Wel come Back: Jav ina Mag ness R emembering Ann R abson Musings from Memphis: The 2013

International Blues C ha l lenge

Featured Articles

On the C over : Jav ina Mag ness

By Eric Steiner

In This Issue...

Celebrating 23 Years of Blues

March 2013 Bluesletter
Vol. XXV, Number III
Publisher Editor & Art Director Secretary Calendar Advertising Printer Washington Blues Society Jesse Phillips ([email protected]) Rocky Nelson Maridel Fliss ([email protected]) Malcolm Kennedy ([email protected]) Pacific Publishing Company www.pacificpublishingcompany.com
Billy The Pocket Barner, Rick Bowen, Bob Horn, Malcolm Kennedy, Donnie Moorehouse and Eric Steiner The Blues Boss, Bob Horn, Bill ODell, Jerry Peterson, and Eric Steiner Javina Magness by Eric Steiner

1989 - 2013

In Memoriam: Ann Rabson 5 7 Letter from the President Musings from Memphis 8 IBC Contest and Application 10 Tommy Castro & the Painkillers 13

LiveWire: Don ODell March Blues Bash CD Reviews Birmingham Buzzkill Festival Preview: Coeur dAlene Blues

13 14 16 18 19

Calendar Blues on the Radio Dial Jam Guide Venue Guide Talent Guide

20 21 22 22 23

2013 Membership Update Passing the Torch Rick Estrin & the Nightcats Welcome Back, Javina Magness

25 26 28 30

Contributing Writers:

Contributing Photographers:

Cover Photo:

On the

Cover:
Letter from the Editor
Ah, Spring in the Pacific Northwest; we wont see a really warm day until July, but already the cherry tree in my front yard has delicate pink blossoms peeking out from the darkened branches. Just a quick note to highlight page 10 and 11 the International Blues Challenge Awards are being considered with a couple of amazing band battles that really need to be on your calendar, whether you are performing or just there to support your favorite band. I also wanted to share a personal experience that happened to me this month that reminded me why I love BluesLovers: My sweet man and I purchased a house about a year ago in the tiny little town of Des Moines. As I was heading home from a client meeting last month I decided to try someplace new for lunch that was on my new regular route. As I got out of my car the smell of smoking meat nearly knocked me over and started my drooling. I walked in the door and Louis Armstrong was blaring on the radio and two of the sweetest guys stopped cooking to say hi. We got to chatting about the Blues - like you do - and I asked them if theyd ever heard of the Bluesletter. Fellow BluesLovers, if youve ever made it out to the Rec Room (and you should) you know Mike and Jimmy by name for the BBQ Schacht for their wonderful smiles, theyre love of the blues and mostly, for their life-altering Bar-B-Que. The BBQ Schacht is right around the corner from my house! Good food, good blues and my day was more than made! Take the time to make it out to the Rec Room this month from some amazing blues and incredible Bar-B-Que! Until next time, Jesse Phillips, Editor Washington Blues Society Bluesletter

Javina Magness by Eric Steiner Wa s h i n g t o n B l u e s Society President Eric Steiner is a long-time blues society volunteer and represents affiliates on the Blues Foundation Board of Directors in Memphis, Tennessee. This months cover photo of Blues Music Award winner Janiva Magness is Erics first cover picture under Jesse Phillips editorial direction, and his story welcoming Janiva back to Seattles Jazz Alley last month is in this issue. This years Blues Music Awards will be held at the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis on Thursday, May 9th, and for more information on this annual awards celebration, please visit www.blues.org

The Bluesletter welcomes stories and photos from WBS members! Features, columns and reviews are due by the 5th 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 2012 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

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Obituary Courtesy of Alligator Records

Co-Founder of Saffire The Uppity Blues Women

Ann Rabson (1945 2013)

Blues pianist/singer/songwriter/guitarist Ann Rabson died on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 in Fredericksburg, Virginia after a long battle with cancer. She was 67. Co-founder of the hugely successful trio Saffire--The Uppity Blues Women, Rabson was a legendary force on the keyboards as well as being a deeply soulful vocalist. She recorded eight albums with Saffire and one solo CD for Alligator Records, and released three solo albums for other labels. Her most recent was 2012s Not Alone (VizzTone Records). Rabsons prodigious talent, along with her take-no-guff attitude, struck a chord with music fans around the world. Considered one of th e finest barrelhouse blues pianists of her generation, Rabson -- an accomplished guitarist since she was a teen -- didnt start playing piano until she was 35. DownBeat magazine said that Rabson plays bluesy, honky-tonk piano with staggering authority. Alligator president Bruce Iglauer, Rabsons long-time friend and producer, says Ann was a driving force in the blues world. Our dear friend Ann Rabson was an extraordinary blues singer, pianist and guitarist and a delightful, smart and funny person. As a founding member of Saffire--The Uppity Blues Women, a solo recording artist and a live performer, she brought her talent, intelligence and intense love for the blues tradition to every piece of music she played and sang. Ann never gave her music or the rest of her life less than 100% of her commitment. She was a loyal friend, a dedicated champion of the blues, a loving partner to her husband George, and an unforgettable woman. We were blessed to have known her. Rabson was born in New York on April 12, 1945 and raised in Ohio. As a child she was touched by the blues. Blues speaks to me directly. It wasnt a choice, I was drawn to it naturally, sort of like a sheepdog with sheep, she said. She received a guitar from her father when she was 17 and found role models in Big Bill Broonzy and Memphis Minnie, one of the few early female blues guitarists. Ann quickly became an accomplished guitar player and first sang professionally while still in high school. By age 18 she was performing around the Midwest. In 1971, Ann moved with her daughter to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where she performed full-time and gave music lessons on the side. During this time, Ann and her guitar student, Gaye Adegbalola, decided to perform together and the seeds of Saffire--The Uppity Blues Women were sown. They pooled their money and recorded a demo tape, which they then forwarded to Alligator Records. Their 1990 selftitled debut became one of the labels best-selling releases. With the addition of Andra Faye McIntosh in 1992, the trio continued to win over audiences around the world with their wholly original and captivating albums and joyous live performances. Their recordings for Alligator are among the best-selling in the labels catalog. Ann released her first solo album, Music Makin Mama, in 1997. When Saffire--The Uppity Blues Women disbanded after 25 years in 2009, Rabson recorded three solo albums and continued to perform solo and with friends, including guitarist Bob Margolin. She appeared on recordings for numerous artists, including Cephas & Wiggins, Pinetop Perkins, EG Kight and Ani DiFranco.

In Memoriam: Blues Pianist/Singer/Songwriter

Ann is survived by her husband George Newman, daughter Liz Rabson Schnore and granddaughter Georgia Rabson Schnore. Information on funeral arrangements will be forthcoming. For more information, please visit www.alligator.com.

March 2013 DEADLINES:

Advertising Space Reservations: March 5th [email protected] Calendar: March 10th [email protected] Editorial Submissions: March 5th - [email protected] Camera Ready Ad Art Due: March 12th - [email protected] Camera ready art should be in CMYK format at 300 dpi or higher.

Washington Blues Society

Proud Recipient of a 2009 Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation President Vice President Secretary Treasurer (Acting) Editor 2013 Officers Eric Steiner Tony Frederickson Mary McPage. Chad Creamer Jesse Phillips [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

President

Letter from the

Hi Blues Fans! This years International Blues Challenge was a lot of fun. Well over 100 blues fans joined blues society competitors from Alberta, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. With each passing International Blues Challenge, I am always surprised at some of the new events and new venues that the Blues Foundation adds to one of the most exciting weeks for blues music in Memphis. This year, the former hardware department at Schwabs general store was turned into a blues salon featuring the Talking the Blues series of lectures and conversations with Robert Gordon, Andy Cohen, and Dr. David Evans.

the Nashville Blues Societys annual showcase returned to B.B. Kings. Keb Mo played a free concert at the Raise the Roof! Rally and past Blues Foundation Board president Paul Benjamin and President and CEO Jay Sieleman presided over a live auction that rose over $50,000 in less than an hour. The Memphis Blues Society pledged $10,000 to help Raise the Roof! the largest contribution by any Blues Affiliate to-date. Over 30 societies have joined in this effort so far, and the Washington Blues Society plans to raise over $6,000 this year through the sales of ear plugs at concerts, festivals, and our monthly Blues Bashes. Only ten of the approximately 120 competing societies worldwide had both their solo/duo and band act reach the semi-finals. Thats a pretty impressive achievement, and I am proud of our societys acts that have reached this milestone two years in a row!. The Washington Blues Societys competitors reached the semi-finals last year, and our band entry, The WIRED! Band, won first place. This year, Randy Norris and Jeff Nicely returned to the semi-finals for the second year in a row while Sammy Eubanks reached the semi-finals on his International Blues Challenge debut. Other first-time competitors that advanced to the semi-final round of competition include the White Rock Blues Societys Poppadawg, and Blues Redemption, from the South Sound Blues Association. I am also very grateful that the Washington Blues Societys nominee in the Keeping the Blues Alive Award in the Best Festival USA category received the award. Festival promoter Lloyd Peterson graciously accepted the pyramid statuette with one of the shortest acceptance speeches of the day, and later that night on Beale Street, Lloyd told me that the International Blues Challenge was just like a blues cruise but on dry land. If you work for wages, please consider saving $25 per pay period in an IBC Fund. That financial discipline will pay off next January, because I am confident that first-time International Blues Challenge blues fans will return for another exciting week celebrating the blues. If the $100 ticket may be financially out of reach, blues fans on a budget can buy wristbands at the clubs on Beale Street for $10. This month, I hope that youll join me at our monthly Blues Bash at the Red Crane Restaurant in Shoreline on the second Tuesday of March. Until then,please go out and support live blues music. Eric Steiner President, Washington Blues Society Member, Board of Directors, The Blues Foundation

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2013 Directors Music Co-Directors Cherie Robbins & Janice Cleven Gage Membership Michelle Burge Education Roy Brown Volunteers Rhea Rolfe Merchandise Tony Frederickson Advertising Malcolm Kennedy Downtown Seattle West Seattle North Sound Northern WA Penninsula South Sound Central WA Eastern WA Ballard Lopez Island Middle East Eastside Webmaster Web Hosting WBS Logo

