Dear Family and Friends,

Welcome to the September edition of the Smoken‘ News.

We want to welcome back all the students and faculty from all of our many educational institutions around town. This is always a time of rebirth for me as all this new life arrives.

Occasionally, I have been known to stretch my boundaries on the definition of Blues and Soul when I find someone so interesting that I find the music ―close enough‖. So it is with Gary Shane. Gary and I go back over 20 years as friends and inside the music business. We worked together on many blues recordings including some great work with Shirley Lewis. Gary has a new band called Tabasco Fiasco and they sound crazy and off-beat enough to fit right into Smoken‘ Joe‘s. Much more on Gary later in the newsletter but you will love his lyrical stylings and spontaneous approach to music. I‘ll see you there on September 22.

Professor Harp has played at Smoken‘ Joe‘s so many times I am tempted to call him one of our own but of course his career spans over 4 decades so I won‘t be that presumptuous. We still love him and he has a brand new CD that will be available when he plays on Saturday, September 10. We have included a review of Professor Harp‘s new CD here in the newsletter.

Smoken‘ Joe‘s T-shirts are available once again with more sizes to choose from. They should be in by the second week of September.

Summer is almost gone but you can celebrate the end of summer with our 4th and final Special Beer Guide. Ken wraps up his tour of our brews with several delicious bottled beers.

October 4th will be the 1 year anniversary Eddie Scheer‘s Tuesday Night Allstars. This has become one of the hottest nights of the week and we now recommend reservations. Really? On a Tuesday night? Well, if anyone knows how to party it is big Ed Scheer and I know this will be a big one. Stay tuned for more info on this during the month.

Let me step out of the way now and let you enjoy!

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday September 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Eddie Scheer Geoff Bartley Alan From NYC Amazing Alizon Presents: Erin Harpe & Professor w/ Special Arena Soul & Blues Singer Duo with The Hubcaps the Delta Harp Guest Open Mic Anastasia René w/ Mike Williams 8:30PM Swingers 9PM 7PM 7PM Chris Stovall Brown 7:30PM 9PM 7:30PM September 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Alizon Presents: Geoff Bartley Bruce Eddie Scheer Nate Sandy Martin, Racky Shirley w/ Special Marshall w/ Brian Templeton & Stringfield‘s Kathy Burkly, Thomas Band Lewis Band Guest Open Mic Billy Loosigian HouseKwake Scott Shetler 9PM 9PM 7PM 7PM 7:30PM 8:30PM 7:30PM September 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Eddie Scheer Alizon Presents: Gracie Bruce Gary Shane w/ TVS (The Vocal Chris ―Stovall‖ The Love Curan & the Frank Corso Marshall & Tabasco Section) - 7 Piece Brown & Dogs High Falutin‘ 7PM Open Mic Fiasco Band w/3 Female Eddie Scheer 9PM Band 7PM 8:30PM Vocalists! 7:30PM 7:30PM 9PM September 25 26 27 28 29 30 October 1 Bruce Eddie Scheer w/ th Danny Banks Alizon‘s The 11 Hour Jeremy Lyons Marshall Cheryl "Dirty Blonde" & Monster Juke Joint 5 Monthly Jam Band 7PM Open Mic Aruda & Bob Enik Mike Welch 9PM 7:30PM 8:30PM 7PM 7:30PM 9PM

Thursday, September 8 at 8:30PM The Hubcaps The original Hubcaps were a highly popular band that played at the Plough and Stars in Cambridge during the late 80‘s and early 90‘s. Together again for almost a year, this is a true powerhouse band with their exciting blend of New Orleans Rhythm and Blues, a little Country, a little Rock, and some zydeco mixed in. The members of the Hubcaps include Mickey Bones (drums, vocals, Cajun accordion), Joe Pete (guitar, vocals), and Brian Rost (bass) and Mike Annis (drums). These are four of the original members of the sensational New Orleans zydeco/rock band The Boogaloo Swamis who are four times Boston Music Award winners. The fifth member of the group is a regular at Smoken‘ Joe‘s, the world travelled and award winning sax and clarinet player, Scott Shetler. Add to this a little burlesque humor and you have one outrageously great night of entertainment.

Friday, September 9 at 9PM Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers Put your dancing shoes on! Erin is easily one of our favorite performers here at Smoken‘ Joe‘s. She has been hailed as Boston‘s "authentic blues chanteuse‖; although she is also in the Boston Music Award-winning electro dance band Lovewhip (along with Delta Swingers/Lovewhip co-conspirator Jim Countryman). With her new band Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers, Erin and the gang give the music a new twist to create a genre they call ―Charles River Delta Blues‖. The Delta Swingers feature: Jim Countryman on bass; Bob Nisi on drums and vocals; and veteran producer/blues-guy and former Tone Cool label founder, Richard "Rosy" Rosenblatt on harmonica. They‘ve recently been given some great opportunities – opening for blues legend David ―Honeyboy‖ Edwards at House of Blues and being invited to open for Chicago great James Cotton with his "Superharp" Band, this past November at the Regent Theater in Arlington.

