Main Blues

My little yarn, like many sordid epics, begins at the Barrel Tavern in Burien, on a Saturday night. Let's say it was rainy. The Barrel is a "mid-century" root beer/burger stand turned biker bar that is watering hole and community gathering spot for a diverse patchwork of acquaintances and friends collected through the fusion of music.

On that ostensibly normal Saturday night in October, if you happened to be in, oh, let's say a mile radius of the Barrel, you would have been sucked inside by the vortex of hot fun emanating from the remarkable musical interaction of The Astro Cats.

I interviewed drummer Charlie McDowell, who hatched the concept for this band years ago (protracted trademark litigation bound the band name Astro Cats up until March of this year).

"The first booking with the Astro Cats was with Scott E. Lind and Tom Austin,” said Charlie. “After that the band grew to include Hank Yanda, Billy Shew, Brian Lee and Angelo Guerrero. In reality, there are two different bands, and sometimes three, with a 'family' of musicians. The Astro Cats represent a true variety band ranging in music styles from Scott E. Lind's awesome screaming guitar, to Indy Pop and classic rock from Billy Shew, to a more blues and roots-based sound of Brian Lee. In any case, the mission is clear that anytime the Astro Cats brand shows up, it brings 'quality' shows up with it."

"The band is unique in the fact that we deliver a power house sound as a trio featuring Scott Lind and Tom Austin,” continued Charlie. “We also work as a four piece with Billy Shew, Brian Lee, Hank Yanda and me playing a combination of music I like to call 'Rockblusion'. Then just when you thought you've heard it all, we bring in the amazing saxophone of Angelo Guerrero for an incredibly unique different sound.

The line-up at the Barrel that Saturday night featured Charlie, Scott, and Tom. Of course, I don’t wan’t to forget MoJo sitting in on vocals at the Barrel!

"Everyone knows that bands can be a very challenging proposition,” said Charlie. “This kind of set up gives everyone the space they need to do other things and we all still get to play together and keep it fun and interesting. The Astro Cats are more about live music than anything else. We have no touring plans or nor do we plan to work in the studio."

Charlie spoke of difficult times last year when band mate Michael Kahler passed away so suddenly.

"I was one of the drummers playing with the Kahler Band up until his death in December of 2010,” he said.

“We really had some serious stuff going on, and quite frankly, after he passed I was really in the dumps. A month and a half later I was awarded my official trademark, and friends advised me that I really needed to move on, 'as Michael would want.' I just started planning, and one thing led to another, and here we are. At the end of November we will have played 81 shows this year since the beginning of March. There is so much talent in this area we just want to be a part of it and make our contribution."

Things appear to be really picking up for the Astro Cats based on the personal excellence of the individual musicians, great chemistry between band members, a wide variety of styles, and entertaining, danceable tunes. Scott Lind was “ON FIRE” according to the notes I took that night. I know you will thoroughly enjoy this band. Check out their website for band bio, calendar and selected preview cuts: www.theastrocats.com, or www.charliemcdowell.com.

By Rev Deb
July 13th marks 10 years of a prevailing Blues Attitude in Olympia. Blues Attitude has hosted a blues jam, nine to midnight, on Wednesday nights for the past decade. Originally, at the Fourth Avenue Tavern in Olympia, the Blues Attitude jam band consisted of Perry Sanders (harp/vocals) and Smoke (drums), from the Steamers band, and Jerry Bentley (guitar/vocals) and T-Bone (bass), from the Blues Torpedoes. You may also know Smoke as a long time volunteer for the Washington Blues Society, he has been distributing the Bluesletter to venues in the South Sound area for many years.

Jerry said, “Smoke was the cat that got us hooked up with the new owner of Charlie’s Bar and Grill, Karen, in 2001. Karen really loved the blues and wanted live music playing mid-week in Olympia. The first couple of
years at Charlie’s were pretty lean, but Karen kept us going and soon word spread that the blues were downtown on Wednesday nights and cats could sit in and play. Soon folks were coming in just to listen to the blues. Smoke coined the phrase ‘we’re the host, not the heroes,’ meaning we want each player to shine their best, sound their best and have great time at the blues jam. (We accept all skill levels at the Wednesday night blues jam.) From 2002 through 2006, our jam was also the host of annual cancer benefits.

