Christine Gilardi and her newly formed band brought a mix of blues and soul to Patrick’s Thursday night. Here is a clip of Christine singing Stevie Wonder’s cover song Higher Ground, along with James Ferguson on keyboard, David Lindgren on bass, Rene Woolley on drums, and Walter Gentry on sax.
If you are having a hard day, as I was yesterday, zydeco music can really lift your spirits. So I went to Humphrey’s Backstage last night to hear the Bayou Brothers – one of the few Cajun and blues bands in San Diego, and it got me up dancing along with everyone else. Check them out the next time they play at Tio Leo’s on a zydeco Tuesday or they are back at Humphrey’s!
There is always some good blues around the downtown area, and this week is no exception. I’m hoping to get to a couple of jams, check out Christine Gilardi’s new show at Patrick’s on Thursday, and go see Lil A & The Allnighters at Tio Leo’s. See you out there!
This is a pretty typical week for the blues downtown. Jams are on Monday-Thursday night around town, and the blues band regulars are playing at the SpeakEasy, Patrick’s, Tio Leo’s and at both Humphrey’s and Kona Kai on Shelter Island.
There is also the Youth Blues Jam on Saturday afternoon at the SpeakEasy, which is always amazing. All kids under 21 who play blues, and there are more than you might think, are invited to the monthly open jam. I’ve seen kids as young as 9, who are incredible. Don’t miss it, if you are in the Gaslamp that day. See you there!
If you want to hear blues this week, the best days are during the week Monday – Thursday, and there are jams on each of those nights too.
Thursday night at House of Blues from 7-11pm, Kevin Cooper will be playing on bass with the Sully Sullivan band. They aren’t exactly blues – more rock with some R&B, but they are still great and there is an open bar for the first 1000 drinks!!
It is a very light week for Shelter Island, with no blues on the weekend at either Humphrey’s or Kona Kai. Still no word on when Kona Kai will shut down for renovations, but I believe it is still planned for this Spring sometime.
It’s Mardi Gras in the gaslamp!, and Annette DaBomb & her Bomb Squad will be playing at the House of Blues Tuesday night as part of the festivities.
There is plenty of other live blues around town this week, so I hope to see you out there!! And please don’t forget to tip our hard-working musicians.
It was one of those quiet nights all across the Gaslamp with the threat of rain. But while few people were out last night, the music still rocked. At the House of Blues, the weekly jam brought in an interesting mix of musicians and sounds, and I got lots of room to dance!
The night started off with members of the JammingOut’s “house band” (Lafayette Falkquay on vocals – without his infamous guitar this time, and Kevin Cooper on bass guitar) along with Steve Douglas on drums, Junya Isogawa on guitar, Nicholas Butterfield on guitar, and Donna Larsen joining Lafayette on vocals.
Next Nicolas Butterfield sang John Mayer’s cover song Gravity, which always moves me. Its a beautiful song. Barry Farrar replaced Steve on drums for this part of the evening.
And then we had some jazz when Paula Mandell got up to sing Billie Holiday’s cover song Fine & Mellow, which was such a treat. She has the voice for this song.
And last, Rebekah Ensley, gave us a beautiful acapella singing Kimbra’s cover Withdrawal.
I’ve been away too long from Walter’s weekly blues jam at Patrick’s Pub, which always brings in a great crowd and a good group of musicians each week. All the different blues jams around town are unique and draw in a different mix of musicians from each other, and this jam is always lively, jammin and a good time! I will be back more often 😉
Last night’s jam started at 9pm with members of the house jam band (who give up their spots to other musicians who come in after the first set) and last night they included Johnny Vernazza on guitar, Victor Marquez on guitar, Jim Reeves on bass guitar, Matt Taylor on drums, Tim Sutherland on keyboard, Chuck Arcilla playing the sax, Lampchops (Carlos Serrano) on trumpet and Phil Lozano on trombone. Most of these guys have their own bands, and you can find them around town on other nights.
In this clip, Victor Marquez takes the lead with BB King cover song Why I Sing the Blues.
And in this clip, Johnny Vernazza leads and sings Buddy Guy’s cover song Talk to Me Baby.
In addition to what’s on the calendar this week, there is the weekly jam at House of Blues on Wednesdays 7-11pm. Hope to see you there!
Victoria Wasserman belts out cover song Me & Bobby McGee at the HOB Blues Jam this past Wednesday night. She’s accompanied by Jacinto Castaneda and Dave Keefer on guitar and Pat Kelley on keyboard. Not sure who was on drums or playing the bass.
