What more can be said about the earthquake disaster in Haiti? No words can ever allow those of us who are not actually there to understand the tragic suffering that is a daily reality for the Haitian people. But even if we can’t fully grasp it, we can surely see the need to help our fellow human beings in any way we can.

Fortunately for us blues fans, this Sunday we have an opportunity to do our part while getting an awfully nice reward at the same time. From 6:00 – 11:00 pm at The Refectory on Sunday the 31st, a cavalcade of local blues artists will play a special show to benefit Portland-based Mercy Corps in the relief efforts they are conducting on the ground in Port-au-Prince.

Here’s a partial list of those scheduled to perform, and links to hear samples of their music in previous PDXBluescast shows:

Jim Mesi (heard on Show #7 and Show #15)
Lloyd Jones (heard on Show #1, Show #9 and Show #12)
Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes (Kevin hasn’t appeared here yet, but one o’ these days…)
Terry Robb (heard on Show #2 and Show #8)
A.C Porter & Big Noise
Jim Wallace
Lisa Mann (heard on Show #19
Suburban Slim (hear him tear it up on the first song of Show #32)
Dover Weinberg (hear some vintage Dover work on the Mick Clarke tunes in Show #10)
Rae Gordon
Stu Kinzel (heard on Show #2, Show #10 and Show #20)
Mac Potts

According to their mission statement, Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. This Sunday night, help them achieve their goals by attending this special event, enjoying the great music and donating generously.

The Refectory: 1618 NE 122nd Ave., Portland 503-255-8545.
(In case it helps, on Sundays their Happy Hour food menu is in effect all day, and Happy Hour drinks are available from 6:00 to closing time.)

For anyone still dropping by here from time to time to see whether or not the lights are on, let me take this opportunity to suggest that you head to the Portland Art Museum on Monday, January 25th at 7 pm to catch the world premiere of Portland Mojo: How Stumptown Got The Blues. This seems like a film that is way overdue, so copious kudos to director Bob Leitch for undertaking the project and seeing it through to completion. It is said to include “film clips, photographs, posters, and interviews with just about everyone involved in the evolution of the scene over the last five decades” – sounds pretty much like a must-see to me.

I’ve heard that Portland blues legend Pete Karnes is returning to town to see the film and to play a little (hear vintage Karnes cuts in Show #6, Show #11, Show #19 and Show #29), and the word on the street is that many other local blues luminaries will be in attendance at the premiere.

Icing on the cake: following the screening, there will be an afterparty at the Mission Theater featuring live music from many of those same luminaries. Overall, it’s a Monday night not to be missed. Much appreciation to Bart Day, Entertainment Law West, LLC, for his sponsorship.

The screening takes place at 7:00 pm in the Whitsell Auditorium of the Portland Art Museum at 1219 SW Park Avenue, downtown. Click here to order advance tickets.

The afterparty is at the Mission Theater, NW 17th & Glisan. Admission is free, no-host food and drink.

See you there!

Happy belated Thanksgiving!

How are you feeling today? Bloated? Sluggish? Fatigued? All of the above? I’m so sorry. Fortunately I have the prescription for your post-Thanksgiving doldrums – get out there tonight and tomorrow night and catch some live blues! The gigs I’m highlighting this weekend are bound to get you up out of your seat and burning off those extra calories on the dance floor.

For Friday night I’m recommending the Jim Mesi Band at the Cascade Bar & Grill in Vancouver. A guitarist extraordinaire, Jim is a prominent icon of the Portland blues scene. It’s always a thrill to watch Jim play one of his perfectly executed solos – he builds the intensity, soaring higher and higher until you begin to doubt he’ll be able to land it gracefully when the time comes, and then suddenly he’s brought it back down to earth without you even noticing. Hear it for yourself tonight at the Cascade – with any luck Jim will do a few surf guitar tunes to really get you moving. Hear Jim and the rest of his great band on Show #7 and Show #12.

On Saturday night I’m sending you right back to the Cascade Bar & Grill to catch another local luminary: Curtis Salgado. There’s not much for me to say…if you’re already familiar with Curtis’ fiery, soul-drenched vocals and his masterful harmonica playing, then you already know you need to be there; if you’ve never heard Curtis live, here’s your opportunity to remedy that before your friends find out and start openly ridiculing you. Tasty samples of Mr. Salgado’s work can be found in Show #1, Show #4, and Show #19, among others.

That’s it for Pat’s Picks this week – now get out there and keep the blues alive!

Hey there, everybody … I’ve got the Garage Sale Blues this weekend … really weighed down with helping to get this massive effort off the ground, so this is gonna be the shortest & sweetest Pat’s Picks ever. Read ‘em and weep! Or…go out and hear some live blues.

Friday night: Lee Blake Band at the Candlelight – Lee doesn’t play out often enough, so take this opportunity to hear him along with his great bandmates (check out Lee and the band on Show #17 and Show #14).

Saturday night: Jim Mesi & Ed Neumann at Halibut’s – Jim plays as a duo with Ed, his keyboardist. These two guys are top-tier musical talents, and this intimate setting should make for some tasty moments. Hear Jim and the full band on Show #7 and Show #12.

