It took a few days, but I have recovered from a weekend of late nights and a variety of live music.  It all started at the Grand Peking Restaurant in Redmond on Friday having dinner and listening to Sister Ray.  We came a little early and grabbed a seat in the bar and chose a cozy corner booth and settled down to a good meal. 

Sister Ray is primarily Vietnam era rock (late 60's, early 70's) with some blues.  I love the song selection.  Jethro Tull, Neil Young, & Chamber Brothers "Time".  Originals by guitarman Lyle like War Is Not The Answer and Diggin' The Ditch.  Sister Ray was formed just over a year ago with all the members working day jobs together as bus drivers.  While they are relatively new, they have been growing tighter.  I do love hearing bands grow.



Over all the venue sound was fine, but it didn't carry to the back the same as the front, so we moved closer after we finished dinner.  We had a great time, the food was good and the staff friendly.  They made accomodations for the vegetarians in the group. 

Next stop was my friend Sean's recital for his junior year end program for Cornish at Trinity Parish Church in Seattle on Saturday night.  He's studying to be a composer, conductor and master cellist, and he's a beautiful vocalist too.  The evening began with Sean playing the cello, Suite III by Johann Sebastian Bach.  I think Sarabande was my favorite in the movement.  Next came the addition of piano to Henry Eccles' Sonata in g minor.   I remember Largo from my high school days soloing on French Horn.  Not nearly as well done as Sean on cello.  Imagine, this used to be the popular music in its day, much like, yet completely unlike the popular music today and not to be confused with pop music today.  Girl's swooning and heart's palpitating over music that elevated the soul.

The last half was instrumental and vocal compositions by Hanna Benn and Sean Glenn.  Bells tone gracefully, beautiful voices sing and damn, it's the start of a tearful part two.  There's something about a chior of magnificant voices that always make me tear up.  It's like beholding beauty with the ears.  I'll never forget the mystical and moving experience at Salisbury Cathedral in England back in 1999 only a few nights before Christmas.  Children's voices filling the ancient church.  Breathtaking...



And next stop after only four hours of sleep the night before, The Blarney Stone in Seattle for Dano's birthday blast with Nick Vigarino, Larry Dennis, Rob Moitoza, Scotty Harris and Jon Parry.  What a great group of musicians!  Happy birthday Dano!  Hope you got all that chocolate off your lips...



This was my first visit to the Blarney Stone which is located in Belltown just north of the Macy's.  The place is a great place to relax in the city with great food.  The halibut and chips looked great and the hummas plate was divine.  Unfortunately, the corn dogs sounded delicious, but for some reason the cook made a mistake and served two naked dogs on a bed of fries with a side of mustard.  Now I thought it was some English joke, as they have a funny sense of humor when naming their food...I just can't figure out how anyone could make a mistake in serving THAT.  I mean I wish I'd taken a picture.  Two plain, rather ugly looking, hot dogs lying side by side on a bed of fries.  What kinda dish is that?  Yes I ate it, but it was late and I was hungry, and it was an interesting topic of discussion.

Special mention to Aron a guest guitarman of Dano's who played a couple.  Hope to see him around some more!

        

Well, as it always is, finding blues in Alaska can be hit or miss.  This trip was a miss due to a scheduling glitch.  Bummer.  But I still had fun visiting family.

My friend Victoria Glenn got out to see Craig Caffall at the Highway 99 and Nick Vigarino at the New Orleans Restaurant, and here's her report on Craig Caffall...

Craig Caffall played some smoking guitar at the Hwy 99 on Friday night doing a mix of traditional blues tunes and great covers as well as his own melodic compositions. Backed by some of the best musicians in  the Northwest including BB award winner Scotty Harris on sax, Ron Weinstein on the big B3 with Andrew Cloutier on the drums and Lissa Ramaglia on the bass – keeping the low end funky in her sexy red shoes!

