Blues Bands, BBQ, & Beverages

Featuring
Stacy Jones and The Wolf Tones
John Hodgkin
The Gryffyn Band

Come enjoy the benefit to help cover the medical bills for John.

John is a single father of three children ages ten to thirteen. He was recently hospitalized with diverticulitis (an infection of the stomach and intestines). This life-threatening condition requires an operation and a prolonged hospital stay.

John, like so many people we know at the age of Thirty eight had never been sick a day in his life and like so many in the construction business never had any medical insurance, just Labor & Industries for on the job injuries.

His situation is desperate not only will his medical bills be about $100,000.00 but he will be out of work for a period of at least six weeks.

John needs our help.

Come and enjoy yourselves for a tax deductible donation of $20.00 and feel free to donate additional amounts as your situation allows.

Date of the Benefit: Saturday, Aug 23, 2008
   Event Starts at 1:00 PM

Location:       29931 Mountain Loop Hwy.
  Granite Falls, WA.

(At the stop sign in Granite Falls turn left on to the Mountain Loop Hwy and proceed 8.2 miles)

                     Camp Sites Available upon RSVP

                     Give What You Can To Help John.

Please RSVP to   Lunsfordbenefit@gmail.com

        

Magnuson Park address: 7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, 98115.

This is a big park so the correct entrance is the military check point entrance across the street from the 7-11. Drive straight about a block and a half and at the stop sign take a left.

        

It amazes me how musicians do it, going from gig to gig on a busy weekend.  Most of our local musicians work regular jobs during the week, then work 'til the wee hours on the weekend.  My hat goes out to you.

This weekend, like most, I spent it with Larry on his gigs with Nick Vigarino. With barely six hours of sleep after a late night gig in Granite Falls, we set off for Brown's Point Salmon Bake in Federal Way.  It was a totally beautiful day on the beach, and hanging out in the sun was the perfect place to be in my exhaustion.  The salmon bake was worth the price and for a good cause, and included a nice portion of salmon with salad, roll and corn on the cob.  Yum. The band playing when we arrived was an alternative rock group called Amsterdam.  Great sound and youthful energy.

 

Emmanual del Casal was Nick's bassman with Larry Dennis on drums.  It was the kind of day with the sun completely warming the soul, and despite the beauty of the day, where you just want to close your eyes and immerse yourself in the music.  Mark your calendars for a great local festival the first weekend in August at the park in Brown's Point.



Saturday, the night before we did a lot of dancing out at the Historic Spar Tree in Granite Falls with bassist Lissa Ramaglia funkifying the night with her bass boogie, "getting up a little bottom" with Nick and Larry.  Larry's a powerhouse when it comes to drumming with sticks of dynamite.  To me it's amazing watching and listening to a band like Nick's play.  All the pieces fit together, each one playing off the others.  It's always a jam.  I love this bar and the friendly bunch of patrons, and only 9 miles from Lake Stevens it's not far to go for a great night of music.

 

The weekend before took me down to Maple Valley to another great music venue, Lake Wilderness Grill (formerly Henry Switch Grill), to hear Nick, Larry and Lissa. It had a nice clientèle and great food.  I had the salmon brochette which was two skewers of prawns, scallops and fish on a bed of herbed rice with cranberries.  The garlic asparagus was delicious as well as the clam chowder.  I heard the prime rib dip was great, and the halibut looked yummy too.  No Mohitos though, due to the lack of fresh mint...Perhaps I should bring my own sprig? 

Lake Wilderness Grill has a great line up of blues every Saturday with no cover.  Check out Cruising for Blues' weekly calendar for who's playing there throughout the month.

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The sky of the Tulalip Amphitheatre was as wide and expansive as my anticipation of the Buddy Guy concert.  In discovering blues music, he's one of my favorites and from the day I found out he was coming to town, and only ten minutes from my house, I planned on going.

It's been a long time since I've gone to a 'big' concert for myself, by myself and the day was perfectly pleasant, warm and sunny.  It couldn't have been better.  The sun sets down behind you warming your back for the night ahead.  The food is good and reasonably priced.  The polish dog was worth it's four dollars. There's not a bad seat in the house and no need to bring your own since it's all seated.

Now all day I'd been at work sampling Buddy Guy on the web, fueling my excitement for the concert. The first time I'd noticed him, keeping in mind I'm relatively new to the blues, was when watching a Crossroads Festival tape of him, Eric Clapton and a few other awesome guitar players.  George Thorogood was also playing on the same bill tonight, so on my web travels, I decided to check his site out to see what his music was all about.  I'd heard of him, heard "Bad to the Bone", but that's about all I knew of him.  Hmmm...they touted themselves as the best bar music.  Well, I was only here for Buddy Guy and the Mike Wright Band was a bonus.

