San Diego Blues Calendar: Aug 4th – 10th

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Alice

Monday through Thursday this week, we have lots of San Diego blues to choose from. It is lite over the weekend, which isn’t unusual downtown. But Patrick’s, which usually has some blues, will be mostly rock so they aren’t on the schedule for Friday or Sunday.

Humphrey’s on the other hand has lots of blues this week, and on Wednesday evening some powerful R&B/blues with Ms Silky Sol, who is new to the San Diego scene from St. Louis (where she has a great following). She is a raw, tell-it-like-it-is powerhouse with an incredible voice. Go check her out!

Friday Night Blues in the Gaslamp

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Alice

Two of my favorite local bands were playing last night just a block from each other in the Gaslamp. Fuzzy Rankins blues band was at Patrick’s Pub and Whitney Shay (with her jazzy blues trio) was at the SpeakEasy which had a packed house. No surprise with Whitney there!

Before Patrick’s got too crowded, I was able to get this video of Fuzzy doing his funked up version of Muddy Water’s great cover song Got My Mojo Working. His band members last night were Ronnie Baumslater on bass and Michael Minor on drums.

Then I went over to the SpeakEasy to catch Whitney singing, Jodie Hill on bass and Marley Waak on the drums. Everyone was having a great time.

San Diego Blues

Typical Wednesday Night of Blues N More

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Alice

As readers of this blog know by now, I’m a regular at the JammingOut at HOB (House of Blues Voodoo Stage in the Gaslamp) on Wednesday nights.

Last night Carrie Shannon, who I’ve never heard before, got up and sang a sassy ZZ Top cover song, Tush. On stage with her was Nicholas Butterfield and Junya Isogawa on guitars, Kevin Cooper on bass, David Lewis on harmonica and Edward Cleveland on drums.

Later Will Lovalot performed that great Freddie King song Big Legged Woman, along with David Damaso (and then Lafayette Falkquay) on guitars, Harmonica John (Frazer), Dino on trumpet, Kevin Cooper on bass and Michael Minor on drums.

San Diego Blues

JammingOut at House Jam Birthday Party

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Alice

To celebrate the birthdays of JammingOut at HOB host Rosa Lea Schiavone and guitarist Rich Giglio, who is frequently at the Wednesday night blues jam, Rich hosted a house jam this past weekend that brought a lot of people together to play blues and enjoy great food and friends.

Here’s Big Slim performing the BB cover song Thrill is Gone, along with Rich, Doyle Thomas and Stoney B on guitars, Tom Slotkin on harmonica, Kelly on drums (who you really can’t see), Ray Brown on trumpet, and I didn’t catch who was playing the sax.

San Diego Blues

San Diego Blues Calendar: July 28th – Aug 3rd

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Alice

This week is a lot like last week – no San Diego blues at Kona Kai and not much blues at Patrick’s Gaslamp Pub. But it’s a good week at Humphrey’s Backstage and SpeakEasy (as usual). And the blues jams… well you never know, because you never know who might show up or who happens to be in town, and it can blow you away when it all lines up.

I’m learning that Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge doesn’t tend to start on time and can be an hour off, so for now I’m going to list the times one hour later than they post on their website. Just a heads up.

San Diego Blues Calendar: July 21st – 27th

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Alice

This week is a bit different than a typical San Diego blues week around downtown.

There is very little blues playing at Patrick’s Pub, the SpeakEasy has a private Comic Con event on Friday night, and there are no blues out at Kona Kai. The Youth Blues Jam, which was scheduled for the last Sat of the month at SpeakEasy, is also canceled because of Comic Con.

On the other hand, Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge has a bit more blues, including the Billy Thompson Band (originally based in San Diego) on Tuesday night and Michele Lundeen (blues/soul/R&B) is there tonight. She’s also at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park on Wednesday evening 6:15-7:15.

San Diego Blues Calendar: July 14th – 20th

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Alice

It’s a fairly typical San Diego blues week around downtown, although a bit light for straight up blues at Patrick’s and just one night of blues at Humphrey’s.

There is more R&D/soul bands performing than blues bands, so you might want to check out the jams if you want blues on Monday (SpeakEasy), Tuesday (Patrick’s – often has some R&B too) and Wednesday (JammingOut at HOB).

English Invasion at JammingOut blues jam

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Alice

Many of the regular musicians were at the JammingOut at HOB last night, including Nick Butterfield and Rich Giglio – on guitars together (once again) and performing “English Invasion” songs. As Rich explained to me, from British bands in the 60s and 70s who brought their blues rock to America, which they both enjoy.

Here they are playing a Cream cover song Crossroads, with Nick singing. The vocal mic didn’t pick up as well as it usually does – not sure why. They are on stage with David Falkquay on bass, Duke Ventra on drums and Dave Lewis on harmonica.

San Diego Blues Calendar: July 7th – 13th

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Alice

There is bit more blues this week than we’ve had downtown for a while, and one reason is the reopening of the Kona Kai lounge after their Spring renovations. Missy Andersen will be back there on Wednesday and Gino & Jade are also back!!

I’ve also added the Coronado Ferry Landing to the calendar, since they play blues there periodically on Sunday afternoons. This week is Blue Frog Blues.

And of course we have the usual San Diego blues jams on Mondays (SpeakEasy), Tuesdays (Patrick’s) and Wednesdays at the House of Blues free stage. I’m also pleased that Patrick’s has mostly blues again this week, so it’s another great week of blues every single night.

Blues on a Sunday Night at Patrick’s Pub

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Alice

Patrick’s Pub almost always has blues on a Sunday night, and I went to hear some favorite locals: Len Rainey on bass and Johnny Vernazza on guitar, accompanied by Danny Martinez on drums. These guys are all regulars at Patrick’s, and I always enjoy hearing them play.

Here’s Len singing cover song Kiddio. Patrick’s is always dark, so it’s hard to get good crisp video. I lightened it up, and it’s still grainy. But you can see and hear them fairly well.

And here they are performing cover song Born Under a Bad Sign.

San Diego Blues