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Weve Got Discounts! 20% off- 12 month pre-payment 15% off- 6 month pre-payment 10% off- 3 month pre-payment Contact: [email protected] We value your business. Please send all advertising inquriries and ad copy to [email protected] with a copy to Malcolm Yard Dog Kennedy at [email protected]

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

2013 Street Team Tim & Michelle Burge [email protected] Rev. Deb Engelhardt [email protected] Malcolm Kennedy & Joy Kelly [email protected] Lloyd Peterson [email protected] Dan Wilson [email protected] Smoke [email protected] Stephen J. Lefebvre [email protected] Cindy Dyer [email protected] Marcia Jackson Carolyn & Dean Jacobsen [email protected] Rock Khan [email protected] Liz Caraway [email protected] Special Thanks The Sheriff [email protected] Adhost www.adhost.com Phil Chesnut [email protected]

New venues were added to the program this year, too: Coyote Ugly, Pat OHallorans Broadway Club inside the Orpheum, and Dancin Jimmys. There are Coyote Ugly bars in nine states, Germany, Romania and Russia can we export the blues to these other locations, too? The Broadway Club felt like a living room with dozens of framed prints from touring musicals and plays dating back to the 60s, and it was a perfect addition for the solo/duo competition. Dancin Jimmys, though, may be better suited for the summer months as some of the blues fans told me it was colder inside the tent in the courtyard than back outside on Beale Street. This year, there was no keynote luncheon, but there were ample opportunities to learn new skills at Lee Oskars harmonica workshop, Tas Crus Blues in the Schools presentation with a local fourth grade class, Keeping the Blues Alive Award winner Nat Doves Blues Stories discussion, and the Cincinnati Blues Societys marketing workshop. The Blind Raccoon showcase (and Finis Tasby benefit concert) was held at Purple Haze, while

the Best Self-Produced CD contest, the judges determined the best to be: Solo Recordings by Steve Hill, Montreal Blues Society. This year marked Washington Blues Society award-winning blues DJ, Jonathan Oogie Richards debut as one of the Best Self-Produced CD competition judges. Oogie was a real blues trooper in Memphis: he immersed himself totally in the weeks events, and participated in an early morning the meeting of the Blues Foundation Board of Directors (after a very late night out), and enjoyed the 2013 Keeping the Blues Alive Award luncheon (after another very late night out). The Blues Foundation hosted a rally to get the word out about the Raise the Roof! campaign for a new Blues Hall of Fame. The rally featured a spirited live auction led by former Board president Paul Benjamin and Blues Foundation CEO Jay Sieleman. To date, 32 affiliates have pledged over $50,000 to build the Blues Hall of Fame. The largest pledge has come from the Memphis Blues Society, who has pledged $10,000. Other contributing affiliates include the Billtown Blues Association, Blues Alliance of the Treasure Coast, Blues Society of Central Pennsylvania, Blues Society of Western Pennsylvania, Canal Bank Shuffle, Central Iowa Blues Society, Colorado Blues Society, Connecticut Blues Society, Crossroads Blues Society of Illinois, Great Lakes Blues Society, Great Northern Blues Society, Houston Blues Society, Indiana Blues

Society, Inland Empire Blues Society, Lake of the Ozarks Blues Society, Los Angeles Blues Society, Memphis Blues Society, Minnesota Blues Society, Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola, Norsk Blues Union, North East Ohio Blues Association, Ottawa Blues Society, Panama Blues, Santa Barbara Blues Society, Thunder Bay Blues Society, Topeka Blues Society, Ventura County Blues Society, Vicksburg Blues Society and the Washington Blues Society have each pledged to the Campaign for the Blues Hall of Fame. Thanks to the visionary leadership of our Vice President and Merchandise and Promotions Director Tony Frederickson, the Washington Blues Society has pledged to raise $6,000 to help Raise the Roof! Volunteers got off to a good start at this years challenge by selling high quality, reusable ear plugs for $3 each emblazoned with the Raise the Roof! logo on the outside and a Washington Blues Society logo on the inside. So, when you need ear plugs this year, please visit our merchandise booth and you, too can help us Raise the Roof! This years awards luncheon was special for Washington State as the awards committee selected the Washington Blues Societys nomination of the Mount Baker Rhythm and Blues Festival in the Best Blues Festival USA category. Lloyd Peterson accepted the award with his wife with aplomb

and grace, and it was fun watching Lloyd work the room reconnecting with performers whom he has hired at the festival like award-winning Alligator recording artist Janiva Magness. This years International Blues Challenge was another exciting event, and I am looking forward to the 30th anniversary next year in Memphis. One thing I did learn (or, rather, re-learn) is that Memphis weather can be unpredictable: some of the days were clear and sunny, but the wind chill reminded me of Chicago in December! Next year, Ill be better prepared with an extra sweater and pair of gloves, and celebrate this uniquely American art form with my extended blues family. When I return to Memphis for the Blues Music Awards in May, I am going to revisit places I missed this trip: Alcenias, for some of the greatest soul food in America; the Smithsonian Memphis Rock and Soul Museum, for a little Memphis musical history; and the Peabody, so that I can play tourist and see the procession of the fabled ducks in the grand lobby. Theres something for every blues fan at the International Blues Challenge, and despite the weather and an overcrowded club or two, its the chance to honor Keeping the Blues Alive recipients as well as some of the worlds best blues talent.

Musings from Memphis

Article and Photos by Eric Steiner & Jerry Peterson

The 2013 International Blues Challenge

This year marked my sixth International Blues Challenge. Each year, the event gets bigger and better, and I encourage all blues fans to make the pilgrimage to Memphis, and if time allows, add a day or two to explore nearby Clarksdale, Mississippi, to get to the Ground Zero Blues Club and stay at the Hopson Plantation. There is a lot of history within two hours of Beale Street, and each I time I visit Memphis, I learn something new. I was very pleased that our entrants Randy Norris and Jeff Nicely in the solo/duo category and Sammy Eubanks in the band category made it to the semi-finals. The South Sound Blues Associations Blues Redemption also made the first cut as did the White Rock Blues Societys Poppa Dawg. It was a thrill to see Sammy competing at Blues City Caf as well as marvel at the jam session at the Hard Rock Caf that included a stage full of bluesmen from Washington State when Sammy joined Blues Redemption. I also enjoyed the packed house at Mr. Handys Blues Hall when Randy and Jeff mesmerized the audience with their authentic acoustic blues. The International Blues Challenge features six days of blues events, starting with the international showcase sponsored by the Beale Street Merchants Association on Tuesday night at the FedEx Forum. The Dutch Blues Foundations Robbert Fossen & Peter Struijk joined Croatias Delta Blues Gang, Kat Magic Express from the Phillipines, and Australias Tim Griffin to kick off this years festivities. The size and the scope of the week-long series of events continue to grow. There were book readings, workshops on marketing, a Blues in the Schools presentation by New Yorks Tas Cru, a youth showcase, storytelling with Keeping the Blues Alive Award educator Nat Dove, and jam sessions that continued well past two in the morning. The Galaxie Agency hosted a showcase in partnership with the Nashville Blues Society, and the Blind Raccoon Roots and Blues Showcase featured Tim Too Slim Langford and Stacy Jones. The strong Canadian blues contingent returned to the Kooky Canuck restaurant for the Polar Bear Blues Showcase, and it was great to reconnect with a number of Canadian blues fans and bands. The event features two nights of quarterfinals in 12 band venues and nine solo/duo venues. This year 124 bands began the competition, and 60 advanced to the semi-finals. In the solo/duo category, 79 acts started, and 36 advanced. There is simply no way a blues fan can catch each of these 203 different performances! The semifinals and finals were announced after midnight on Thursday and Friday nights, and the historic Orpheum Theatre hosted the finals with nine

bands and seven solo/duo acts. One innovation that the Blues Foundation added this year to the finals was food: three local food trucks were kept busy most of the day, and Pat OHallorans Broadway Club next to the theatre lobby was opened for us. This year, the finals alternated between solo/duo and band performances unlike in years past when each category was grouped together. I think that this change is a positive one for the solo/duo performers. The solo/duo winner was Little G Weevil, sponsored by the Atlanta Blues Society and second place honors went to The Suitcase Brothers, a duo from the Barcelona Blues Society in Spain. The top prize in the Band competition was awarded to the Selwyn Birchwood Band of Floridas Suncoast Blues Society. A beautiful custom Gibson ES-335 guitar featuring The Blues Foundations logo and a Category 5 amp was awarded to Selwyn Birchwood as the band finals top guitarist. Second place honors were earned by Michael van Merwyk and Bluesoul, German Blues Network, and the third spot went to Dan Treanors Afrosippi Band w/ Erica Brown, hailing from the Colorado Blues Society. Little G Weevil won the St. Blues Cigar box guitar for best guitarist in the Solo/Duo competition. Jim Liban of the Alex Wilson Band took top harmonica honors for the Lee Oskar Harmonicas prize package. In

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LiveWire:
Tommy Castro and the Painkillers Celebrate the Release of a New 45RPM Single Greedy/Thats All I Got at the Highway 99 Blues Club on March 15th!
Tom my C ast ro & T he Pai n k i l l e rs w i l l celebrate the release of their new 45 rpm single, Greedy/Thats All I Got with a live performance on Friday, March 15th at Seattles Highway 99 Blues Club. Multiple Blues Music Award-winning guitarist/vocalist/ songwriter Tommy Castro has been playing his signature brand of rocking rhythm and blues professionally for over 25 years, thrilling fans around the world with his incendiary live performances. With his new, stripped-down, turbo-charged band, The Painkillers, Castro has embarked on the next phase of his storied career. Along with original Tommy Castro Band bassist Randy McDonald, new members Byron Cage on drums and James Pace on keyboards, Castro pares his music down to its tough, raw core. Experience Tommy Castro and the Painkillers on Friday, March 15th beginning at 8:00 PM. For reser vations and ticket information, please call (206) 382-2171 and visit www. highway99blues.com.
Story by Donnie Moorhouse/Photos by Bill Odell - reprint courtesy of The Republican newspaper

