Sengthong’s Blue Sky Room

Now serving lunch starting May 1st

Jim Hardy Fundraiser for Supervisor District 2

Further details at www.jimhardyforsupervisor.com

  Not quite punk, not quite jazz, the agressive musical layers of

Absynth, as constructed of, from left, Dustin Johnson, Jim Cooke

and Adam Northwa, make for one big sound.

You may remember him from local television talking about your weather, but recording artist Jon Galfano was a touring musician long before his years in front of the camera. And he brings his performing talents to the stage at The Blue Sky Room for the first time this May 17th.

As a singer/songwriter influenced by the likes of The Beatles, Eric Clapton and other rock greats, Jon brings an evening of sweet ballads, piano work and open tune and slide guitar work in the tradition of Michael Hedges and Leo Kottke to the stage. With a total of eight CDs to his credit on both guitar and piano, Jon will provide his audience with a musical blend of entertaining originals.

www.jongalfano.com

Your mind is elevated, your soul is lifted & your booty is shakin’. With sets of deep organic electronica–mixing live instruments & electronica devices, J. Wail is setting off clubs, bars & festivals nationwide. J. Wail scientifically uses a loop pedal and a plethora of instruments that creates high plateaus for the listener. For the bumpin’ funktronica action of the party, J. Wail is there to provide the lubrication & the stimulation. In summer 2006 J. Wail hit the road with the “Funktronica Freshness Tour.” The tour included 60 shows and all corners of the country. Highlights include a 30 minute jam with Dean Ween of Ween in New Hope, PA at John & Peter’s. J also opened for Toubab Krewe on the tour. In October 2007 J. Wail opened for Perpetual Groove. He was joined by Brock Butler of Perpetual Groove on stage. Videos soon! You can view video clips of J. Wail and Dean Ween at www.jwail.com or www.myspace.com.jwail

ANTHONY SMITH’S TRUNK FULLA FUNK, is in Smith’s words, “an infectiously grooving sextet featuring stellar musicians from across the country–a hybrid of classic funk/rock/soul influences, with all the rock and jam-oriented improvisation you might expect.” “TFF” is indeed the product of Smith’s experience and imagination, and perhaps more importantly, his rare talent as an effective, charismatic band leader. Smith’s choices to fill the roles of backing musicians are savvy and precise, and nowhere was this more evident than when choosing a lead singer and co-frontman.

What makes Smith’s musical voice so interesting and listenable is a varied blend of pop and rock influences, combined with the inspiration provided by his straight-ahead jazz heroes, such as Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. “Trumpet is my favorite horn, and that’s why I incorporated it in the Trunk Fulla Funk sound.”

http://www.myspace.com/trunkfullafunk

Cover Charge $12.00

It was a combination of experiencing Burning Man, having to work the trade again, and my experiences with some friends that made me realize that in order to really commit to music, and give it my all, I had to simplify my life… A lot… I had to give up everything, except things I absolutely have to have, like my truck, my cello, my PA system, some clothes, and some audio gear. However, through all of this, and through scraping by financially, I have to say that I am rich beyond my wildest dreams where it matters… I am doing what I love, and I have amazing family and friends who all support me and my dreams. I am experiencing all parts of life, going from fancy, catered, private parties and house sitting for friends who have incredible homes, to living out of my truck, trying to figure out how I am going to pay for gas to get back to San Francisco…

But if this is what it takes, then bring it on… I am ready, and I am giving this my all… I will be able to support myself through music yet!

Now you might understand a bit more about where my music comes from… It comes from my soul… It is how I express everything about myself. It is how I heal, and heal others… A lot of people tell me that they connect to my music on a very deep level. Well, this is why. It’s real, and it comes from my heart and soul, and I am risking and exposing it all just to be able to share it with you all…

Thank you for listening to my story. If you are interested, you can read my Intentions blog as well.