Craigs vocals rocked the house while the ladies lined up in the front to get a better look. As always the dance floor at the 99 was packed and the food was fabulous. Craig will be back again, both on his own and as Maria Muldaur's lead guitar man.

        

This is a bulletin from Jan and Andrew Drew about their guitars which were stolen:

Last Thursday night (4/24) someone broke into our house in Tahuya, WA, and stole 5 guitars (two of Andrew's favorite guitars and all of Jen's basses).

3 of these were distinctive enough you might recognize them if you see them:
(1) - A white Fender Telecaster with a Seymour Duncan pickup and an extra toggle switch on the pick guard. There are 3 decals: On the front there is a circular decal with "THE DREWS" in black letters and a reddish colored EMP sticker. On the back there is a red, white, and blue Native American style picture of a longhorn. This guitar is a family heirloom of great sentimental value.

(2) - A black Fender Stratocaster with a custom LR Baggs bridge and pickup. It also has an extra toggle switch on the pick guard.
Serial # Z6134057
(3) - A black Fender Musicmaster three quarter size 4-string bass, with a notch along the 5th to 7th fret that occurred when it accidentally fell.

If someone tries to sell you any of these, please buy them. We will reimburse. Or if you can't afford to buy them, please at least let us know where you saw them. Most likely they will be in the Seattle, Bremerton, Shelton, Tacoma, or Olympia area, but you never know...
We would really appreciate your help!
Jen and Andrew
The Drews
www. myspace. com/thedrews

        

Congradulations to the Red Hotz, winning the coveted Best of Blues Best Band award.  It was a fun night indeed at the Triple Door after enjoying a wonderful dinner upstairs at the Wild Ginger.  Best New Band went to Kim Fields and the Mighty Titans of Tone. 

It was a blast seeing lots of friends.  If you haven't been to the Triple Door or the Best of Blue Awards, it's well worth it.  For a complete list of winners, check out the side bar on cruisingforblues.com.

This week I'm heading off to Juneau, Alaska for some family time and plan to hunt down the blues in this capital town.  I hear there's some on Saturday at The Alaskan downtown...

        

A realization struck within the first five minutes after arriving at the Oxford and settling into the music...I miss it.  The gang was out last Saturday and a party was in the air.  Just going out and listening to good live music and being with like minded friends.  Aahhh… It’s what it’s all about. 

The hot Polly O’Keary steamed it up at the Oxford and the new owners Bo and Nina have taken it over flawlessly.  Polly’s band is first class, really an awesome sound.  The best blues joint in Snohomish county and one of the best in the Puget Sound area is the Oxford Saloon in the city of Snohomish.  With good sound, good food, and great character, the Oxford Saloon delivers as a fun party place with a sophisticated class of music.

Basically I feel music, live blues to be specific, is like a religion for me.  Something that I'm clearly passionate about and will be for the rest of my life. 

Each one of these musicians are fantastic and together they are tight.

A little shout out for a new place to eat in Snohomish, Grilla Bites, owned by our own dancing blues lover Annie.  Grilla Bites serves grilled sandwiches, soups, salads, natural & organic Tuesday through Sunday.  Stop by and say hi to Annie and check it out!

        

There's new owners out at the Oxford, Bo & Nina who used to own the Raging River out in Fall City.  A huge welcome to these two veteran venue owners! 

Sometimes it's just nice to listen to the music.  Most times really, although other times one must dance and dance hard.  I love Nick's music.  I've honestly never seen/heard a drummer quite like Larry Dennis who even when he's not soloing, he is.  It takes two vibrant and talented musicians to pull off a duo.

The girls and I had a blast dancing.  Thank god for women who love to dance and don't want to wait around for the men to ask. 

Can one be in love with music?  The type, the words, the way it's played, the intensity and rythym, the artistic expression?  I think so.  So if I die an early death, please someone ask Nick and Larry to play one for me.  As it is, I'll die without regret and pretty damn happy at that.