We had 18 shows last year and they were all national touring acts, said ODell. Some of the shows shot right here in Palmer include Joe Louis Walker, Guitar Shorty, and Pat Travers. The Royal Southern Brotherhood which includes Devon Allman, Cryil Neville and Mike Zito stayed in the studio for three days and rehearsed for an upcoming tour. When ODell started recording in the Palmer studio almost five years ago there was far more legwork involved in pulling in these types of acts. More recently, ODell has noticed the shows reputation out on the touring circuit has made management and booking agents far more receptive to his pitch. I had Albert Castiglia come in and he was so excited about doing the show, ODell said. The day before he did the Rockport Maine Blues Fest with Anna Popovic, Walter Trout and the Royal Southern Brotherhood and they all told him what a great time they had. So I went from bands coming in being skeptical about who I was and what I am doing, to looking forward to it. Often ODell is at the mercy of tour schedules when putting his wish list together for performances. I have to be very flexible, most shows are generally on Tuesday and Wednesday nights,

he said. It works out good for the bands because they dont lose any gigs. Management or booking agents have called me with tour dates and I see if I can squeeze them in when theyre in the area and have a night off. The Pa lmer studio only s e ats 30 for a performance and ODell says this intimate setting is one of the driving forces behind the success and quality of the show. I announce shows on an email list, he said. Since there are only 30 seats I have a two seat limit. Its very exciting for the audience to see such big bands in a room the size of a large living room. There are currently over 400 shows available through the Legends YouTube channel at >youtube.com/user/dodell590

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ODell and Royal Southern Brotherhood

Don ODell continues to bring in high-end performers for his cable access Legends show which profiles some of the top names on the club and theater live music circuit in the greater Springfield, Massachusetts, area. The performances are recorded and available by request on most local cable access stations and through the programs YouTube channel.

ODell and Ana Popovic

Don ODell Cable TV Access Show Legends Continues to Attract Talent

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ODell and Albert Cummings ODell and the Walter Trout Band

Billy Stoops SeanGoodrich & BillyStoops

The February 2013

The violin or fiddle added something to this performance. I have heard Billy do some of the By Robert Horn, Photos by Blues Boss same songs with a full electric band on stage at major festivals like the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival Tuesday, February 12th 2013 was not only two (and that is about as big-time as it gets) but it had a days before Valentines Day, but also the date of different sound as a duo that included a fiddle and the traditional State of the Union Address by the Billy sitting in a chair. It was good, too. The guitar, President of the United States. I was watching fiddle, and vocal combinations were unique and the pre-event discussions on TV, and thinking of should be tried more often. Billy Stoops sometimes channel surfing to catch any political or economic shows up at a jam but also plays in a couple bands. fight between the John Maynard Keynes camp vs. Catching him in either the Rectifiers or with the Ayn Rand camp. Yes, that is what I sometimes Junkyard Jane with female vocalist extraordinaire do for fun with a pile of political, philosophical, and Leanne Trevelyan is a great experience that should economics books next to me. Then, I saw that it was be guaranteed by the constitution. nearing six oclock, and I knew I had an obligation on the second Tuesday of the month. No, it was Speaking of the constitution, a constitutional scholar not the obligation of sending something red with was speaking somewhere else on C-SPAN, and green stems to a dear friend, though I do like doing Washington Blues Society President Eric Steiner that when its appreciated, but I had to go to the made reference to that from the stage. Our president, Red Crane Restaurant above Club Hollywood on Eric Steiner, began his remarks by saying that some Aurora Avenue North, so I was so happy to be there of you may have wanted to hear another president as soon as I saw the inside of the place. in another Washington speak tonight, but he was there to tell us about the state of the blues: it is All the chairs were taken by 6:45 PM, even though strong in the Evergreen State, and I know that is the event didnt start til seven oclock. Billy Stoops true. Tony Frederickson was soon introduced after was already on stage with his guitar and was soon a comment from the President about how much joined by Sean Goodrich who brought his fiddle. money Tony had raised for the Blues Foundation. Billy did a lot of original songs like The Problem Actually, I was thinking of an idea for generating with Your Plan,, Walkin On My Dreams, and revenue for rebuilding Americas infrastructure, The Difference Between Whiskey & You. and now I know I will be calling Tony to enlist him in this effort. Billy talked about each song, and it often started out with something like I met this girl and.... I ran Tony talked about the new earplugs in cases with labels into Billy in the restroom and got more information showing the Washington Blues Society logo on one about some songs he wrote and this happened right part and the Blues Foundation logo on the other. Those after a woman asked if guys ever talk in the restroom earplugs can be purchased from Tony at festivals and and I told her No, we dont do that. the Blues Bash. I would be remiss if I didnt mention that those high-quality stickers can be ordered from OK, ladies, we talk about songwriting in there and nothing 1-800-456-8884 ext #265 in quantities of at least 1,000: else (or maybe some wild stories related to some songs). and theyre good for more than earplug cases, theyre good your band, bottles of wine, BBQ sauce, etc. 14

at the Red Crane

Blues Bash

There was the usual raffle from Tonys gift bag, and Blues for Foods Deb Rock played Vanna White in assisting Tony with the raffle. Alice Stuarts band, The Formerlys, put on an outstanding electric set. Jim McLaughlin did a great job on harmonica, and he deserves a lot of recognition for his music. Stephen Penn did some great singing and guitar playing, and I conducted another restroom interview where he talked about playing with the Armed and Dangerous Blues Revue at the J & M Caf in Pioneer Square. The third restroom interview I conducted that night got me the business card of The Joseph Barton Trio after I told another singer they sounded good on stage. The guy playing the keys sang Flip, Flop, and Fly later and I had to get on the dance floor. There was far too much talent at the February Blues Bash to do justice to it in one page of this great publication. The audience was demanding more as I left - way later than I assumed I would for a regular Blues Bash. I stayed up later than I planned that night, but it did no harm. I am ready to do it again, and to quote the great McKinley Morganfield: as ready as any man can be, because the second Tuesday at the Red Crane Restaurant in Shoreline needs to be marked on each and every Bluesletter readers calendar if its not there already. These monthly Washington Blues Society Blues Bashes feature a great opening set, an outstanding free raffle of blues CDs and other blues memorabilia, and a great electric set not to mention the great camaraderie of blues fans from throughout Puget Sound. That is one of the things this blues society does well: it brings people together once a month for a great free evening of blues.

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Blues Reviews
James Armstrong Blues at The Border (Cat Food Records)

Eric Bibb and Habib Koite Brothers in Bamako (Stony Plain)

New Blues that you can Use

Several of the songs on James Armstrongs Cat Food Records debut were already familiar to me from the last time I caught him live at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant in Seattles Pioneer Square as they were works in progress. I like them just as much now as I did then, too. Eight of the 11 tracks were produced by Michael Ross with the instruments recorded in New York and the vocals in Toronto. The remaining three were co-produced by Armstrong and Cat Foods Bob Trenchard in Texas and featured the Cat Food studio band. One of the tracks I enjoyed most is the opener Everything Good To Ya (Aint Always Good For Ya), and I will let you read between the lines there for yourself. Armstrong is one of my favorite vocalists, and he is an equally good guitarist. On the title track, Armstrong laments the difficulties faced by the touring musician trying to move back and forth across either the Canadian or Mexican borders to perform (or for that matter the average citizen). James unleashes some of his wicked slide guitar to punctuate his points of frustration, and I love the list that he recites of what you will need in order to cross our borders. The upbeat rhythm of Nothing Left To Say belies its serious lyrics of a relationship come to an end. On High Maintenance Woman, James sings if it wasnt so much work/ it wouldnt be so much fun. James Armstrong should already be a well-known name in the blues world: if he isnt already on your blues radar he sure should be. Check out Blues At The Border and listen firsthand to what Im talking about. Highly recommended. - Malcolm Kennedy

Johnson, Miller & Dermody We Heard the Voice of a Pork Chop (Orb Discs) The trio of Orville Johnson, John Miller and Grant Dermody perform an acoustic mixture of music featuring elements of folk, old timey music and pre-war blues. Sometimes when I listen to it my mind tells me, thats really not blues, while another part of me is saying; oh, yes it is! One thing I know for sure is that every time I listen to We Heard the Voice of a Pork Chop I am hearing some really good music regardless of what label you want to use to describe it. All three share vocals, sometimes solo and other times together in harmony, Orville plays mandolin, John plays the guitar and banjo and Grant is on the harmonica. This is a trio of highly regarded professionals, and to me it sounds like they really get a lot of enjoyment making music together. From the opening refrain of The Rain Dont Fall On Me, an old Blind Willie Johnson tune, with its strumming guitar, picking mandolin, expressive moaning harp and Orvilles warm vocals through to the traditional gospel song I Shall Not Be Moved the 11 songs on this CD are a fun ride. The spry lyrical rhythm of the title track featuring Orvilles exquisite vocals is a gem. Other standouts include the brisk instrumental penned by Miller Down to the Hills, and the heartfelt lament of Dermodys Id Do It All Again with Grant on lead vocals and Orville harmonizing on the chorus. I also enjoyed the trios version of Mance Lipscombs Take Me Back with its delightful harp solo and the slow peaceful take on I Shall Not Be Moved with more fabulous harmonizing with Grant on lead vocals and Orville on supporting vocals. We Heard the Voice of a Pork Chop contains witty songs with superior craftsmanship, deft musicianship and terrific vocals. This CD was on my top 10 list of last year, and I recommend this CD very highly. - Malcolm Kennedy

Doug Macleod Theres a Time (Reference Recordings)