Be well -

-Matthew Schoening-

http://www.myspace.com/mrcelloman

http://www.matthewschoening.com/nextalbum.htm

“Rube & the Rhythm Rockers” is a dynamic new blues band with a lot of old experience. Featuring the classic 4 piece mix of guitar, bass, drums and harmonica, the band focuses on a varied bag of blues styles. From New Orleans rhumbas, straight Chicago blues, or West Coast jump and swing, the band offers driving grooves, hot solos and gritty expressive vocals.

http://www.ruberhythmrockers.com/

The West Street Station Band members have a long history of playing music in the San Francisco Bay area and Shasta County, Northern California. The West Street Blues Band is currently recording in their basement studio.”West Street Station” is; Jimi “The Earl” Kristensen-guitar and vocal, Eric “The Squirrel” Weibelhaus-bass, Allen “Backbeat” Bradlyn-drums, Bill “The Flavor” Wavers-sax

www.indie911.com/?cID=3777

Rainmaker is a 4-piece band from the San Francisco Bay Area. They blend vintage and modern sounds and draw upon Roots Music, Indie Rock, Funk, and Soul. Since forming in 2005, Rainmaker has logged hundreds of shows together, spreading their infectious grooves, strong songwriting, and family style vocal harmonies throughout California and beyond. Their most recent effort, Long Slow Fade is a compelling combination of classic American Music with a distinctly modern lyrical perspective. Set against a backdrop of soulful, rootsy rock, much of Long Slow Fade laments the slow death of the analog era and explores the issues that characterize the digital age.

They have appeared at festivals, theaters, and clubs in California, Oregon, Nevada, and Colorado. In 2007, they were named runnerup in Relix Magazine’s Jamoff!, a national competition for unsigned bands. After catching a live Rainmaker show, Jim Greer, producer for Galactic observed, “They are one of the tightest bands I’ve seen in quite some time. Rainmaker is a band worth paying attention to.”

http://www.myspace.com/rainmakerjam

“Propulsive, dynamic, and wholly unique, Eugene sextet Eleven Eyes might be Oregon’s best-kept secret.  Free-jazz, hip-hop and butt bumping funk collide head on in their sound, while the audience dances in the wreckage.”  (Willamette Weekly - Portland, OR)

Dance, funk, world, & trip-hop beats meet top-class jazz musicianship. Eleven Eyes is a versatile sonic package melding an emcee, trumpet, sax, turntables, computers, guitar, bass, & drums with high energy improvisation, deep grooves, & unexpected textures.

“Not since the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies & Floater has such an exciting, young, talented and unique band emerged from Oregon’s fertile Willamette Valley. Eleven Eyes is a neo-psychedelic jazz sextet with an excess of instrumental aptitude & creative sense.” (The Source)

The Eyes have been feature artists at music festivals such as the Oregon Country Fair, Summer Meltdown, Gene Harris Jazz Fest, Eugene Celebration, Jazz at Newport, Bite of Seattle, Fremont Fair, & the Salem Art Fair.

Eleven Eyes has also gained a loyal hometown following & received the 2005, 2006, & 2007 Eugene Weekly awards for best jazz band. This is in addition to the 2005 & 2006 WOW Hall award for favorite local band, plus, Tim came in as a finalist as best instrumentalist (next to Dick Dale, Tony Fertado, Steve, Kimock & Buckethead).

The Eyes have toured extensively in support of their two albums. Both were released on the indie label, New and Improv & have enjoyed combined sales of over 5000 copies so far. Eleven Eyes’ third release is on the way and is set to hit record stores in mid-2008.