        

Am I caught up?  Thank god I do believe so.  Sometime's time just get's away from me. 


Energy is a powerful dynamic with the duo of Nick Vigarino and Larry Dennis.  Intense, raw, absolutely in rythym, a balance of some truely amazing stuff that only comes from the soul.  One kick ass drummer and an artist on guitar.  Larry fills the space with the rythym section of drums and double bassing bringing wholeness to the sound.  From the pounding drumming to the thundering feet, Nick expresses the basic and beastly.  Wormwood.  Play to your hearts content.  Dance 'til it's hard to stand, and exhaust your soul.  His words alone alive and auto biographical. 

Out at the Historic Spar Tree again, I love this bar.  Everyone's friendly and nice.  Great place for women to hang out.  An excellent show out here in Granite Falls.  This place has great sound with the wormwood walls.  Only 20 minutes outside Everett, the Spar Tree is a great little hamlet corner bar to grab a beer and soak in the night of rock'n blues.  Order a pizza from next door to be delivered to your table.  


The after show began with the first song after the "end."  Pulling out his harmonica the energy continued to flow.  Yes I would have listened all night.

Whew!...That's all I have to say until next time.

        

by Victoria Glenn

Double Scotts on the Rocks opened Randy Oxford's All Star Jam at the Tulalip Casino on Wednesday night.  They played their consistantly awesome version of blues, jazz and classic rock tunes.  Scott Lind showed his award winning prowess on the guitar while rythem section Chris Leighton on drums and Lissa Ramalagia on bass kept the beat on every song.  Scotty Harris on the sax was true to form--Awesome!

After the first set Randy got Rich Chapman up on the guitar with Johnny Matola on the drums.  Dr Ed did some great guitar work and vocals in this set with Jim McLaughlin on harp and Scotty Harris on bass.

On the next set Mike Wright and his brother both played guitar while belting out great vocals.  Chris was back on drumsand Scotty still on bass.  Rhoda and Lissa both did some smokin' vocals off and on during the evening.

Randy's jam will be taking a break after Wednesday the 26th and will re-open in July on Sunday nights 7-11pm.  Stay tuned for more details.

        

I've heard Author Unknown before at the Tulalip jam some months ago, so when I found they were playing in my neck of the woods, I thought I'd check them out again.  I liked them then and even without the great Scott Lind who had another gig that night with Charles White and with Tommy Cook sitting in for Andrew Cloutier on drums, they are a strong group with a great song selection and good mix of blues like Freddy King, SRV, Eric Clapton and the Stones.  Their sound is smooth and clean, great musicians all around.  A must see show.  They host the Monday jam down at the Hwy 99, and attract a good showing of great musicians.

BC McDonalds in Lake Stevens is a guys hangout, a clean friendly bar with pool tables and good food at a decent price.  The stage is surrounded by an ample dance floor but unless you've come with your dancing pals, there's not much to be had by yourself.  It is a pleasant place to listen to music though.

        

It was a full house at the Hwy 99 for Polly O'Keary's CD Release Party.  With the show about to start with the gathering of musicians, Polly looked fantastic in her red and black tiger strip print dress with the plunging V neck.  Sizzling...All the guys dressed in black with a red tie.  Equally hot...

The Hwy 99 is a pretty hip hopping club with an educated Seattle crowd of 30's plus.  The Shrimp Scampi is delicious, the shrimp plump and meaty, and the Garlic Bread good and cheesy. 

So this night it's Polly's O'Keary and the Rythym Method joined by the Morning After Horns.  And after the introductions the show began.  Oh yeh....

The Morning After Horns consists of Ron Hendee on trumpet, Randy Oxford on trombone, Scotty Harris and Joey the Saint on sax.  Polly's quite the show woman, a great entertainer and vocalist to name a few.  Sultry, sophisicated and swinging, she engages the audience with stories.

It was a fun time and an awesome show, and the CD is just as good!