Doug Macleods debut on Reference Recordings will be released March 12th. Theres a Time features 2013 Blues Music Award nominees Doug Macleod and drummer Jimi Bott, along with bass player Denny Croy (who played on Dougs Black and Tan releases Dubb and A Little Sin). Doug kicks off this new CD with a plaintive Rosa Lee and this bakers dozen of acoustic blues is a must for fans of the National steel guitar. The playful My In-laws Are Outlaws is a lot of fun, but my favorites on this CD tap into Macleods ability to be an exceptional storyteller: A Ticket Out, East Carolina Woman, and the closing song, Ghost. Theres A Time was engineered by Prof Keith Johnson at Marin Countys Skywalker studios. In 2011, Prof Johnson received the Grammy Award for Best Surround Sound Album (for vocal or instrumental albums) at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards for Reference Recordings hybrid multi-channel SACD, Brittens Orchestra performed by the Kansas City Orchestra, conducted by Michael Stern, Dougs careers as a bluesman has spanned three decades, and hes recorded 19 studio albums, several live records, compilations, a blues guitar instructional DVD and a live performance DVD. His songs have been covered by such artists as Albert King, Albert Collins, 2013 Blues Hall of Fame inductee Joe Louis Walker and Eva Cassidy. Doug MacLeod is currently on tour nationally and internationally in support of Theres a Time. Note: This month, Doug Macleod returns to the Pacific Northwest with performances at Duff s Garage in Portland, Dusty Strings in Seattles Fremont neighborhood, The Upstage in Port Townsend, Blues-to-Do TV Life from the Sound, Blues Vespers at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, and two private house parties. For more information, please visit www.doug-macleod.com. Eric Steiner

Malian guitarist Habib Koite joined Eric Bibb on his second Stony Plain CD, Brothers in Bamako. Recorded long before last years most recent flareup of Islamist terrorist attacks in the Malian capital city of Bamako, this CD captures two acoustic musicians that complement each other nicely. Brothers in Bamako features 11 original songs and two covers: a thoughtful version of Bob Dylans Blowin in the Wind, and a banjo- and pedal steel (courtesy of Finlands Olli Haavisto)-tinged interpretation of the traditional Goin Down the Road Feelin Bad. The CD opens with Bibbs hopeful, forward-looking song about going to Mali On My Way to Bamako, and continues on with Koites ode to Los Angeles in which he sings (in French): one glass, two glasses, three glasses, four: tequila makes me happy! The light and lilting Nani Le from Habib is one of the CDs standout instrumentals alongside the song dedicated to the water goddess, Mami Wata. While Eric and Habibs music was included on the Putumayo compilation in 1999s Mali to Memphis: An African-American Odyssey, Brothers in Bamako captures these musicians live in the studio for the first time. Erics also been included in other Putumayo world music compilations, such as Blues Around the World, Sing Along, and World Playground, and hes recorded more than two dozen CDs out on a number of other labels, including Ruf, Telarc, Earthbeat/Rhino, M.C., and now Stony Plain. I expect that this CD will land on a number of Best Of lists for the way it effortlessly mixes West African music with the blues. - Eric Steiner The Sonja Lee Band Telling It Like It Is (Self-Released)

of blues. Tom Waits Temptation is performed in a jazzy Latin style rhythm with tastefully polished solos on guitar and sax. Standout tracks abound with stellar takes on Johnny Otis Aged and Mellow as Sonja sings, I like my men like I like my whiskey, aged and mellow; another Big Mama Thornton shouter Im Feeling Alright, with its cooking sax solo, Billie Holidays Lady Sings the Blues, and At Last, often associated with Etta James. Most singers would have difficulty with the range required to sing these varied songs not to mention the chutzpah to attempt songs by these legends. Sonja Lee has the stuff to pull it off with aplomb and gusto. There are standards like Brooks Bowmans 1935 tune East of the Sun and West of the Moon covered by artists from Sarah Vaughan to Diana Krall, Fitzgerald, Bird, Sinatra, Bennett, Armstrong, Getz and Holiday just to name a few; Cole Porters Get Out of Town sung by both Ella and Peggy Lee and the title track Telling It Like It Is first recorded by Aaron Neville in 1966. If pressed to pick a favorite I would go with Pablo Ruiz mambo, Sway a hit for Dean Martin in 1954 and Rosemary Clooney in 1959; but there just isnt anything that is less than supreme on Telling It Like It Is. The Sonja Lee Band is a well-conceived and compelling mix of jazz and blues, the vocals are a paragon of excellence and the music top notch. Telling It Like It Is, is a fantastic album and I give it my highest recommendation. Malcolm Kennedy Royal Southern Brotherhood (Ruf Records)

works quite well breathing new life into this Dead classic. The shimmering slide guitar sets Nowhere to Hide off well and the strong vocals make it one of the standouts. The strong groove of Hurts My Heart is reminiscent of a Tom Petty classic while the final track Brotherhood has a jazzy Jeff Beck meets the Allman Brothers vibe that also could turn into an extended jam tune. My one complaint and this very well have been done by design, is that there is a dearth of liner notes telling who is singing lead vocals and which guitarist, Mike or Devon, is on which solo. They clearly left their egos at home before they even met up to record this project. Ive heard that the bands tour supporting it has met with enough positive response that there is already talk of a follow-up release and commitment by all to keep their solo careers on hold while this project continues to blossom. Malcolm Kennedy Coyote Kings w/ Mush Nasty Habits and Dirty Little Secrets (Twin Lion Records) For over a decade, Walla Wallas Rob Barrett and his Coyote Kings have been a driving force in the eastern Washington blues scene. This month, they are proud hosts of the 2nd Walla Walla Guitar Festival. In 2010, the Kings teamed up with powerhouse vocalist Michelle Mush Morgan, releasing the critically-acclaimed album Move the following year. Their follow up, Nasty Habits and Dirty Little Secrets, features 11 new songs immaculately produced and penned by Barrett who tag teams lead vocals duties with Morgan equally and offers a bonus instrumental track for good measure. The album kicks off with the Texas BBQ styled funk of the title track featuring Morgan belting out vocals as gritty as the guitar riffs. The 6/8 blues of the Best You Couldnt Do, burns icy-hot with a feel reminiscent of Robert Cray including a jagged guitar solo from Barrett and a moaning B3. Barrett pushes his baritone to the max on the low down blues of Hard To Be a Man, matching notes with the guitars on an infectious turnaround hook; a nice touch on a classic theme. After the clever, but maybe too cute, sing along of the funky Baby Wake Up, Morgan gets to stretch out on the mournful Babys Gone. Barrett gives us a fine twist on a classic lazy shuffle feel with his own My Rider, featuring some great barrelhouse piano from Doug Scarborough. The surf rock boogie That Hot Daddy, is bound to be popular dance floor filler. The album hits its highpoint with the sweet, southern fried backyard lullaby Afternoon Sun, with a laid back groove so smooth you can taste the iced tea and feel the warm summer breeze. The CD ends with the poignant honky tonk blues Am I Getting Wise, which finds Barrett doing his best Delbert McClinton and preaching the blues of an experienced road dog. Nasty Habits and Dirty Little Secrets will satisfy longtime fans of the Coyote Kings, and its high production values should win over some new ones, as well. Rick J. Bowen. 17

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Blues Reviews

Make sure you check them out at wablues.org for all the Blues you can use.

In researching a piece I was going to write on the Centrum Fundraising event, held last May at Seattles Triple Door, I ran across Sonja Lee, an artist who was performing with Centrum Acoustic Blues Festival Artist Director Daryl Davis. I didnt recognize her at first, so I looked her up. Sonja Lees web site features several sound bites, and I was instantly impressed by the Bellingham residents wonderful jazz meets blues vocals. Sonjas band is a harmonious blend of a veteran rhythm section on bass and drums with guitar, sax and piano provided younger players. Sonja expertly mines the jazz and blues vaults for 14 chestnuts and nails every one of them. Several other local women, notably Mia Vermillion, Stickshift Annie and Dana Lupinacci have also had success with this format, and I would easily put Sonja Lee in their league. The version of Peggy Lees Hes A Tramp has a distinctly jazzy feel while Hound Dog-Big Mama Style has a touch

The critics are positively raving about last years Royal Southern Brotherhoods eponymous titled debut produced by Jim Gaines and recorded at Louisianas Dockside Studios. Although I like it immensely, I would call it jam rock; but not call it blues. The two big names in this five piece outfit give it the name with Devon Allman, Gregs son and Cyril Neville, at 64, the youngest of the famed Neville Brothers. I am pleased that guitarist Mike Zito is part of the Brotherhood: Mikes got two stellar Eclecto-Groove releases out on Eclecto Groove Records, both of which were nominated for a Blues Music Award in the Best Blues Rock Album category: , 2011s Greyhound and 2009s Pearl River. Cyril and Mike penned Pearl River, which won the 2010 Blues Music Award for Song of the Year. The rhythm section keeps things all together with Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks Band, Greg Allman, Allman Brothers Band) and Charlie Wooton on bass (Bonerama, Zydefunk), and Cyril plays percussion. The thundering beat of the opening track New Horizons shows that they mean business. The cool groove of Fired Up! shows excellent potential as an extended jam song and I am sure that they could stretch this five and three quarters minute studio version into a fifteen plus minute live version. The Royal Southern Brotherhood give the Grateful Deads Fire on the Mountain from their 1978 release Shakedown Street a lilting reggae treatment that

Birmingham Buzz Kill

(or I Hate To Eat And Run.For My Life! )
By Billy The Pocket Barner (All rights reserved)