“…Like Critters Buggin, the sextet mixes free-form jazz with modern grooves, creating a dizzying & intoxicating blend of music that will tickle your brain while it moves your tush. Percussion, horns, keys, samples, bass, guitar & various embellishments collide rather cosmically, making for a genuinely unique auditory experience that should be experienced in the flesh.” (Portland Tribune)
 

www.eleveneyes.org/

A cool blend of swing, blues, classic country, rock n’ roll, jazz, and latin music.  Since the formation of this dynamic duo led act in 1997 The Kid and Nic Show has performed regularly from the House of Blues stage in Hollywood to clubs, casinos, theaters, festivals and special events across the country.  Past tours have taken the show to such states as Louisiana, Mississippi, Michigan, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Oregon, Nevada and California.  The Kid and Nic Show has been featured on The Discovery Channel, The Food Networks Bobby Flays Food Nation, as well as morning news shows in Nevada and Arizona.  Their story has also been told in periodicals across the nation.  Kid and Nic’s latest release “Drivin’ Tunes” is enjoying regular rotation on radio stations across the country.  Kid and Nic take their audiences on a trip across the landscape of American music and comedy for a show that provides a lot of laughs, memorable tunes and a genuine feeling of joy!

http://www.kidandnic.com

Volker Strifler is a beautiful guitarist and a powerful singer.
He is also a wonderful songwriter in the blues genre, which is an
important contribution in keeping the blues vital. I’m sure after
you hear this recording you will be a Volker Strifler fan. I know I am.”

-Lowell Fulson:
“Man, that guy can really play his box.”

Chris Cain:
“Volker is the real deal. I love this guy.”

The Dance Goes On, The latest release by Germany’s Volker Strifler Band, is a sonically refined evocation of American vernacular music. Strifler penned every track except Willie Dixon’s “Evil, and ” Spoonful,” and listening to those two frequently covered tunes, is a good way o get a feel for Strifler and company’s considerable capabilities. The arrangement of “Spoonful” takes advantage of Strifler’s Robbert Cray-like Slide work, single string licks and soulfully expressive high tenor voice., which he employs eerie minor key harmony with his guitar.
The counterpoint of Roland “Chip” Condon’s piano and carl Bower’s Trombone give the song an interpretation rarely received from either American or British Blues-Rockers.

The Rockabilly inflected “Wake Up” brings the horns out frnt while highlighting Strifler’s excellent guitar. The other tunes are complexly arranged, and their texture set the disc apart from the work of other musicians who lack vision. Strifler’s approach suggests that of master interpreters like John Mayall’s and greta Chicago Blues players of the ’60s such as Nick Gravenites, Corky Siegel, and Barry Goldberg. Like Mayall’s best work, the tunes harbor a hint of darkness and boast an arresting musical intricacy.

The group is confident enough to explore a wide variety of styles: “Sometimes I Wonder” sounds like  Memphis horn arrangement of a Mid’50s R&B ballad, while the instrumental “Shuffeluppagus” turns to classic jump Blueswith horns and Hammond organ front and center. As on the other Strifler penned tunes here, maturity and polish make the song as if it’s been around for years.
Here’s hoping the band maintains its personnel to make music at this rarefied level.

MICHAEL CALA
BLUES REVIEW MAGAZINE 2007

http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=128225

“funk masters” -Portland indymedia

“a modern twist on the history of groove” -Eugene Weekly

“an up-beat, kaleidoscopic style of funk music” -Flag Live

DO plays positive music drawing from a range of influences - a fusion of trip-hop, jazz, funk, soul, blues, drum’n'bass, and R&B. Always up for exploring grooves and improvising, DO’s tunes meld genres and span styles from mellow, down-tempo jazz numbers to energetic schizo-funk, that is sometimes aggressive and always danceable.DO’s “something for everyone” approach makes use of the smoky, alluring vocals of singer Erin Flood, and the soulful, sexy, falsetto of guitar-player Brad Erichsen, set to a backdrop of blues, jazz and R&B arrangements.At the end of the night, sophisticated music lovers and dance-hungry partygoers have all found something to love about Disco Organica. We hope you will too.Instrumentation