“With the trio playing every week, we soon we had to let our other bands go. As Blues Attitude began playing around the northwest, we invited other players we met to attend the jam when they were in the Olympia area. In Spring 2003, Stan ‘the Man’ Foreman joined us as a ‘summertime’ forth player for several years before retiring. Mike “Dr. Silk” Shea started coming to the jam in 2007 and now joins us at some gigs as fourth player. The Dr. is a stand-up guy, a fantastic horn player with a wonderful family which attends most of our gigs.”


“Charlie’s has great support for the blues jam at their club. Owners Bruce and Chris took over the club in 2005 and are very supportive in trying new things with the jam theme. They have been great in keeping the jam going, and Steve Bonnet, sound guru, has tweaked the sound system at Charlie’s to perfection. Steve mans the sound booth Wednesday nights, keeping all the players heard and balanced. We’ve had some challenges for him -- one night we had 10 players on stage at once! Great staff at Charlie’s help keep everyone served and happy – our thanks go out to Amy and Rich Neff, Ziggy, Annette, Nicole, Michael. Other great supporters include the WBS, the Rev., the Blues Sheriff, Blues-To-Do, Music 6000 and Capital City Guitars.”

Bruce J. Maier, Damngoodtunes.com, wrote: “ . . . [T]his is a real band. A group of guys who play Blues influenced music, not because they have to, but because they want to, and they feel it with every heartbeat. They boogie, then they rock and then maybe they take you down, way down. But not for long, because they’ve got a mission to fulfil, and that’s to rock the house, get it jumping, and fill up the dance floor!”

Over the past ten years, some great players have been keeping the jam alive, including: Perry Sanders, Alice Stuart, Randy Oxford, Randy Linder, Dave Shriver, George Barner, Doug Mah, Steve Munger, Becki Sue and T-Boy, L A Guns, Bottoms Up Blues Band, Joe Ty Band, Bruce Maier and Malcolm Clark, Rex and Lynn Wolff, and so many others. A few individuals stand out as regulars, Lauren Elle, Jackie LaVern, Pete Crossman, Joe Schiavi, Gary Elsey, John Gibson, Mark Dobson, Chucky Sticks, Darlene, Bill, and long-time super supporter Roy Munroe.

Smoke said, “Ever been to an open mic and found yourself wanting for a decent shuffle, or even longing to hear someone who knows who the Three Kings are? This is not the case at the Blues Attitude jam at Charlie’s in Olympia. On several occasions blues artists on tour have stopped by, having found out about the jam via internet search. As a result, Blues Attitude has been able to play with some bad-ass cats from Chicago, Memphis and Kansas City. Also, every Summer Blues Attitude takes the jam on the road, hosting the Friday Night Jam at the Backyard Blues Bash at Pine Springs Resort, Goldendale WA. This year the Backyard Blues jam will be Friday, August 5th, dusk to midnight.”

Blues Attitude is looking forward to several more years of the Wednesday Night Blues Jam at Charlie’s, starting with their 10th anniversary party on July 13th (at 7PM in the parking lot beer garden and moving indoors at dusk). Signed on for the 10th anniversary show so far are Blues Attitude with Perry Sanders (now front man with the Fabulous Roof Shakers), Becki Sue, The Malcolm Clark Band, The Joe Ty Band, Ryan T. Higgins Band, Bruce Maier Band, Jam Kings, Al Earick Band, and of course, a number of their regular blues players will also be on hand. Great food, no cover, killer blues; what more could you ask for? Band schedules and bios at www.bluesattitude.com.

Whenever I go out on the town and run into Dominique Stone, I know things are about to get interesting. Dom's got himself situated squarely on the pulse of the blues in the South Sound area and beyond. You may know Dominique Stone from his days holding down the bottom with the Randy Oxford Band, a great gig, but just one facet of a very talented local gem.

Nominated for Best Blues Bass in 2008, when asked what he has been doing lately, I got the low down for you all. Though I do see Dominique here and there at benefits and at shows, I must say, I didn't know jack.