As I sat observing and writing, The Mike Wright Band started playing and it was so great to hear this band especially at this venue.  You sounded pretty incredible Mike.  This is the band to look at as best new band this year.  It's spicy.

After a short introduction and with no need for one, Buddy Guy emerges onto the stage dressed in white bib overalls and hat, a youthful 72 years of age, filling the theater with his awesome guitar playing.  A powerful performer, humble and far from disappointing, you're drawn to sing his choruses.  And oh...he's definitely the hoochie coochie man.

Singing old favorites and new ones like "Skin Deep" off his new album of the same name, a soft ballad with a fresh insight past race to an ideal that needs to be resolved in this world, America first and foremost.  A united nation starts with it's people.

It was a fucking awesome, and a personally spiritual experience.  Wow.  He takes it through the audience like the Pied Piper, fans gathering, following this awesome performer.  I jumped into the surge, and he was right there giving us a taste of John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix.  I am convinced that I need the whole collection of Buddy Guy.

I could have listened to him all night, but alas it came to an end and the stage was rearranged for George Thorogood and the Destroyers.  Playing heavy metal tunes as a tweener for George T was a bad sign (for me), but the crowd was handsome and loosened up for the upcoming show.  After five minutes of George, some guy across the aisle starts a fight not once but twice with two different guys and was escorted from the concert.  Rock's a whole different breed.  Aggressive.   I stayed a while to make sure I wasn't missing anything, but slipped out preserving my fantastic experience.  To be fair, it was a great rock show, but I'm prejudice towards the blues and the night went to Buddy Guy.

        

John Hammond at the Barn




Sunday, July 27th

Dinner 5:30pm Show 6:30

$20 donation.  Call Jeff for reservations  206-571-6250.

        

"Are you going to dance all night?"

Wordlessly I nod.  Yes it's just a part of what a Nick Fix is all about.  Dancing, fun, fantastic groovin' original music.  It's just Nick Vigarino and Larry Dennis tonight, the bass player lost or otherwise missing.  He's not needed though for a full sound; a rythmic, melodic, sycronized jam session between these tight players.

I love it when the dance floor fills...Boys?  Looking for a place with great single women?  The Stanwood Hotel on a Nick night.

I love these guys, such an intense ride, the music and energy.  They play their guts out.

It was quite the night.  My first encounter with a drunk man which culminated in a bath of various drinks when he used the table as a lever to stand. Nice exit. Tip:  Most bar tables, I've found, are somewhat unstable and only there to hold the drinks and/or peanuts.  They can be tippy.  Tip #2:  Wear black.  It hides the wetness of slopped drinks.

We went in search of the holy grail of Mohitos, but the bartender said she could do everything but the mint leaves...the search continues.

Sunday I stepped out to the Tulalip Casino for the first hour of the jam.  The Randy Oxford Band hosted the night with Jada Amy on vocals, Randy Oxford on his amazing trombone, Rafael Tranquilino and Brian Feist on guitar, David Atondo on bass and Riky Hudson on drums.  It's always a treat listen and dancing to this band.  His new bass man David keeps the groove going strong. 

My next stop is George Thorogood and Buddy Guy on Thursday at the Tulalip Amphitheatre.  A great place to watch a good show.  I'm amazed every time I'm there that it's right there in Marysville, just about in my back yard.  It's pretty cool!  I've been really excited to see Buddy Guy.  He's a favorite of mine.  So tune in same time next week for concert highlights.

        

Port Townsend Country Blues Fundraiser

Honoring retiring Centrum Blues Artistic Director, Phil Wiggins

Last Call! Saturday, July 26 3:00pm - 7:00pm

Music Program, Beverages and Plentiful Hors d' Oeuvres Provided

Performances by Cephas and Wiggins
Nathan James & Ben Hernandez and Ryan Harder

Barbara Hammerman and Raymond Lavine are inviting the Centrum community to their beautiful home in Gig Harbor, Washington for food, fun and music to support Centrum’s Country Blues scholarship program. At this event the scholarship program will be officially named The Cephas and Wiggins Scholarship Fund in honor of retiring Centrum Blues Artistic Director Phil Wiggins.

The concert takes place inside the magnificent Mighty Wurlitzer music room in Barbara and Raymond's private home, Wurlitzer Manor, and is produced by Amanda Gresham's Delta Music Experience. Tacoma businessperson and bluesman Ryan Harder will open the event with his award-winning slide guitar stylings, including original songs and stories full of the knowledge of the blues.

Please join us on Saturday, July 26, from 3-7 pm and hear some outstanding performances. Blues musicians Phil Wiggins and John Cephas will perform along with a young, accomplished blues duo from Southern California, Nathan James and Ben Hernandez, who triumphed over dozens of other groups in the 2007 International Blues Challenge.