Jesse Ogle- Electric Bass
Ben Scharf- Keys and Rhoads
Brad Erichsen- Guitar and Vocals
Justin Birdge- Drum Set
Matt Calkins- Tenor Sax
Heather Nixon- Vocals

www.discoorganica.com

www.myspace.com/discoorganica

“A big factor in Naomi’s favor is her voice–one of those taunting, sultry coos that sounds like innocence and naughtiness sharing the same sleeping bag.”
–Damon Orion, Good Times Weekly, Santa Cruz, CA

“Naomi’s voice is the thunder that follows the lightning — sometimes low and rumbling, sometimes as sharp as a whip, but always demanding attention.”
–Dale Bridges, Boulder Weekly

If you’re ready to let loose and love, then enter the world of Naomi & The Courteous Rudeboys (NCR).  This quintet from Santa Cruz, CA, is fun, quirky and furiously dedicated to throwing a good party.  Their insatiable passion for funk, soul, reggae and world beat makes for a “smorgasbord of different musical offerings.” (Chris Stanley, tastyfanzine.org.uk)For a band that has been together for only two years, NCR has racked up some mileage in their bio-fueled bus.  Highlights include performances at Earthdance & High Sierra Music Festival.  Anyone that has seen them live will tell you that NCR has a whole lotta heart and soul.  With a variety of danceable songs, there’s something for everyone. 

Their debut LP, Beautiful Beings, released in 2007, was recorded at the legendary Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco.  The album’s soul hit, ‘Love Song’, features Oakland-based gospel trio, the Stovall Sisters.  The Stovalls are best-known for their backing vocals on ‘Spirit in the Sky’ and accompany NCR on stage when available.  Through grass-roots efforts, Naomi’s songs are featured on independent radio stations WORLD-wide.

Instrumentation
Naomi-vocals, percussion.
Johnny B-drums
Cole de Faymoreau-guitar, vocals
Russel Kreitman-keyboards, melodica, vocals
Justin Degenhardt-basshttp://www.myspace.com/naomiandthecourteousrudeboys

Come out for a funkin groovin time!

“They are one of the best bands I’ve seen at the Underground since it’s opened,” said Ten Cent Lure’s Jason Sherman, whose band opened the show. “They’re for real. This is a show you definitely want to see.”

Sean Lehe- guitar/vocals
Brian Rogers – percussion/guitar/bass/vocals
Murph – bass/guitar
Lucas Carlton – drums/percussion
Shawn King – percussion
Andre Fylling – keyboards/vocals/
Sam Phelps – bass/guitar/keyboards/vocals

www.izabellaband.com

Musically inspired by a visit to a Taj Mahal concert at the age of nine, David Jacobs-Strain grew up in Eugene, Oregon after being born on the East Coast. Ocean or a Teardrop is Jacobs-Strain’s fifth CD, including three independent releases and his two Northern Blues Music recordings. Unlike many of his peers in performing in the blues genre, Jacobs-Strain performs on an acoustic guitar. Performing in a style that is uniquely his own, listeners will find opportunities to compare Strain with the likes of the late, great Michael Hedges, Keb’ Mo’, Kelly Joe Phelps and any number of classic acoustic blues performers.

On the road, Jacobs-Strain usually performs as a solo artist, but the extra instrumentation on this recording makes it all the more interesting. Despite added instrumentation, Jacob-Strain’s guitar work on the instrumental, “Yelapa Breakdown” and “Earthquake” with its Latin style still stands out as one of the highlights of the recording.

With the release of An Ocean or a Teardrop, David Jacobs-Strain has created a very impressive new CD. His mixture of the blues with other genres and added instrumentation makes the CD interesting and entertaining listening from start to finish. Jacobs-Strain’s vocals, guitar prowess and the creative ideas he brings to the music, make this a fine effort by the young bluesman. With his fine guitar and distinctive songwriting, An Ocean or a Teardrop is definitely recommended listening.

cover $12.00 show starts at 8:30pm

www.davidjacobs-strain.com