That’s it for Pat’s Picks this week – now get out there and keep the blues alive!

Greetings, everybody! As I type this, I’m in Victoria, B.C., sitting behind the wheel of my car in the lineup for the Blackball ferry to Port Angeles, Washington. I was up here for the week helping my brother put on a triple-bill blues extravaganza featuring Paul Oscher, Lurrie Bell and Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne. Man, was that a great show. Getting to meet the performers was a real thrill, and having Paul and Kenny play my digital piano was icing on the cake. And to wrap it all up with a Portland tie-in – former Portlander David Vest (Paul deLay Band), now a Victoria resident who’s been teaming up with Kenny and D.K. Stewart for their “Piano-Rama” dates, was in attendance! Not only that, but when Kenny was in the middle of an absolutely cookin’ boogie-woogie number, he called David up out of the crowd to join him! David sidled in on the right hand, Kenny gradually shifted out of the way completely, David took one or two choruses by himself, then Kenny wedged himself back in on the right, David gradually edged out, and then it was Kenny again. Seamless and just killingly good.

I probably have a few more stories from the evening’s festivities, but for now it looks like the ferry’s about to board and I’m gonna lose my Wi-Fi. So tonight (Friday), go to Monty’s in Beaverton and hear the under-heard and brilliant Kenny Lavitz, or getcha some Nawlins grease with the New Iberians at O’Connor’s in Multnomah Village. Saturday night I recommend the Ty Curtis Band at the Cascade Bar & Grill, or if you don’t mind the drive to Forest Grove, head to McMenamins Grand Lodge and hear the expert acoustic stylings of Mary Flower.

That’s it for Pat’s Picks this week – now get out there and keep the blues alive!

Happy Friday, everybody. I’m in a hurry, so let’s dig right into my recommendations for your weekend blues listening.

Tonight (Friday), you have the rare opportunity to welcome a new venue to the local blues scene. The Refectory, at 1618 NE 122nd Ave. (near Halsey), has been flirting with blues content here and there for a while, but they’re now considering doing the blues thing full-time. They’re kicking off their new direction tonight by featuring the sizzling blues/rockabilly sounds of the Strange Tones. This is one of those few bands with a real signature sound, due in equal measures to the fiery guitar soloing of Guitar Julie and Suburban Slim, as well as the excellent vocal work of those two frontpersons. Anchored by Andy Strange on bass and J.D. Huge on the drums, it makes for a formidable musical juggernaut – you can get a taste of the Strange Tones in shows 2, 4, 14, 23 and 30. Head out to the Refectory tonight and show them they made the right decision in featuring blues music! They need to see people filling those seats and having a good time….you can do that, can’t you? Sure – I knew you could.

Well, Saturday night holds some fine possibilities, but my vote goes to blues piano master D.K. Stewart, who has recently resumed his occasional duo thing with the formidable guitarist Jay “Bird” Koder. They’re calling themselves “Bird Stew” (…get it?), and they’re playing at the Cascade Bar & Grill Saturday night. I predict they will kill…these are two incredible talents, friends. You can hear D.K. on Show #1 and Show #21, among others.

Today’s a special day – it’s the birthday of my very first crush, Mary Helen. I was in the 7th grade and she was…oblivious. Where is she now? Search me. But as a barometer of my overzealous obsession, to this day I still remember her birthday and think about her every year. Y’know what? She probably hates the blues. Yeah, I’m better off without her. That’s the ticket.

So…are you feeling the need to soothe your blues? Well, this Friday night you can do that and do some good at the same time. The Cascade Blues Association is hosting a fundraising concert at the Melody Ballroom, and the slate features an All-Star band of teen blues performers, blues educator and performer Michael “Hawkeye” Herman, and the headlining Sean Carney Band. For more info, go here.

On Saturday night, Curtis Salgado is at the Trail’s End and I heartily recommend him anytime and anywhere, but…if you’re a local who’s seen Curtis a few times and you’d like to try something different, I’ve got just the ticket. Head to the Cascade Bar & Grill in Vancouver and take in the blues / rock / rockabilly sounds of The Troublemakers. These guys crank out some killer harp-fueled Americana, with Texas native Rich Layton out in front. You can hear the band in Show #3 and Show #22. And in the interest of full disclosure, I’d be recommending them even if I didn’t appear on their latest CD, Chop Shop Pit Stop. So there.

That’s it for Pat’s Picks this week – now get out there and keep the blues alive!

What??! It’s the weekend again?! Yeesh. Well then, here are my suggestions for your live blues listening in PDX-land this Friday and Saturday. Love to get your comments, so keep ‘em coming. Also keep your shirt on, as my mother used to say, for that new show I keep promising. It really is coming.