"I joined up with Paul Manual and helped him get his youth organization up and running by training the kids on how to perform, how to be a team, how to learn songs as a band, and other things in life. It is not just about being a good musician, but how to be a good person that respects everyone in the business. I have also been giving lessons to kids for drums, bass, guitar, and vocal training too."

"I have been writing a lot of songs on my own plus collaborating with a few local artists, including Aury Moore and Charlie Marinkovich (presently the guitar player with Iron Butterfly), and performing 'a Ii'l on the rock side,' and finally, I have had my own band called 'On The Level' that was a 'strictly variety' kind of music group playing around the south end, featuring Heather Rayburn (formerly of TROB). I worked a few open mic nights that didn't pan out very well, maybe because of the economy."

"So what am I up to now? The market in Washington is really tough. I came out of a scene were it was variety dance music (Vegas, Minneapolis, etc.), mostly casinos and a lot of traveling, but the money was greater than it is around here. I am heading back out there to try and make that kind of money again, 'cause I can't make it here (unless some miracle happens with a friend). There are a lot of clubs here, but the budgets are really at an all-time low - the worst I have ever seen or been a part of in Washington."

"Rev Deb also asked me if I had anything to say to any kid or player out there trying to make it in the business. What I would tell them is to respect everyone around, be a team player, never stop learning, and don't get stuck on one style cause there are many ways to make money in this business if you know more than one style. If you think you are better than someone else, there is someone out there with the same attitude, and they are probably better than you. So stay humble, learn from each other, and if you are having trouble with a style or song, go out and listen to a band playing what you want to play and learn from hearing and seeing. There are so many great players in the area that you can learn from."

"Music comes from God; when all is said and done, when all the bombs, economy, and whatever goin' on in the world gets bad, remember as a musician it is your job to make people forget about their troubles and have fun."

Wow, that is an armload of great advice. I am saddened to learn how difficult it can be for an innovative and gutsy performer of Dominique Stone's caliber to make a living as a working musician here in the great Northwest. That's one great big footprint to leave behind, but something tells me the young people he has been mentoring are already reaching to fill those shoes, and to do us all proud.

Thank you Dominique for all you contribute. We hope your next journey brings you joy, and we look forward to having you back safe, happy, and wealthy, with life stories to share. Please bring your beautiful smile and your down-to-earth musical genius back to us soon!

You can contact me at deb@revdeb.com if you are interested in baring your soul to the reverend.

Billy Spaulding is the one who told me about it. I ran into him at Elmer's Pub in Burien, appearing with the Tim Turner Band a couple weeks ago. Billy told me he had a gig the next night out in Maple Valley at Gloria's, performing with James King's new band, "JAMES KING & the SOUTHSIDERS." Just like that, I am on the scent of adventure; lured to the edge of metropolis to bring back news of a hot new band on the Northwest Blues horizon. You know when James King is involved, it's going to sizzle.

Here's what James had to say about his new group: "I've been lucky to have been in some great bands over the last 35 years, as a front man and a side man. Now, I'm fortunate again to have four excellent players who believe in my ability to conduct a party. Arlin Harmon is the best piano and organ player I've ever heard and he's in my freaking band!! All we want to do is make some people happy if they stumble upon us and play the best possible music together that we can."

What I immediately appreciated was the less beaten-into-the-ground selection of tunes, meaning I got to hear some obscure classics many folks are not familiar with...yet. Fun stuff, swinging, danceable and upbeat. "Heart and Soul to You," by Mitch Woods, "Reconsider Baby" by Lowell Fulson, and "Sick and Tired," were on my favorites list. I highly recommend this new band for your entertainment.

JAMES KING & the SOUTHSIDERS: Steve Blood, guitars; Billy Spaulding, drums and vocals; Dave Berry, bass; Arlin Harmon, keyboards; and Jim King, sax, harp and vocals. Oh yeah, the new CD, probably not ready for a couple months, but they are working hard and really excited about it. The album's cover art by Ian Weintraub, sets the stage for a whole lotta fun to come.

Be sure to say hello if you see me, I'll be Travelin' Light.