To be remembered by his warm smile, we are gathering this Sunday, the 17th, in rememberance and honor of a dear friend and willing dance partner. 

        

Well, here it is 2009.  Hard to imagine, and with the new year comes changes.  Ever since blues became a passion, an expression of friendships, fun and dedication, I have enjoyed sharing my excitement with you through this blog.  Cruisingforblues.com has been my outlet to bring Washington's northwest local blues to the interested, and while I've had to slow down my outings and ruminations, I do not intend for it to remain that way for very long. 

I have found it very difficult to continue the newsletter as I would like it on a weekly basis due to time limitations.  So after much thought these last few days of 2008, I've decided to take a virtual sabatical, across the web world to gather information and such for my long delayed project, galaxyofblues.com.  I will continue to bring you news and insights from our corner of the blues world through this blog, as well as interesting sites that I find in my blues travels to the outer reaches of this virtual world.  It will, I hope culminate in a well documented web guide to blues around the real world and beyond.

Happy New Years to you and yours, and may this next year be fruitful and prosperous for all.

        

Only fourteen days ‘til Christmas and if you haven’t got your blues friends and loved ones a present, consider the cornicopia of cd’s by our local blues artists.  You can pick them up at your favorite shows, or visit their websites and order them online.
 
There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss hitting the shows and seeing all my blues friends and I hope this holiday season brings you lots of happiness, love, and prosperity.  Spread the joy, give blues.

        

Since I haven't had the chance to go out and hear all those great Northwest blues musicians live, I've been drinking them in through my mp3 player.  On the train, the bus, walking to and from with a little bounce in my step.  Secretly at times I wish I could just break out and dance crossing the street.  Just the thought of that puts a smile on my face.  There's nothing like the blues my friends, but you know that too.  

One of my favorite things is the solitude of a morning dawn walking through the city with music in my ears playing up the grandeur of the aged architecture.  Preferably with a tall Seattle's Best hot chocolate in hand.
 

        

Wow. I missed a whole month of blues due to lots of overtime.  Great for the wallet, but not so great for my blues nights out or everything related.  I've had to re-evaluate my extracurricular activities, and have had to step down as ad director of the Washington Blues Society, among other things.  Mary, the Bluesletter Editor, will be taking ad orders in the future until someone wants to volunteer for those duties.   If anyone's interested in this fun learning experience, supporting the Bluesletter and the WBS, email president@wablues.org.

I've missed my weekly Cruisin' for a Blues In newsletter a few times this month and hopefully there won't be a interruption in service again.  I do love spreading the blues, if not getting out to it every week.  I sort of feel like I'm there, if you know what I mean.  I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday with family , friends and feast.  I got the day off and spent it cleaning and cooking up my favorite Turkey Day recipes.  

Halloween was fun and I spent it with Victoria and Larry at the Highway 99 for the Lee Oskar Party.  Victoria was 1st runner up for the costume competition, beat out by a precocious Sarah Palin in a pre-election bid for popularity.  As it turned out it was a well timed consulation prize for the real deal.  For that I give thanks.  It was a fun night of music and food, with familiar faces and friends.  I'm looking forward to getting out again soon.

 

        

        

With the economy in a slump, you might find yourself cutting back on the finer things in life, but there is some fun to be had on a tightened wallet.  Going out to our area blues venues can be downright inexpensive when compared to movie or sports tickets.  The last time I went to the movies it was ten dollars a head.  A large popcorn drink combo amounted to sixteen dollars.  Ouch!  $16 for a bunch of air and corn syrup + $20 (for two) to watch a ho hum Hollywood cookie cutter movie = $36 for two hours of nothing!

Considering that a lot of bars charge five dollars or less for an evening of blues and serve a decent meal or appetizers, date night becomes a lot more affordable and much more entertaining.  You'll still be able to watch your pennies, have fun, and support the economy. Even more importantly you're supporting small business which like blues is the heart and soul of this great country. 

