Ramblings on My Mind
Ramblings on My Mind
Ramblings On My Mind - Nov 09
Written by Greg Johnson Wednesday, 21 October 2009 19:18
Greg Johnson / CBA President
I know I have mentioned this before, but looking at the events coming up in our area during the month of November, I find it amazing at how giving our blues community truly is. Three events noted here in the BluesNotes are all focused with offering assistance to worthy causes.
Starting the month off on the 1st as Fiona Boyes headlines a concert at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church called Blessings & Blues, raising funds for charities including musician relief for times of need. Francine and Art West have pieced together another outstanding ABATE/Shiners Musicians Toy Run show at the Trails End, and the whole city seems to be coming together to help KBOO DJ Tom Wendt is in time of aid to help cover medical expenses. It certainly warms the heart to see so much giving from our musicians, venues, retailers and fans alike.
Also in November, is the annual Muddy Awards celebration. This year’s ballot is full of first time nominees showing that the music here in our region is definitely still putting forth outstanding artists, while our veteran performers still craftily hold on to their niche at the same time. It proves that we can remain loyal to our all-time favorites and still have room for new ones, too!
Ramblings On My Mind - Oct 09
Written by Administrator Wednesday, 16 September 2009 17:30
Greg Johnson / CBA PresidentWhat an incredibly beautiful summer this has been in Portland. Reaching record-breaking dates with temperatures over 90 degrees. Friends from different parts of the country remark how poor their weather has been and looking at ours state how we somehow flipped weather patterns with them. To which I always remark, “Have you ever actually been to Portland during the summer? It’s usually nice, sunny and warm every year from July through September. It’s those other nine months that it’s gray and rainy.”
Of course with exceptional summer weather there is always fantastic outdoor concerts going on. And I don’t mean just the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival. Seems like a lot of people tend to think the blues in Portland begin and end there annually. Not so! Just this past month and a half (writing this in mid-September of course to meet the paper’s deadline) I have bore witness to many superb outdoor performances. From our annual membership picnic, to National Neighborhood Night Out with Kevin Selfe & The Tornadoes, to Shute Park in Hillsboro for Ellen Whyte & her full band, to a mini brews festival at Blitz Ladd with the Ty Curtis Band and Woodbrain (unfortunately I missed staying around for The Insomniacs). And then just this past weekend, with the opening of the new line in the City’s light rail system, I got to see the Terry Robb Band with Linda Hornbuckle and the Lily Wilde Orchestra. Outdoor events are happening everywhere during the summer. Seems like if there is a special occasion, it always calls for a blues band to be included.
Ramblings On My Mind - Sep 09
Written by Greg Johnson Wednesday, 19 August 2009 17:17
Greg Johnson / CBA PresidentCan you believe how hot it got in Portland in August? For a week’s stretch temperatures blazed in the upper 90s and well over 100 for part of that time. And just in time for the Cascade Blues Association picnic of course. But despite the sweltering weather, what a great time the picnic was! All five acts were outstanding! And a big kudos to the CBA Board of Directors and BluesNotes Editor Laurie Morrisey who all worked as a team to pull this event off. I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it here, you guys are the tops!!
And if the weather wasn’t enough to keep things sizzling, the blues seemed non-stop all month. Besides all of the fun outdoor events that put our local musicians on stages throughout the region, we were also blessed with visits from national acts like Chris Cain, Charlie Musselwhite, Bettye LaVette, Shane Dwight, and Moreland & Arbuckle. And if that wasn’t enough to keep the summertime joy going, it will be continuing right into September.
Rambling On My Mind - Aug 09
Written by Greg Johnson Tuesday, 14 July 2009 20:38
In a festival that has so many high points, everybody has their favorite sets and moments. I thought for this month’s ramblings I would relate my own top Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival performances for this year, in no particular order save for one.
It always seems to me that the Front Porch Stage has held my choice for the best entertainment going since its inception. This year proved for the most part no exception. Starting off on Friday, sure I enjoyed Keb’ Mo’, Lukas Nelson and Robben Ford’s sets like everybody else, but for my money Mary Flower and Johnny Ward’s Sharkskin Revue were the acts of the day. Mary’s expressive guitar and her ease with the audience proved how one artist can capture your attention, while delivering humorous tales of losing all your friends on Facebook or just delivering sensational instrumentals based on the theme of Portland-town. Johnny Ward’s horns and band was spot-on; then add in Lauren Sheehan playing the role of a blues-shouting diva, backed by the always brilliant Whit Draper on guitar. This set hit all high marks for certain.
Friday opened with an artist I had been wanting to see for a long time, Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat, and I was not disappointed in the wait as they gave an energetic and jumping set of Texas blues. And it was especially good to see Johnny Winter appear so spry as he seemingly pranced to center stage, strapped on his guitar, then proceeded to burn things up from the get-go with a commanding performance of classic covers he has become well-renown for. Oh, did I mention Sonny Landreth? Any questions why he was named the Blues Music Awards best instrumentalist on guitar this year? If you’re still wondering, you just were not paying attention.
Ramblings On My Mind - Jul 09
Written by Greg Johnson Tuesday, 30 June 2009 16:00
It’s July!! That means it is time once again for the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, the biggest event in the local blues community of the year, drawing fans from all over the world into our city. If you’re here to experience the Waterfront Blues Festival or if you’re just traveling through town and picked up a copy of our paper looking for something to do, go immediately to the center calendar and check out the listings of live entertainment to be had. Portland has one of the absolute best blues scenes found anywhere in the United States and you should be able to locate blues going on someplace here most every night of the year. There are venues offering blues music in nearly every corner of the city and some of the finest musicians in the world call Portland home, so get out and explore the local nightlife.
If you live here and this news is taking you by surprise because you only think of blues when the Waterfront takes place, shame on you! The blues happens here all year long. And many of the venues where you find it do not charge you a cover to get in. If you frequent these places, however, remember that the economic times are tough for everybody, musicians included. So throw a little something into their tip jar. It’s a lot of work to stand up there and entertain a roomful of people. If the venue does charge a cover, still consider that extra little amount in the tip jar anyway.