Part Two of Three

(An excerpt from a work-in-progress, Real Road Stories of a Blues Musician, by Billy The Pocket Barner)
Recapping the first installment which was featured in the March 2011 Bluesletter: Its Spring in 1972. The South is still in the throes of civil unrest. We, the members of the seven-piece Tacoma-Seattle based Hometown Blues Band, are on tour with ATCO recording artist R.B. Greaves. After driving 500 miles overnight straight through from the gig we did the night before in Shreveport, Louisiana, we arrived in Birmingham, Alabama, at about five oclock in the morning. In town now for little more than an hour, we had already: - Received a warning from a colored woman to get out of town if we know whats good for us, - Been banished to the Colored Only section of a restaurant by a bigoted, white Soul Food Nazi who refused us service, and - Avoided a potential brawl with some intoxicated colored guys in the alley behind the fabled ShowboatLounge in Birminghams historic district. Trying to rationalize this, we thought that this is all occurring because we are long haired outsiders - Yankee/ Hippie/ Musicians - who looked, talked, and acted differently than everyone else. We are not welcomed by: - That segment of white folks who are still holding a Civil War grudge -were Yankees, - Those who detest the philosophies that they believe Hippies represent - were Hippies, and - Those who find our passive demeanor to be different from theirs, and easy to prey upon because we are musicians. On one side and: - That segment of African American folks who (understandably) still hold a grudge against white folks because of their past generations of slavery and mistreatment and still being oppressed in the South (were white), - Those who see white Hippie/musicians as being non threatening and an easy target for revenge or retaliation without consequence (were White, were Hippies, were musicians) and were equally hated by bigoted whites who would have no interest in protecting us but would (more likely) take delight in seeing us in a skirmish with blacks and in arresting us all. On the other side. - We dont have the address of the motel where we have reservations, but we know we need to get out of the public eye the sooner the better. We drive around until we find a motel. Curt gets out of the Econoline van, and I exit the Travelall, and together we approach the sliding glass door at the entrance of the motel office. As we approach the door, the desk clerk looks up from the desk and spots us. With an expression on his face best described as a combination of panic and contempt, he swiftly runs around the check-in counter and up to the glass doors. He locks the door, turns the VACANCY sign over to NO VACANCY, dropps the Venetian blinds, and pulls them shut! One of us says to the other, Holy cow! Can you believe this shit? or words to that effect. We return to the trucks to commiserate with our band mates to brainstorm a new plan. This will be Plan D. We decide to go to a phone booth and call a hotel and reserve a room. They cant turn away someone with reservations! we figure. Locating a phone booth, I pick out a hotel from the yellow pages thats not far from our location. I call and they politely take my reservation. Relieved, we proceed to our newest potential sanctum. Once again, Curt and I disembark and go into the second hotel while the rest of the band waits in the vehicles baking in the 100+ degree heat. As soon as we enter the lobby we see the desk clerk side step over to the manager, point at us and say something to him. They both glare at us as we approach the desk. This doesnt look good, I am thinking. The manager utters something else to the desk clerk, and then steps back to the side as if to do something else. The desk clerk does not greet us he just abruptly barks: We have no vacancies! Oh, well, I start to explain. We have reservations. The manager then steps back over and interjects Did yall just call and make a resahvation? Yes, I did, I reply Unfahtunately, he says. We have a convention comin in today and all ah rooms are already taken. Yo resahvation was taken in errah and is no good. Exasperated, I plead We only need the room for a few hours. We just got into town. Weve driven straight through from Shreveport, Louisiana. Well be performing at the Show-Boat Club with RB Greaves, and we have reservations at another motel, but we wont know where that motel is for another few hours and we need to get in out of the heat and clean up. Wont you help us out? Our moneys good! I get no reply; just two blank stares. I might as well have be speaking to the concrete pillar next to the desk. Both of them ignore everything I say, and then just walk away.

As we walk back out, dejected, we see our band mates standing outside the vehicles. They are over heated, dehydrated, hungry, and road-fatigued. As we approach we see them looking at us with hopeful expressions on their faces. We break the news that Plan D has failed. Their reaction isnt good. Some of the guys are getting pretty bent out of shape over all of this by now, and its tougher to control the loud outbursts from more than one of them. I cant blame them. I want to shout the same repartee they are directing at us to the coldhearted, prejudiced people we have encountered, but dared not. Its now around nine oclock in the morning. It seems so simplewe just need to get somewhere to stay out of sight until eleven oclock when we can get into the club, and find out where the hell we are to stay that night. Im feeling like a fugitive on the lam desperately seeking cover. So, we develope Plan E: to try to find an airconditioned restaurant that isnt segregated, and one that preferably tolerates and serves Hippies, Yankees, and musicians. This seems like an impossibly tall order. Where were from the Pacific Northwest - this would not be a problem in 1972, but like Dorothy and Toto, we are no longer in Kansas (or, in our case, Washington State). We pile back into the vehicles, and we are determined to succeed. By the time we launch Plan E, Birmingham is awake and active, but the temperature just keeps getting hotter and hotter: the humidity is so high, we feel like we could drown in it. We feel very conspicuous as we tool around town in search of our elusive refuge. We feel like we are on parade: but, instead of smiles and waves, people ogle us

with disapproving eyes and point fingers instead of waving. Finally, on the outskirts of town, we spot a little rib joint. There are no White Only - Colored Only signs, just one screen door at the entrance. This looks promising!, I think to myself. We park in the dirt parking lot, naively oblivious to the fact that all the other vehicles in the parking lot are pick-up trucks with shotguns mounted inside the rear windows. Road weary, tired, wearing wrinkled clothes weve slept in, crammed around and on top of our equipment, and not able to clean up anywhere, we definitely dont look our best. We, once again, disembark and head toward the restaurant together in hopes that we may experience some semblance of normalcy on the other side of that screen door. The spring in the screen door squeaks as we open it and entered the restaurant. Three or four of the tables have two to four men sitting at them. One of the empty tables is a large one just inside the door. All the men inside are white farmer types. About half of us have come through the screen door, and none of the seated regulars have paid us any mind. Suddenly, the kitchen door swings open as a white waitress hurriedly stepped though carrying a large tray piled with silverware and dishes. Glancing our way, with an expression of horror, she stops dead in her tracks. She throws both hands up and drops the tray. Silverware, dishes and the tray clang and crash loudly to the floor. Oh my Gawd! she exclaims in unison with the cruise-only option, its $15. The four-band festival alone is $25. All other jams and pre-function events are free and open to the public. The Doghouse Boyz kick off the festival in Whispers Lounge on Friday afternoon from 4:00 PM-7:00PM shortly before the Boat Cruise and Dock Party. There will be two boats with two bands: Bakin Phat and also Royce/Govedare & The High Rollers. The Fat Tones will play at the after-cruise party at Plaza Center Court Friday at 9:00PM. On Saturday afternoon from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, VooDoo Church will host the Blues Jam on the Coeur dAlene Resort rooftop. After the rooftop jam, Roberson & BZ will play until 7:00 PM in Whispers Lounge. Saturday evenings lineup features four great bands in the Resort Convention Center beginning at 7:00 PM with Lloyd Jones, Duffy Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, and Ty Curtis. Two stages make Saturday night a nonstop blues experience!

crash. As the last unbroken dish spins to a stop on the floor, you can hear the mens denim-clad butts squeak on the plastic seat cushions of their chairs as they turn, curiously, to see what has caused the commotion. Stop right theah, says the waitress in an agitated, almost panicky voice. She points at the large table just inside the door, and barks the next command. Yall just sit right thayuh at thayuh table! Dont yall come in heuh any futhuh! I can smell yall from heuh! Ill bring yall catfish and greens and thats all yall! Yall eat fast and leave three dollars each on the table and leave on outta heuh! The good ol boys glare at us with disgust as, one by one, the rest of the seven musicians filter through the door. The prolonged squeal and a final slam of that screen door gives us a hopeless feeling... similar to the feeling that a first-time offender feels when the prison door slams shut behind him while hardened criminals inside salivate at the sight of fresh meat at the new arrival. We feel like we arre the main course on an all you can eat Hippie Yankee Musician Smorgasbord at a Redneck Convention. With the melodramatic demonstration performed by the waitress, and the hateful, snarling expressions on the faces of the redneck regulars, we know this is no safe house. Hell, no. This is the lions den. (End of Part Two. To be continued) Sunday morning features a Gospel Brunch from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Dockside Restaurant. Tickets are $37 for combination Blues Cruise on Lake Coeur DAlene and four-band Coeur dAlene Blues Festival. The cruise-only option is $15, and the four-band festival is $25. All other jams, after and pre-function events are free. For more information, please visit: www.cdaresort. com/. For information on special room and festival packages, please contact a Coeur dAlene Resort Specialist at 800-688-5253. To purchase 2013 Coeur dAlene Blues Festival event tickets only by phone, contact The Coeur dAlene Resort Business Center at 208-765-4000, Ext.21. Online tickets are available at www.ticketfly.com - just type in cda blues festival. The online homes of the Coeur dAlene Blues Festival are:

Festival Preview: April 5-7th

The Coeur dAlene Blues Festival returns to the Coeur dAlene Resort in Idaho on April 5th through the 7th. The event will also include the Washington Blues Societys traveling blues store led by Washington Blues Society VP/Merchandise and Promotions Director Tony Frederickson. There are a number of ways blues fans can experience this festival. For the entire cruise on Lake Coeur dAlene and four-band festival, its $37, and for the

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www.cdabluesfestival.com and facebook.com/pages/CDA-BLUESFESTIVAL/282040363067.