So let's review.  $36 for two hours of nothing with your loved one, or $36 or less for up to 4 hours of live music, a great meal, and dancing with that sexy someone.  Get out, support the blues, our economy, and buy someone a drink.  And don't forget to tip your waitperson!

        

Well it was quite the floor show out in Granite Falls at the Timberline last Saturday night.  The hot Miss Polly O'Keary and the Rhythm Method was the official entertainment for the night.  The Timberline Bar has pretty good food served out of it's cafe.

Polly O'Keary and the Rhythm Method consists of Polly on vocals and bass, Tommy Cook on drums, Frank "Hot Rod" Holman on keys, Willy Straub on guitar, and Ron Hendee on trumpet. Polly's won several BB's, this year winning Best Female Vocals, and Best Songwriter.  Personally I think she should be representing our area for the IBC's next year.  Her music and band are great, she's one hell of a singer and front woman.

        

It seemed much longer than the two weeks since I was last out cruising for blues.  Trying to adjust to a new job with early morning hours was the cause. The new job is as a dispatcher for First Transit who takes reservations and dispatches Metro's Access buses (and other para transit providers) in King county.  So after a couple grueling weeks of training (which is ongoing) and waking up before dawn, finally I was able to venture out a catch some tunes.

My first stop was Engel's Pub in Edmonds to listen to Steve Raible and the Newscasters.  Playing with Steve was Dave Bishop on bass and Larry Dennis on drums.  Ahhh...what a feeling to have live blues wash over you, like a mellow wave.  One of the biggest things I love about the blues is the fact you can hear some beautiful guitar work.  I wasn't disappointed tonight.  Funky blues with some great guitar work as well as a fantastic rhythm section.  A favorite of mine was Hoochi Coochi, Smoochi Smoochi and the choice bits of news between songs.

Later that night I got my Nick Fix on my way out to Granite Falls at the Spar.  Nick Vigarino was joined that night with an old friend Kelly Leifer on bass, Joey Saint John on sax and John Rockwell on drums.  It's always a welcome pleasure to groove on Vigarino's music.

I've thrown in some pictures of some beautiful downtown Seattle buildings, one of which (center) is the one I now work in.  The Exchange Building on 2nd and Marion is beautiful with art deco detailing inside and out.  From it's stained glass windows over the doors, wood trimmings and little details I'm still discovering.  The Exchange Building was supposed to be the stock exchange of Seattle back in the early 20th century.  It was due to debut on the eve of the New York stock market crash on October 29, 1929.  The floor I work on was supposed to be the exchange floor.  Anyway, there's a lot of beautiful old buildings down around where I work just north of pioneer square.  A lot of hills too.  Ugh...

Check out some interior shots of the Exchange Building here.

        

Sorry I was a bit late this week getting the newsletter out.  It was beyond hectic with new kitties and not enough sleep. 

 

I still did get out to listen to some blues and the fullness of the moon Saturday night equalled my anticipation to see the Bill Mattocks Band at my favorite Snohomish club, The Oxford Saloon. It was a fun night with lots of dancing and good music as always.

 

Sunday we partied with Annie celebrating her birthday at the Tulalip Jam.  The Randy Oxford Band filled the dance floor and we bumped a groove to the party atmosphere.  Jada Amy started off the night with vocals with Patti Allen making an entrance later on.  Patti and Randy are two performers who can put on a show.

Jammers that night were Ron Hendee on trumpet, Sean Denton, Rick Barclay and Manuel Morais on guitar,  Mary Lynch and Gerald on bass, Joe T Cook and Bill Mattocks on harp, Jon, Johnny Mattola, Don Montana, and Randy Mesklin on drums, and Rhoda Blue and Big Daddy Karl on vocals.

On a sad note, we lost Laurette Langille this weekend to cancer.  Northwest  blues woman Laurette Langille's sultry vocals and slide guitar have been a festival favorite for many years.

And to end on a happy note, August 30th, Tom "T-Boy" Boyle and Rebekah "Becki Sue" Delk of Becki Sue and Her Big Rockin' Daddies were married.  Best Wishes!  See Jet City Blues blog for pics and details!