Barbara, Raymond, and Amanda will underwrite all costs so that every dollar contributed will support the Country Blues Festival scholarships. To support this fine program at Centrum and to honor Phil and John, a $100 donation is suggested. More is always appreciated and your capacity donation of less also valued. See www.centrum.org/blues

For further information, reservations, address, and directions, please contact Barbara at 253.858.4435 or barbara@wurlitzermanor.com.

Reservations are required and checks should be made out to "Centrum" and sent to: Port Townsend Country Blues Festival Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1158, Port Townsend, WA, 98368 PLEASE BE SURE TO WRITE YOUR TELEPHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR PAYMENT SO THAT WE CAN CONTACT YOU WITH ADDRESS, DIRECTIONS AND PARKING INFORMATION.

        

        

The Laurie Miller Band opened Randy's jam  with some Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steppenwolf and other energetic rock with some originals by Laurie.  The lead singer on guitar, Teryn Bunel, has some great vocals and Jack English is great on the drums.  Next week the Randy Oxford Band will be hosting the show.  The Tulalip jam runs the first three Sundays of the month.

Wedding bells will be ringing August 9th for harpist Jim McLaughlin and saxist Pam Van Kirk.  They sure look great together.

Sunday was a really nice sunny day.  A Mohitos sort of day.  I've got to learn how to make these things virgin style.  Rum is a little hard on the noggin come morning. 


 
The Mike Wright Band, who's opening for Buddy Guy at the Tulalip Ampitheatre, featuring Mike Wright on guitar and vocals, Walt Steinbach on bass and Randy Miskulin on drums gave us an awesome set, as well as a notable group of jammers up together; Jeff Menteer and RJ on guitar, Mike Fish on bass, Big Daddy Karl on vocals, Bill Davis on harp and Don Montana on drums.  A big welcome to new comer Slim from Chicago who was something else on bass, and Blues Flute was a great addition.  Great stuff this. 

 

Other contributing musicians for the night were Scott Drexler, Rick Barchay and Tim on guitar, Jim McLaughlin and Willow Stone on harp, Mary Lynch and Paul Quilty on bass, Mike Matlus on drums, Marvin Johnson on keys, and host Randy Oxford on trombone with Ron Hendee on trumpet, Pam Van Kirk and Jeff Jennings on sax made up the Tulalip horn section.

 

 

        

I know it may sound sorta silly, but for all the musicians out there who bare their soul every time they get on stage, this fan is filled with total appreciation for the amazing music they sing and play.



This last week I visited a couple jams in Snohomish county.  I walked into a full house of musicians and fans at the Oxford Saloon in the city of Snohomish on Thursday hosted by guitarist CD Woodbury and bass man Steve Ater (from the Tone Kings) and drummer Tommy Cook (Polly O'Keary's Rhythm Method).  Christina Porter was singing and sharing her CD This, That & the Blues.  There's a reason I love the Oxford Saloon, because although it's got a rustic flavor the atmosphere is all class.  Only 1/2 hour away from Seattle, the Oxford offers up the blues with a big city taste. 

It's been awhile since I've been out to a jam because of a busy schedule, but you know as soon as you walk in, it settles in like a big fat sun ray on my soul.   I was impressed with this young guy Sean Radford on guitar.  And what a handsome guitar it was too.  Guitarist Frank Snow showed up, along with Jeff Menteer, Jeremy Kidder, and Dave Albert, as well as bassist Dave Bishop to name but a few.  Good stuff here!



Sunday I made it out to Randy Oxford's All Star Jam at the Tulalip Casino.  I hadn't been out to this jam since it was on a Tuesday and it was wonderful to walk in and see old friends.  It's quite the show that Randy puts on and with the stage, lights and dance floor enhances it even more.  Special guests this week was Randy Norris and the Full Degree, a four piece band with Randy Norris on lead guitar & vocals, Pete Sams on bass & vocals, Woody Robinson on drums, Bob Baum on keys and a fun mix of funky, rockin' blues.

   

I'd  heard a rumor that my friend Mike Wright was opening for Buddy Guy out at the Tulalip Amphitheater this month and am happy to confirm it.  I've got my ticket and can't wait to go to that show.  Jim McLaughlin was looking in top form and quite dashing with his new 'do.  Rumor number two is that wedding bells are in his future...

   

Jammers included Bill Harris on keys; Mike Wright, Sean Denton, Terry Hines, and Rich Rorex on guitar; Dave Thomas, Mary Lynch and Paul Quilty on bass; Jim McLaughlin and Willow Stone on harp; Larry Dennis,  Mike Mathis, Randy Mesker and Johnny Mottola on drums; Rhoda Gunderson on vocals; Ron Hendee on trumpet; and Pam Van Kirk and James Jennings on sax.



August 10th Edgar Winter will be special guest at the Tulalip Jam.