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Calendar
March 1 - Friday Engels Pub: Red Hill Jazz Alley: Freddie Pink Old Village Pub: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 8:30pm Rockfish Grill: Snake Oil Sonny Newmans Dance Hall: Phantoms of Soul, 8:30pm March 2 - Saturday Destination Harley, Fife: Mark Whitman Band, 12pm Engels Pub: 44th St. Blues Band Highway 99: Nathan James & the Rhythm Scratchers Pony Keg, Kent: Brian Lee Trio, 8pm Rockfish Grill: Mark DuFresne Stonegate: Steve Cooley & the Dangerfields, 7pm March 3 - Sunday Central Club, Kirkland, Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 8:30pm March 4 - Monday 88 Keys, Blues To Do TV: NW Blues Forum: Jam Host Symposium w/ various area Jam Hosts including Jeff Haas, Tim Turner, Bruce Ransom, Billy Brandt, Kim Workman, & and maybe...Cory Wilds, Justin KausalHayes, Stephanie Porter, Tommy Wall, Andrew Cloutier, Paul & Willow, ( more next month on the first Monday as well) New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet Slaughter County Brewing, Port Orchard: Malcolm Clark Trio, 6pm March 5 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Renton Senior Center: Norm Bellas (grand piano), 12:30pm March 6 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pm Engels Pub: Dirty Rice, 8pm New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Pike Pl. Bar & Grill: John Stephan Band, 6 pm Royal Lounge, Olympia, Alice & Friends, 7:30pm Waterwheel Lounge, Ballard: Annie Eastwood, Larry Hill & Tom Brighton w/guitarist Bill Chism, 7pm Engels Pub, Edmonds: Dirty Rice March 7 - Thursday Dawsons: guest artist Alice Stuart, 8pm Jazz Alley: Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, featuring a tribute to Etta James New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Salmon Bay Eagles: John Stephan, solo, 8pm Two Twelve On Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/ guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm Highway 99: Brian Lee and the Orbiters March 8 - Friday Engels Pub: Project-86 Band Flights Pub,Everett: Stacy Jones Band Jazz Alley: Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, featuring a tribute to Etta James Match Coffee & Wine, Duvall: Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant, Larry Hill, Fugitives Trio, 7:30pm Triple Door: Roy Rogers & the Rhythm Kings Wild Hare, Everett: The Stacy Jones band March 9 - Saturday Destination Harley, Fife: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, Noon Highway 99: Kevin Selfe & Blues Tornadoes Delta Groove CD Release Party Engels Pub: Astro Cats Pony Keg, Kent: Dirty Rice Jazz Alley: Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, featuring a tribute to Etta James Left Foot Boogie Dance Sons of Norway, Bothell: Stickshift Annie w/Kimball & the Fugitives and Brian Kent, 8:30pm Scotch and Vine, Des Moines: Brian Lee Trio, 7 Walla Walla Elks Club: Guitar Festival, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, afternoon Wild Hare, Everett: The Stacy Jones band March 10 - Sunday Jazz Alley: Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, featuring a tribute to Etta James March 11 - Monday 88 Keys, Blues To Do TV: NW Blues Forum: Women Mentoring Women: Pianozilla w/ Ashley Young, &more female piano blues player ....hopefully, Gael Kurath & Annieville Blues! Slaughter County Brewing, Port Orchard: Malcolm Clark Trio, 6pm March 12 - Tuesday New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet Red Crane Restaurant, Shoreline: Washington Blues Society Blues Bash 7 PM all ages! March 13 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pm Madison Pub, Everett: Eric Rice hosts the Unbound Blues Jam, 7pm Engels Pub: Moon Daddy Band, 8pm New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Royal Lounge, Olympia, Alice & Friends, 7:30pm March 14 - Thursday Highway 99: James King & the Southsiders New Orleans: Selbred/Jackson March 15 - Friday Dusty Strings, Fremont: Doug Macleod & Mary Flower 7:30 pm, All Ages $(20.00) Engels Pub: Mary Mcpage & the Assassins Coeur dAlene Casino Resort Hotel, Worley, Idaho: Mark Holt , 8pm Elliot Bay Pizza, Mill Creek: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 7pm Garden House Blues: Elliott Bay Blues w/ Jack Cook & Mick Knight & piano great, Ray Skjelbred New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Old Village Pub: Stacy Jones Band Pt. Townsend Elks: Swing Dance w/ Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 7pm Sliders House of Slide, Carnation: Eric Madis & Blue Madness, 7:30pm Highway 99: Tommy Castro & The Painkillers March 16 - Saturday Top Shelf Broiler, Kirkland: Dirty Rice Conway Muse, Conway: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7:30pm Destination Harley, Fife: Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, Noon Dusty Strings, Fremont: Doug Macleod Blues Guitar Workshop, 10:30am ($40) Dusty Strings, Fremont: Mary Flower Up the Neck Workshop, 1:30pm ($40) Engels Pub: T-Town Aces Port Gardner Winery, Everett: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 6pm Repp, Snohomish: Alice Stuart, 7pm Station House, La Conner: Nick Vigarinos Back Porch Stomp, 8:30p Top Shelf Broiler, Kirkland: Stacy Jones Band Wild Hare, Everett: Gin Creek, 9pm March 17 - Sunday Red Crane Restaurant, Shoreline: 2nd Annual Pass the Torch Fundraiser with The WIRED! Band, Mark Riley, the Duffy Bishop Band, Pianorama, and more! All-ages! 3:30 PM

Blues

March 17 - Sunday (continued) Blues Vespers, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Tacoma: Doug Macleod, 5pm (All Ages) Johnnys Dock: Steve Cooley & the Dangerfields, 5pm Sirens Point Port Townsend: Keith Scott March 18- Monday 88 Keys, Pioneer Square, Blues To Do TV: J.D. Hobson Mr. Villa, Lake City: Annie Eastwood, Kimball Conant, Larry Hill, Fugitives Trio, 7pm Slaughter County Brewing, Port Orchard: Malcolm Clark Trio, 6pm Triple Door: Hot Tuna March 19 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm Red Wind Casino, Olympia, Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, 6pm March 20 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pm Engels Pub: Richard Allen & the Louisiana Experience, 8pm New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Royal Lounge, Olympia, Alice & Friends, 7:30pm Highway 99: Dirty Rice, 8pm March 21 - Thursday Juxtamuse Equinox Showcase, Everett: Nick Vigarinos Back Porch Stomp, 6:30pm New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet Two Twelve On Central, Kirkland: Annie Eastwood w/guitarist Bill Chism, 8pm 3231 Creatives, Everett: Juxtamuse EQUINOX $howcase, Brian Lee Trio 7:30pm 1:30-11pm Ballard Eagles: Dirty Rice, 8pm March 22 - Friday Engels Pub: Boomtown Jazzbones, Tacoma: Stacy Jones Band, 8pm

Laurelthirst, Portland: Alice Stuart, 6pm March 22 - Friday (continued) New Orleans: Flexicon w/Thomas Marriott Woodard Lane, Olympia: Doug Macleod, 7:30pm (All Ages) Pogacha: Dirty Rice, 8pm March 23 - Saturday El Norte, Lake City/Seattle: Stickshift Annie w/ Fugitives Kimball, Larry & John Engels Pub: The Weather Heads Grinders, Shoreline, John Stephan Band, 8:30 pm Madison Pub: Ladies First! A vocal showcase featuring Mary McPage, Annette Taborn, Stickshift Annie Eastwood, Michelle Taylor, March 23 - Saturday (continued) Becki Boyle, Marilyn Beebe & Suze Sims. Muse, Conway: Nick Vigarinos Back Porch Stomp, 7:30pm Old Edison Inn, Bow/Edison: the Stacy Jones Band Salmon Bay Eagles: Big Multi-Guitar Show with Chris Stevens Surf Monkeys, 8:30pm Rockfish Grill: Dirty Rice hosts the Guitar Slinger Showcase with Scotty Lind, CD Woodbury and Eric Rice March 24 Sunday March 25 - Monday 88 Keys, Pioneer Square, Blues To Do TV: NW Blues Forum: Duo Streaming Broadcast w/ Live From The Sound Dot Com & NWCZ Radios Jonathan Oogie Richards & Sweet Danny Ray New Orleans: New Orleans Quintet Slaughter County Brewing, Port Orchard: Malcolm Clark Trio, 6pm March 26 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm March 27 - Wednesday 88 Keys: Blues on Tap, 8pm

March 27 - Wednesday (continued) Engels Pub: Granite Reign, 8pm New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm Royal Lounge, Olympia, Alice & Friends, 7:30pm March 28 - Thursday Highway 99: Monster Road New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet March 29 - Friday Engels Pub, Edmonds: Wire Prohibition Gastropub, Everett: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 7pm March 30 - Saturday Central: Alice Stuart & the Formerlys, 8pm Destination Harley, Fife: Mark Whitman band, 12pm Dusty Strings, Seattle: Eric Madis Jazz-Blues Fingerstyle Workshop, 1:30pm Engels Pub: Tweety & The Tom Cats New Orleans Restaurant, Seattle, Gin Creek Muse, Conway: Nick Vigarinos Meantown Blues, 8pm Owl n Thistle, Seattle: Randy Norris & Jeff Nicely, 10pm Sons of Norway Hall, Bothell, Left Foot Boogie Dance w Brian Lee & the Orbiters, 7:30pm Vino Bella, Issaquah: Kid Quagmire Band Phil Lane, Kimball Conant, John Rockwell & Annie Eastwood, 7:30pm March 31 - Sunday Edison Inn, Edison/Bow: Stickshift Annie with Kimball & the Fugitives & Dan Duggin host, Sunday dance, 5:30pm

April
April 1 - Monday April 2 - Tuesday New Orleans: Holotradband, 7pm April 3 - Wednesday New Orleans: Legacy Quartet w/Clarence Acox, 8pm April 4 - Thursday New Orleans: Ham Carson Quintet

attention all music people:

If you would like to add your music schedule to our calendar please send it to: wbscalendar@ yahoo.com It is greatly preferred to be sent in this format: (Arial, 8pt). date - venue, city(if other than Seattle): band name, time(if other than 9pm) please no bold or Caps. Thank you, your calendar girl, Maridel

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Blues on the Radio Dial

PLEASE SEND ANY RADIO UPDATES TO [email protected]

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

Washington Blues Society

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 Mighty Mouth Blues on NWCZ Radio - www.nwczradio.com Monday 8:00-11:00PM Pacific Northwest Convergence Zone Online Radio: NWCZradio.com: Dave Samsons BluesShow 7:00pm - 10:00PM

Saturday

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 [email protected] - DJ, Jackson Stewart KSVR 91.7FM Mount Vernon: The Blues Note with Janice 10:00PM - 12:00AM [email protected] - DJ, Janice Gage

Sunday

Thursday

KSER 90.7FM Everett: Clancys Bar and Grill 8:30PM - 10:30PM www.kser.org - DJ, Clancy Dunigan

Friday

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

Washington Blues Society

Sundays

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 Bakes Place - Bellevue (425) 454-2776 Triple Door (206) 838-4333 Central Club Kirkland (425) 827-8808 Crossroads Shopping Center Bellevue (425) 644-1111 Damans Pub Redmond Forecasters Woodinville (425) 483-3212 Raging River Caf & Club Fall City (425) 222-6669 BBQ & Blues Clarkston (509) 758-1227 RockinM BBQ, Golf Range & Lounge - Everett (425.438.2843) Breadline Caf Omak (509) 826-5836 Time Out Sports Bar Kirkland (425) 822-8511 Club Crow Cashmere (509) 782-3001 Top Shelf Broiler & Tervelli Lounge - Kirkland (206) 239-8431 CrossRoads Steakhouse Walla Walla (509) 522-1200 Vino Bella Issaquah (425) 391-1424 Ice Harbor Brewing Co - Kennewick (509) 582-5340 Wild Vine Bistro, Bothell (425) 877-1334 Lakeys Grill Pullman (509) 332-6622 Wilde Rover Kirkland (425) 822-8940 Main Street Tavern Omak (509) 826-2247 Valhalla Bar & Grill, Kirkland (425) 827 3336 Peters Inn Packwood (360) 494-4000 Yuppie Tavern - Kirkland (425) 814-5200 Pine Springs Resort - Goldendate (509-773-4434 Rams Ripple Moses Lake (509) 765-3942 Rattlesnake Brewery Richland (509) 783-5747