Tonight, Friday the 26th, you have the opportunity to hear one of my absolute favorite blues vocalists in the Portland metropolitan area, and sadly one of the least-heard at the same time: it’s K.G. Jackson and his band The Shakers, with Dave Mathis. They’re playing at Charlie’s Tavern & Grill at 3315 NE 112th Ave. in Vancouver. (Don’t be scared, now – just close your eyes when you’re crossing that big ol’ river. Unless you’re driving.) Maybe the band’s recent nomination for the “Best New Band” Muddy Award from the Cascade Blues Association will bring them a bit more attention. K.G. (Ken) is a very expressive guitarist along with his standout singing, and his sideman Dave Mathis is a well-renowned harpist in these parts, for good reason. The addition of Ken’s wife Candy on accordion lends a zydeco flair to the band’s style, and my old pal Fred Garner on bass and Julian Brogi on the drums keep things cooking. For a taste of K.G. Jackson’s soulful vocals, check out Show #8 and Show #16.

For Saturday the 27th, we’re gonna stick with that crazy Vancouver vibe and point you toward the Cascade Bar & Grill to hear the moody blues musings (no, not those moody blues!) of the Joe McMurrian Quartet. If you haven’t heard Joe’s work before, he’s got a unique style that defies pigeonholing but never fails to please. Brooding Delta blues, progressive blues, dark and hypnotic fusion…but those are all just words. Check out Joe’s gritty vocals, his singing and biting slide guitar; David Lipkind’s soaring harp; Jason Honl’s melodic bass; and the undeniable propulsion of Jimi Bott (Fabulous Thunderbirds) on the drums. Wanna hear some Joe? Check out Show #3, Show #8 and Show #29. Oh, and while you’re there enjoying the JMQ, look around for the old guy celebrating his birthday. That’ll be CBA Vice-President Terry – buy the man a Geritol.

That’s it for Pat’s Picks this week – now get out there and keep the blues alive!

Okay, okay – I know I haven’t managed to do this every week like I kinda promised, but at least I’m back. There is still definitely a new show on the way….it’s just taking a little longer to pull together than I expected. But in the meantime, here are some suggestions for your live blues listening in the Portland area this weekend. Once again, these are just my opinions; sometimes I’ll stick with the tried and true, and others I’ll try to call your attention to someone who might not be on your radar. If you’re feeling miffed because I didn’t pick your favorite, well, that’s what the comments are for.

Tonight, Friday the 19th, you can cast your vote for old-school blues and R&B by going to hear Norman Sylvester at Clyde’s Prime Rib. Norman’s a Portland treasure and is sure to be in good form – you can hear some of his work in Show #3 and Show #9. If you’d rather hear some stripped-down power-trio blues with a bit of a rock edge, head over to Manila Express and take in Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes. Kevin’s a recent transplant who hasn’t yet appeared on the ol’ Bluescast, but give us time – you’ll hear him here soon. With the tasty, sure-handed (and footed) Don Shultz on drums and Allen Markel on bass (another transplant!), Kevin’s guitar, voice and harp are well-supported.

On Saturday the 20th, I’m gonna keep it simple and encourage you to go hear the delightful Duffy Bishop at Halibut’s. The woman can do sweet, she can do sassy, she can do down & dirty – and all of it with her husband Chris Carlson supplying tastefully soulful guitar licks for expert punctuation. The rest of the band ain’t exactly hacks either. We’ve heard them in Show #5 and Show #13, among others.

That’s it for Pat’s Picks this week – now get out there and keep the blues alive!

Hey, everybody – I’m gonna try and start something here, in the spirit of keeping the site fresh even when I’m not posting a brand new episode. Every Friday I’ll be posting my personal recommendations for which blues artists you should make a point of catching in Portland-area clubs that weekend. Remember, these will just be my opinions; sometimes I’ll stick with the tried and true, and others I’ll try to call your attention to someone who might not be on your radar. If you’re feeling miffed because I didn’t pick your favorite, well, that’s what the comments are for. Chime in and let me (and everybody else) know who you think is worth hearing.

Okay, enough preamble. For tonight, Friday the 15th, I’m offering you a choice between the blues-rock power trio format and a somewhat lower-key but still tasty blues approach. If you lean toward the former, go catch Big Monti Amundson at the Cascade Bar & Grill. Monti serves up rough & ready, muscular blues – to get a taste, listen to Show #29 and Show #27. And if you’re in the mood for that more traditional blues feel, head over to Halibut’s for the expert guitar sounds of Rick Welter. Rick’s got impressive chops and a matching résumé that includes stints with Charlie Musselwhite and others. He sings great too!

Moving on to Saturday night the 16th…if you like your blues cross-pollinated with a little roots rock and rockabilly, the place for you is the Candlelight Café & Bar where the Strange Tones will be cranking out their own unique sound, brimming with top-notch guitar soloing from Guitar Julie and Suburban Slim (hear them in shows 2, 4, 14, 23 and 30 hmmm…guess I like ‘em!). On the other hand, if you’re inclined to make it a slightly mellower evening and mix a civilized pinot noir with some acoustic Delta blues, point your vehicle (or yer feet) to Hollywood Wine & Espresso where you’ll enjoy the solo stylings of the accomplished James Clem (samples of James’ work can be heard in shows 19 and 32).

That’s it for Pat’s Picks this week – now get out there and keep the blues alive!