 6pm May 3 - Thursday: Bad Alberts, Ballard: Bill Chism w/Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton,5:30pm City Hall Saloon, Cumberland: James King & the Southsiders,5pm Highway 99: Jimmy Thackery & the Drivers Madison Pub: Nick Vigarino New Orleans: Selbred/Jackson Quintet May 4 - Friday Highway 99: Son Jacks House of Bourbon featuring: Delta Hot House Band, Blues Redemption & the Total Experience Gospel Choir Oxford Saloon: Stacy Jones band Vino Bella, Issaquah: Eric Madis Jazz Quartet, 7:30pm May 5 - Saturday C.I. Shenanigans, Tacoma:Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie Trio,7pm Maxwells Speakeasy, Tacoma: Brian Lee Trio, 7pm Highway 99: DoctorFunk Michoacan Restaurant: Seattle House Rockers New Orleans: James King & the Southsiders Oxford Saloon: Stacy Jones band Salmon Bay Eagles: May 6 - Sunday Triple Door: WBS Best of the Blues Award show, James King & the Southsiders, Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 7pm May 7 - Monday 88 Keys: Blues to Do TV: 16 Tons New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet May 8 - Tuesday Highway 99: Louisiana House Party New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Salmon Bay Eagles: All stars and no stripes May 9 - Wednesday Highway 99: Tommy Castro & the Painkillers Bad Alberts, Ballard:Bill Chism w/Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton,5:30pm New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Orcas Landing: Joanne Klein Trio, featuring Norm Bellas, 8pm May 10 - Thursday Alki Arts: on Seattle Alki Beach: the Muddy Sons Highway 99: James King & the Southsiders New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Chris Stevens & the Surf Monkeys May 11 - Friday Cedar Stump, Arlington: Stacy Jones Band Club House Sports Bar, Kent East Hill: the Forty Fours, 8pm Highway 99: Spokanes Sammy Eubanks Band & the Fat Tones New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Oxford: CD Woodbury band Sunnydale Saloon, SeaTac: Tim Turner Band Third Place Books, Lk. Forest Park: Heather & the Nearly Homeless Blues Band, 7pm Triple Door: the Paperboys Washington Sips Wine Bar, LaConner: Ravinwolf, 7pm May 12 - Saturday Auburn Wine Festval/Auburn Wine & Caviar Bar: James King & the Southsiders,1pm Club House Sports Bar, Kent East Hill: James King & the Southsiders Destination Harley, Fife: Mark Whitman band, 11:30am Highway 99: Patrick Lamb & his band, w/Jeff Lorber & Gino Vanelli New Orleans: Bill Brown & the Kingbees Rock the Dock,Tacoma: Steve Cooley & the Dangerfields Sasquatch Brewfest, Eugene, Or: Eugene Hilton w/Ty Curtis band, Scott Law band & many more Scotch & Vine, Des Moines: Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 7pm 13 Coins Restaurant Seatac: Tim Turner Band,8:30pm Untapped Blues & Brews Festival, Kennewick, WA: Mia Vermillion Band, 1:30pm May 13 - Sunday Central Tavern, Kirkland: Fat Tones May 14 - Monday 88 Keys: Blues to Do TV: Randy Hansen Band (Marlees Birthday) New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet May 15 Tuesday Jazz Alley: Janiva Magness New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm May 16 - Wednesday Engels Pub, Edmonds: Brian Lee Trio, 8pm Highway 99: John Scouch Cugno & the 88s Jazz Alley: Janiva Magness Mr. Villa,Lake City:Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie Trio,7pm New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Orcas Landing, Joanne Klein Trio, featuring Norm Bellas, 8pm Pike Place Bar & Grill: Tim Turner Band,6pm May 17 - Thursday Bad Alberts, Ballard:Bill Chism w/Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton,5:30pm Highway 99: James Harman band Jazz Alley: Kevin Eubanks Quartet New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Bone Yard Preachers Sunbanks Rhythm & Blues Festival, Electric city: Mia Vermillion Trio, 9pm Triple Door: Seattle Secret Music Showcase #12 featuring the Pt. Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival, A Benefit for the Centrum Blues Workshop, featuring Daryl Davis w/ Kitty King & Sonja Lee, Orville Johnson w/ John Miller & Grant Dermody, Son Jack Jr. & Michael Wilde w/Jim DiIanni, Mary Flower May 18 - Friday Balefire, Everett:Kimball & the Fugitives w/ Stickshift Annie Trio Dawsons, Tacoma: Steve Cooley & the Dangerfields Highway 99: Commander Cody band Jazz Alley: Kevin Eubanks Quartet Nickys Restaurant, Covington: James King & the Southsiders Norms Place, Everett: Stacy Jones Band Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Rockfish Grill, Anacortes: Blues Playground Sapolil Cellars, Walla Walla: Mia Vermillion Band Sunbanks Blues Festival, Electric City: Mark Whitman, 4:30pm Third Place Books, Lk. Forest Park: Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 7:30pm Tulas: Dave Peck Trio