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

Peninsula

Al Lago, Lake Tapps (253) 863-8636 2 Wheel Blues Club Tacoma Barnacles Restaurant, Des Moines (206) 878-5000 The Barrel Burien (206) 246-5488

Tacoma, Burien, Federal Way, etc

South Sound

CCs Lounge, Burien (206) 242-0977

North Sound

Capitol Theater/Olympia Film Society (360) 754-3635 Cascade Tavern Vancouver (360) 254-0749 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) 852-7287rr Pick & Shovel Wilkeson (360) 829-6574 The Pony Keg - Kent (253) 395-8022 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

Eastside

Central & Eastern

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 ( 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

Blues Jams

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

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

Mondays

Alki Tavern: Jam hosted b y Manuel Morais Dawsons, Tacoma: Tim Hall Band, 7pm Castles, Sedro Wolley: Gary Bs Church of the Blues, 6-10pm Eastlake Zoo Tavern: Eastlake Zoo Social Club & Jam featuring the Seattle Houserockers, 7pm Pony Keg, Kent: Rafael Tranquilino Jam Raging River: Tommy Wall 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 Opal Lounge, South Tacoma Way: Tim Hall, 8pm Oxford Saloon: All ages open jam, 7 - 11pm Ten Below: hosted by Underground Blues Jam, every 1st Monday of the month, Wenatchee Barrel Tavern: hosted by Doug McGrew, 8pm Dawsons, Tacoma: hosted by Shelley & Jho, 8pm Elmer, Burien: hosted by Billy Shew Engels Pub, Edmonds: Jam Session with Lou & Don, 8pm J & M Cafe Jam 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

Wednesdays

Tuesdays

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 88 Keys, Pioneer Square: Blues on Tap, 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 March 6 - Andy Badd Dog Koch March 13 - Eric Rice March 20 - Chester Dennis Jones March 27 - AEK Salmon Bay Eagles: Broomdust presents Blues of the Past jam (1st Wed.), 8pm Yuppie Tavern, Kirkland (Totem Lake), HeatherBBlues Acoustic jam, 8pm

Thursdays

Bad Alberts: Invitational w/Annieville Blues Barrel Tavern: hosted by Tim Turner, 8pm Club Flight Nightclub: w/Cory Wilde, 9pm Conway Pub Dawsons, Tacoma: Billy Shew, 8 pm Eddies Trackside, Monroe: Tommy Cook, Patrick McDanel & Teri Anne Wilson, 8:30pm OCallahans: Tim Hall, 7pm Top Shelf (formerly Olive You), Kirkland: hosted by Chester Dennis, 8pm Oxford Saloon: Invitational Jam w/Steve Ater, 8pm

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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 Bare Roots (206) 818-8141 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 on Tap: 206 618-6210 Blues To Do Monthly (206) 328-0662 Blues Playground (425) 359-3755 Blues Redemption http://www.bluesredemption.com Blues County 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) 878-7910Z Coyote Blues (360) 420-2535 John Scooch Cugnos Delta 88 Revival (360) 352-3735 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 Jimmy Frees Friends (206) 546-3733 Gin Creek (206) 588-1924 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 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 Vaughn Jensen Band (509) 554-6914 Stacy Jones Band (206) 992-3285 Chester Dennis Jones (253)-797-8937 Harry The Man Joynes (360) 871-4438 Junkyard Jane (253) 238-7908

Talent Guide

Washington Blues Society

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 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 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 Jays (425)746-8186 Son Jack Jr. (425) 591-3034 Soulshaker Blues Band (360) 4171-145 Billy Spaulding (206) 310-4153 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 Steve Cooley and the DangerfieldsTom (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)212-7608 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

March 2013 Membership Update:

NEW: Jeannie Angelo Dan Barclay James Barkshire * Jake Barr ** Linda Beilfus Nola Blaswich Joyce Bloomstrom Barbara Campbell Liz Caraway David Chapman ** Christine Clinton Sean Divine Susan K. Dodd Nicholas Dyer ** James Fitzpatrick * Erik Hagstrom Laura Hall Chris Hansche ** Michael Hays ** Scott Hitchings Danny Hoefer ** Donna Hoefer Ron & Alejandra Hooks Richard Hundley Jill A. Johnson Thomas P. Koehler * Jenny Lee ** Dennis McCarty Jeannie Whoopie Kitty McLain Mike & Fran McNett Tom Minifie Allan R. Morgan Erin Morgan Albert Naranjo Brian Olver ** Robert Gold Tooth Ray * Dan & Norma Seese Gerald Bruce Speor Mike Tamman Ken Tetreault * Mike White Jim Whitney Ray Wolpow RENEWED: Jim Allchin Rene Anderson * Craig Angus JW Bass Cindy Bee & Nick Ericson Marilyn Beebe & Marc Tachell Dave Bernhardt ** Robb Boatsman & Courtney Hanks Jennifer Boynton Jim Brandt ** Kathy Brandt CJ Brantner Bet Church John Coffey ** Larry & Katherine Crandall Craig Daly ** Rosalie Daly Major Darst Kristen Davey Bill Davis ** Bobbi Doup Scotty Dog Drexler Frank & Karen Elliott Janice Emery Rev. Deb Engelhardt Sammy Eubanks ** Janice Gage Kat Graham * Gary Grape & Maia Santell Richard & Kay Greenberg * Dennis Hacker & Linda Crafton Curtis Hammond ** Scotty Harris ** Ann Heintz George & Ruth Hespe Dr. John & Jane Horton Mary Hubbs Mike Hudson Son Jack, Jr. & Ghislaine Bernard-Hasan Fat James ** Barry Kellems * Chris & Karen Kliemann Steven Kunkel Keith Kuhnau * Michael Lambert Al Larimer Patrick Lee Steven Leifheit Sandi & Al Lynden Harvey Malone Lisa Mann Adrianne Marsh Chris Mason Keylin Mayfield ** Conner McDanel Patrick McDanel ** Toby McDaniels ** Charlie McDowell Mary McPage ** Jerry & Lyla Meyer * Reggie Miles ** Chris Nelson Dennis & Yvonne Nelson Jeff Nicely ** Melinna Nicely Mary Norris Randy Norris ** Angelo Ortiz & Yvonne Parker Jenneffer Owens Carolyn Peterman * Ricki Peto Jevon Powell ** Paul Quilty & Willow Stone Bruce Ransom Harley Ruff * Mitch Pumpian Lissa Ramaglia Deb Rhymer Eric Rice ** Wendy Rice John Rockwell Michael The Sheriff Rose Jeffrey Ross Aaron Saliba ** Tony & Jan Saulewicz Margene Schotz Ken Sederdahl * Robert Seidman Steven P. Shamberg Lindy Sheehan * Billy Shew Jordy Sigler Scott Simmons * Neil Sorensen ** Billy Stapleton Eric Steiner Larry & Kim Striber Debbie Strom Mark Strom ** Dave Teitzel ** Kathy Teitzel Don Thayer * Paula Thompson Steve Thompson ** Daddy Treetops ** Cynthia Watanabe Brian Watson Carl & Linda Weaver Vicki Welter Ester Wilfong Zab & Jill Zyvoloski

Thank You to New and Renewing Members!

* Thank you for donating to the Washington Blues Societys Musician Relief Fund! ** Thank you for playing at our Blues Bash

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Early Entries will be considered beginning January 1, 2013 Application Must be Received by May 1, 2013 Seattle Teen Music in conjunction with The Washington Blues Society is offering scholarships to the 2012 Centrum Blues Week in Port Townsend, Washington (www.centrum.org). Blues Week is held July 28th through August 4th. The minimum scholarship offering is $580 (approximately 50%); larger scholarships will be offered according to need. Music proficiency level is not required. Full Name: Address:

Passing the Torch

Centrum Blues Scholarship - 2013

_______________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

Phone Number: _____________________________________________________ Email address: ______________________________________________________ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. What musical genre is the most interesting to you and why? What instrument(s) (including vocal) do you play, and how long have you been playing? Have you performed in a live setting before? If so, tell us about it. Do you have interests as a solo player and/or as a band member? Do you consider yourself a beginner, intermediate or advanced musician? Please tell us about yourself, and why we should choose you for the scholarship (250 words or less). Please provide the names and contact numbers/email addresses of two adults (non-parents) who we can talk to about your application. Will you be able to submit a performance video and / or perform at audition in late May or early June?

Process and Eligibility

Applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 18 to be eligible and have their parent or guardians consent to attend. After reviewing all of the eligible applications, an independent panel of judges will choose the finalists. Applicants may be asked to perform a three song set of music prior to choosing the actual scholarship winners. Songs performed may be either original music or cover material. We do not limit the genre of music you must perform for the audition; music must be acoustic and country blues is suggested. All applicants will receive a confirmation email of receipt of their application and a next steps email. Thank you for your submission. Regardless of the outcome of the scholarship competition, we encourage you to continue your music and blues education. Good Luck to all!

