What’s On Tap for January 2012’s General Membership Meeting
Melody Ballroom, 615 SE Alder St., Portland
Wednesday, January 4th, 7:00 pm
Members always Free – Non-members $3.00
Opening Acoustic Set – Al Carson
Second Electric Set – Hot Tea Cold
After all the festivities of New Year’s Eve, it’s time to start up the New “Blues” Year at The Melody Ballroom on Wednesday, January 4th to kick off 2012 in the right fashion. You can always rely on the Cascade Blues Association to have your blues cravings in mind and this year will have a lot of fun-packed excitement in store for all as we start off the second quarter century of promoting, supporting and preserving the music that we love.
It has been far too many years since we last had the pleasure of Al Carson playing at our membership meetings and we’re glad to welcome him back. Al has been a long time performer and fan of country blues and believes it is part of American Heritage. Al devotes more time to the music and art he has loved ever since childhood and although he plays blues influenced by many of the people that made the music what it is, he does not copy or imitate these masters. He definitely has his own voice, guitar and harmonica style. He has been performing Delta and Piedmont blues as a soloist for many years and has taught the blues at the prestigious Puget Sound Guitar Workshop. Al has the ability to take the music on the road and share it, as well as to gain new influence from others. He has performed at the King Biscuit Blues Festival, BB King’s in Memphis and at the Rose City Blues Festival (now known as the Waterfront Blues Festival). And he’ll be sharing his talents with us this month at the meeting.
For the second set of music for the night we will offer the sensational young band Hot Tea Cold, who have been in existence since 2008 when guitarist Glen Hoover and bassist Brandon Hetu found a drummer who fit their style. Glen and Brandon first met at Clackamas Community College where they both studied music. After jamming together with other musicians the desire to become a band arose. Through several performances and line-up changes, they were still left without a drummer. Only by sheer luck did they find a posting for a drummer named Austin Early on Craigslist that sounded too good to be true. After several other drummers had auditioned, they were skeptical but hopeful and when they first jammed together they knew that fate had intervened. As it did again two years later when they met saxophone sensation Eric Rabe at a jam. Together the four create a fun and funky blend of many genres, with main components of blues, funk and rock. They are an exciting band that should really get your blood pumping at the meeting.
In between sets, we’ll hold our monthly free ticket drawing for great prizes and let you know about all the fun events coming up in January and beyond. Don’t forget to pick up one of the $1 raffle tickets also, for your chance to win the multi-CD pack we’ve put together just for the meeting. Hope to see you there as we kick off 2012 in the right way!
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If you’re a true-blooded fan of authentic Chicago blues, this new release by Tail Dragger and Bob Corritore is right up your alley. Especially if it’s a dark, gritty to the bone alley that you can only find in inner city streets that a blues soundtrack would be most appropriately fitting. This is that soundtrack. With greasy vocals supplied by Tail Dragger that harkens back to your favorite Chicago singers like Howlin’ Wolf or Muddy Waters, they’re frightening and just oozing full of a lifetime of hardships that makes them so real. Backed by his longtime friend (as the title refers) harmonica master Bob Corritore, who may live nowadays in Phoenix, but has never lost that feel for the Windy City’s sound, this is one of the finest Chicago blues recordings to hit the market in years. And since this is a Delta Groove CD, you know that the label has thrown together a fine mesh of sidemen to compliment them every step of the way. And what sidemen! You just would be hard-pressed to find any finer than Kirk Fletcher and Chris James on guitar, Patrick Rynn on bass, Brian Fahey on drums and special guest Henry Gray throwing down fantastic keys and vocals on one track.