Blues

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May 19 - Saturday Hawkeyes, Lake Stevens: Nick Vigarino Highway 99: Mutha Knows Best Jazz Alley: Kevin Eubanks Quartet Skagit River Brewery, Mt. Vernon: Dan Duggin w/ Kimball Conant, Larry Hill & Stickshift Annie,8pm Tulas: Dave Peck Trio May 20 - Sunday Central, Kirkland: Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 8:30pm 88 Keys: Stacy Jones band, 7pm Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Tacoma: from NYC, Bill Sims Jr, 5pm Jazz Alley: Kevin Eubanks Quartet Jazzbones, Tacoma: Benefit for Riky Hudson. Randy Oxford band, Mark Whitman band plus 3 more bands Johnnys Dock, Tacoma: Steve Cooley & the Dangerfields May 21 - Monday 88 Keys: Blues to Do TV: Annie ONeal (recent contestant in The Voice) Kent Sr Center: Norm Bellas, 11am New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet May 22 - Tuesday Jazz Alley: Choklate w/Opus New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm May 23 - Wednesday Conway Muse, Conway: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pm Highway 99: Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble Jazz Alley: Choklate w/Opus New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Place Bar & Grill at the Market:Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie,6pm Orcas Landing: Joanne Klein Trio, featuring Norm Bellas, 8pm May 24 - Thursday Bad Alberts, Ballard:Bill Chism w/Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton,5:30pm Highway 99: Kathi MacDonald band New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Moon Daddy May 25 - Friday Highway 99: James Howard band New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott NW Folklife: Stacy Jones band, 2pm Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Porthole Pub & Bar Grill, Ocean Shores: Tim Turner Band Prohibition Grille, Everett: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 8pm Rendezvous Wine Bar, Enumclaw: James King & the Southsiders, 7:30pm Robin Hood, Union, WA: Mia Vermillion Solo Triple Door: Soul Providers Yuppie Tavern, Totem Lake: Brian Lee Trio, 8pm

May 26 - Saturday Duff s Garage, Portland: Mia Vermillion Band Highway 99: Little Ray & the Uppercuts, Dragstrip Riot, Twangshifters & Raygun Cowboys Oxford Saloon, Snohomish: Michoacan Restaurant: Freddie & the Screamers Porthole Pub & Bar Grill, Ocean Shores: Tim Turner Band Salmon Bay Eagles: Nick Vigarino Scotch & Vine, Des Moines: Brian Lee Trio, 7pm May 27 - Sunday Jazz Alley: Lalah Hathaway Two Twelve on Central, Kirkland: HeatherBBlues, 7pm May 28 - Monday 88 Keys: Blues to Do TV: Dean Moller cigar box man w/drummer Wayne Porter Memorial Day Weekend after party NW Folklife Festival, Seattle Center Fountain Lawn Stage: Nick Vigarino, 7:45pm, Lady A, 4pm New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet May 29 - Tuesday Jazz Alley: Pearl Django Cd Celebration New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm May 30 - Wednesday High Dive: Blues for Babies benefit, Stacy Jones band Highway 99: Sam Marshall Trio Jazz Alley: Pearl Django Cd Celebration New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Orcas Landing: Joanne Klein Trio, featuring Norm Bellas, 8pm

May 31 - Thursday Bad Alberts, Ballard:Bill Chism w/Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill, Tom Brighton,5:30pm City Saloon, Cumberland: James King & the Southsiders, 5pm 88 Keys: Alice Stuart & the Formerlys Highway 99: Hot Rod Holmans band Jazz Alley: Shemekia Copeland New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: Tom Bourg 9

june
June 1 - Friday Jazz Alley: Shemekia Copeland New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Sonny Newmans Dance Hall, Greenwood: Kimball & the Fugitives w/Stickshift Annie, Brian Kent,8:30pm June 2 - Saturday Jazz Alley: Shemekia Copeland Louie Gs, Tacoma: Fat Tones June 3 - Sunday Central Tavern, Kirkland: Fat Tones Jazz Alley: Shemekia Copeland June 4 - Monday New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet

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The WBS is a proud recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive A ward