Please provide the information (above) and answer the questions as thoroughly as possible. Then email your completed application form to: [email protected]

Will You Be a Part of Passing the Torch? By Roy Brown Join Us on Sunday, March 17th at the Red Crane!
Last year, this new Washington Blues Society program, administered through the education directorship, got off to a flying start. Our goal was (and is) simple. We want the Washington Blues Society to play a lead role in educating the next generation of local blues musicians. After all, if we dont act, then who? Money is tight these days, and a few hundred bucks here and there to surround your kid with world class musicians and teachers is just too much for many families. So last year we began the program to pass the torch to a new generation of youth musicians. We dont want to dictate that they must become blues musicians; kids need to experiment and see where they fit. But we want to expose all that we can to the blues genre so that it can become a consideration. We want to find kids interested in any instruments; we want kids with in interest in learning how to write music. We want kids to know that as musicians or fans, they will always have a place in the blues community if they choose to be a part. We are providing partial to almost full scholarships to musicians who indicate an interest, to attend the 2013 Blues Week at Centrum. There they will spend a week with other musicians of all ages and from all corners of the world who come together for a week of blues camaraderie as well as for learning from some of the finest country blues musicians in the world. This is an experience that literally changes the life of young musicians; it keeps veterans coming back year after year to Centrum. Sunday, March 17th (St. Patricks Day) will be our second fundraiser in two years. The psychology of a fundraiser is this: we provide you with the finest in entertainment; we provide you with raffle items worth your investment (how about 2 tickets for Winthrop, or two tickets to Sunbanks?). We let you in for a pittance compared to the quality of the show. This year our opener is the Wired! Band. We follow with an acoustic set from Mark Riley. Next comes the headline act, The Duffy Bishop Band. And finally we give you the headline show, Pianorama. This is several keyboards on stage at the same time with more players than keyboards. The players thread in and out, sometimes taking the lead and sometimes backing up. The result is more than an hour of high test boogie woogie piano blues, a show destined to be one you will never forget. Annieville is leading this part of the program, and providing the players, some you know and some you may not, but all are top of the line professionals. You get all that for ten bucks. We cant run the program by charging you ten bucks. We are hoping for your support for Passing the Torch by chipping in lots more than the cost of the ticket. The raffle tickets will be $5.00. Come prepared to buy ten, or twenty, or more. Come prepared to throw a twenty or fifty dollar bill in the tip jar. And if you win an item and cant use it, donate it back so we can raffle it again. Any way you can afford to donate is a help. What Im getting at here is that it isnt just our little group that is responsible for Passing the Torch. It is me, and you; its all of us, even those who cant make it to the fundraiser. We are but a small cog in the blues genre musical wheel, and we must all be responsible for pushing forward the original American art form, long after we are gone. This is how we can do it- by all Passing the Torch. Bring your cash and plan on spending it. Admission might get us to half our $5,000 goal. Your generosity must provide the rest. If you cant come at all, the Washington Blues Society address is PO Box 70604, Seattle, WA 98127. Drop a check to Washington Blues Society and earmark it for Passing the Torch. You can get all the details for the fundraiser in the full page ad in this Bluesletter. And if you know a kid, maybe a grandchild or a neighbor let them know about our program. All applicants are welcome between the ages of 12 and 18.

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Rick Estrin and the Nightcats:

Photos and Article by Robert Horn

Story and Photos Robert Horn One Night of Old School Flaming Harp at the Highwayby99 Blues Club!

On Saturday, February 2nd Rick Estrin and the Nightcats returned to Seattles Highway 99 Blues Club. In March, they will be performing in California, and in June, they will be in Colorado. This is a premier national act that hits many cities throughout the country, and blues fans everywhere should make a point of catching them live. Before Rick Estrin joined the Nightcats, Little Charlie Baty fronted the band. Little Charlie retired a while back, and Rick became the band leader. He brought in another guitar talent, and he has been singing and playing harmonica as always. The band has been doing very well and records on the Alligator label. The history of this band includes Ricks nomination for a Blues Music Award as Best Instrumentalist Harmonica in 2012. In 2010, the band received four nominations: the band received nods in the Best Contemporary Blues Album (for Twisted) and Band of the Year categories while Estrin was nominated in the BB King Entertainer of the Year and Best Instrumentalist Harmonica categories. Before he began the award-winning My Next Ex-Wife, he asked audience members to raise their hands if they had ever been divorced, and this sparked

some lively conversations throughout the club. My Next Ex-Wife won Best Blues Song of the Year at the 1994 Blues Music Awards in Memphis. His blues harmonica style flows from the old school tradition of Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson (the second). The songs have that historical feel, and they make the body move, so I was on the dance floor a good amount of the time while the band was onstage. The band did a number of their other big songs like Back from the Dead, D.O.G., Calling All Fools, and P.A. Slim Is Back. They pulled some songs from their back catalogue as well as some from their latest Alligator release, One Wrong Turn. The rest of the band is essential for the sound of the band as well as Rick. Drummer J. Hansen is extremely impressive, and Lorenzo Farrell is as great on keys (piano or organ) as he is on standup bass. The guitar monster, and I mean that as a compliment, is Kid Anderson. He did some guitar solos that knocked the audience out. Rick and Kid changed tempos a number of times in one song making couples on the dance floor try

out a number of things, and then built to an either a fast or slow ending that is appreciated either way. Kid can play with his fingers, teeth, tongue, either in front or behind his body or head. Yes, he seems to enjoy showing what he can do, and the audience doesnt seem to mind that. Rick plays the harmonica with just his mouth (as far as I know) but has been known to make it disappear into his mouth somewhere and magically appear on his lips again without missing a note. All magic tricks aside, this was a great blues show. The show began at exactly at eight oclock, and the crowd was shouting for encores three and half hours later. Rick came out and did a song with his harmonica that sounded better than perfect. If the audience had its way, the show would have never ended. I talked to Rick a little afterwards, and he thanked me for working on this article (even though he didnt know what I was going to write). I hope he likes it the way it turned out. Its always a treat to see award-winning, national touring acts like Rick Estrin and the Nightcats at the Highway 99 Blues Club, and I enjoyed seeing Rick Estrin and the Nightcats at Seattles own authentic juke joint.

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WELCOME BACK
Story and Photos by Eric Steiner

Janiva Magness
one of the three songs Janiva co-wrote on the new CD, There It Is, a story about a woman who never dreamed of hurting a man so bad. Janiva brought back her touring band for this brief Pacific Northwest swing: fellow Michigan native Jim Alfredson played the Hammond B-3 organ and Fender Rhodes electric piano along with veteran blues guitarist Zach Zunis (William Clark, Rick Holmstrom, Big Apple Blues). Long-time sidemen Gary Davenport and Matt Tecu formed the considerably talented engine room on bass and drums. I Wont Cr y, co-written with Grammynominated David Darling, reflected a quiet resilience and strength, and it joins songs sung by Shemekia Copeland, Curtis Salgado, Lurrie Bell, and Mighty Sam McClain as 2013 Blues Music Award Song of the Year nominees. The other original, Whistling in the Dark, is a story of self-preservation and survival and hints at overcoming some pretty significant odds. One of the funkier numbers in the set was Humpty Dumpty, which is available as a download-only (but free with the purchase of a CD). As in the nights opening two instrumental numbers, each player took turns, revue-style, with some inspired solos and improvisation. By the end of the third verse, Janiva turned this song into a classic call and response with the Jazz Alley audience. Gary traded some pretty funky bass parts with Zachs searing solos, and they clearly were having a lot of fun on stage with a song that did not land on Stronger For It. Before concluding the hour-and-a-half-plus Jazz Alley set, Janiva talked about her roles as a spokesperson for National Foster Care Month, an ambassador for Foster Care Alumni of America, and her life in Americas foster care system. While on the road, each member of her band sports unique light blue National Foster Care Month pin, and offers information to fans about opportunities to help all children in need. She reminds audiences that while May is National Foster Care Month, she celebrates it every day when she meets fellow alumni of care while on tour. After a standing ovation, the band returned to the bandstand with two encores: an emotional song penned by Gary Nicholson and Delbert McClinton, You Were Never Mine, and the powerful title cut from her 2008 Alligator Records debut, Thats What Love Will Make You Do. In addition to bringing back You Were Never Mine from her 2006 Northern Blues release Do I Move You, Janiva introduced the audience to award-winning singer-songwriter Cindy Alexander who open up each show. In 2004, Alexander won the Indie Pop Artist of the Year at the LA Music Awards, Songwriter of the Year at the Just Plain Folks Awards, and Best Female Vocalist from All Access Magazine. Janiva and Cindy share a producer in David Darling, and while Cindys set clearly isnt blues, Janiva said that this is our devious plan to do some cross-marketing. Devious or not, the Jazz Alley audience warmly welcomed Cindy and young guitar virtuoso Mason Stoops. Most of tonights set featured her fifth original CD, Every Rise and Fall (Jamcat), with a number of songs reflecting on what its like being mom to twin four-year old daughters. One Part Love marvels at the miracle of birth and the live of a toddler, and Turning Into You is for every parent who thought they were turning into their own mother or father. Cindy said that while her Interstate 405 was mostly under construction, that highway moved (unlike the one on our Eastside, and many commuters in the room identified with her wry 405. Janivas first visit to the Pacific Northwest this year began February 11th on Marlee Walkers Northwest Blues Forum Women Mentoring Women on her Blues-To-Do television program captured live at Seattles 88 Keys in Pioneer Square and on Live On the Sound Dot Com. This innovative series highlights the achievements and aspirations of blueswomen, and Stickshift Annie with Kimball and the Fugitives followed Marlees conversation with Janiva. Marlee played selections from Janiva s latest Alligator Records release, Stronger for It, throughout their spirited and inspired discussion. Walker, honored by the Blues Foundation with a Keeping the Blues Alive Award in the Commercial Radio category in 2000, was the first blues DJ to play Magness music on the radio in the region, and fellow Keeping the Blues Alive Award recipient John Kessler continues on his popular All Blues show from National Public Radio affiliate KPLU-FM at Pacific Lutheran University. After Jazz Alley, Janiva and her band left Seattle for a show Friday night at The Upstage in Port Townsend, Washington, followed by headlining the second annual Winter Blues Festival at the historic Bob White Theatre in Portland, Oregon. The Winter Blues Festival, just like the nationally-recognized Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, supports the Oregon Food Bank, the Childrens Healing Art Project, and the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.

Janiva Magness returned to Seattles Jazz Alley on February 13th and 14th for two shows that featured most of her critically-acclaimed and Blues Music Award-nominated Alligator Records release Stronger for It. This year, she has received Blues Music Award nominations in the following five categories: B.B. King Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Contemporary Blues Album of the Year, and Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year. During the course of her career, Janiva has been nominated for 22 Blues Music Awards, and shes taken home four. The only other blueswoman to receive the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year Award is the late Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor, and I look forward to this years awards ceremony in Memphis in May to see if Janiva will win this well-deserved award again. After her band warmed up with a couple of bluesy note-bending jams that drew the audience in, Janiva brought out her cigar box guitar with a slide and launched into the closing song from Stronger for It: Whoop and Holler. This rousing and upbeat revivalinspired holler and stomp from Texas songster 30 Wylie Hubbard was quickly followed by Ray

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