Saturday, September 10 at 9PM Professor Harp Primarily playing a sparse, yet full-sounding brand of no-nonsense, no-frills Texas style blues, Professor Harp specializes in what he calls, ‗roots music‘."It's whatever makes me feel good and moves me, so to speak." Indeed it has evolved while continuing to move audiences for decades.

Professor Harp performed with various bands throughout the Northeast including legends Solomon Burke and Luther 'Guitar Jr.' Johnson and played live on NBC's Today Show. Among the legions of hot performances at rocking blues clubs, the memories that often stand out for The Professor are the nights his harp helped to swell the room, in a spontaneous jam with his old mentor, the inimitable bluesman Muddy Waters.

New CD available from Professor Harp! Responding to fan requests, the Professor has recorded some of his favorite songs along with some exciting originals. This fan-pleasing album will be for sale at the show. Be sure to read our full review of this CD later in the Smoken‘ News.

Thursday, September 15 at 8:30PM Nate Stringfield’s HouseKwake Nate the great is back for another unforgettable night of great entertainment. Drums, vocals, MC, music arranger, music director, bandleader, and former member of The Stringfield Family Band, Nate Stringfield has done it all. While in Pittsburg, PA, Nathaniel and band members of the Stringfield family took to the road at a very young age, touring with such luminaries as Albert King, the Temptations, Three Dog Night, and many others. Today, Nate gives every minute of every performance his all. He is a supreme entertainer playing everything from John Lennon to Al green but what makes his music so unique are the complex arrangements crafted for each song. Nate likes to say these songs are given the ―Stringfield seasoning.‖ We guarantee that when HouseKwake plays, the house will ―kwake, rattle and roll‖.

Friday, September 16 at 9PM The Racky Thomas Band This is the man Eddie Scheer calls the coolest of the cool. He is a master bluesman with few rivals and clearly one of our favorite and most popular artists. While his band hails from Boston, Massachusetts, they play blues as though they came right out of post-war Chicago or the Mississippi delta. This band has received widespread critical praise in local, national, and international blues publications, as well as worldwide radio airplay of their two most recent self-produced CD‘s; Last Of The Big Spenders, and Troubled All the Time. Formed in 1995, the band maintains a steady performance schedule of over 150 dates a year and continues to earn rave reviews from critics and music enthusiasts alike. The band also has a number of festival performances to their credit, and has opened for Luther ‗Guitar‘ Jr. Johnson, Bobby ‗Blue‘ Bland, Paul Rishell & Annie Raines, and Susan Tedeschi.

Reservations recommended for this popular show.

Saturday, September 17 at 9PM Shirley Lewis She is known as Boston‘s ―Regal Queen of the Blues.‖ One of our favorite performers at Smoken‘ Joe‘s, Shirley Lewis is an award-winning blues artist, member of the Down Home Blues Society and all around legend in the Blues community. Ms. Lewis began her career opening for such artist as BB King and Ike and Tina Turner. For Shirley, singing is like poetry and dance all in one, making people have fun while she is on stage. Shirley always fills the house so be sure to make a reservation early.

Thursday, September 22 at 8:30PM Gary Shane and Tabasco Fiasco Gary Shane, the North Shore rocker, burst onto the scene 25 long years ago with several monster hits including ―Shadow World‖ and ―Johnny‘s Coaltrain‖. These songs topped the chart at WBCN-FM for months in the midst of Rock n‘ Rolls‘ hay-day. That was back in the days of skinny ties and power-pop, during the brief era of the so-called new wave, a fabled time when an unsigned, local band could still make it on the strength of a few good tunes and a lot of hustle — even without a marketing plan or a Madison Avenue makeover. Now, two decades later, Gary Shane is back with a new band, Tabasco Fiasco. The band is playing just as hard, but better, and demonstrating again the power of its original musical vision.

Be sure to read our feature story about Gary Shane later in this newsletter.

Friday, September 23 at 9PM The Love Dogs Eddie Scheer, the amazing musician, singer, songwriter, who hosts the best party in Boston every Tuesday night returns with his own band, the incredible Love Dogs. Simply put, The Love Dogs are one of the most exciting, finest, in-demand bands in New England.

This is a band that really has the recipe for the Blues. Take one red-hot horn section - we're talkin' alto, tenor, baritone saxes and trombone - down and dirty. Add liberal amounts of barrelhouse boogie-woogie piano and stinging Fender guitar. Pour over a funky and swinging rhythm section that Blues Review Magazine called "the best in the business", and top it all off with a crazy and charismatic front man with one of the biggest blues voices around. Then, season with a few years on the road tearing up juke joints, festivals and concert halls across the U.S. and Canada on both sides of the Atlantic. Sound tasty? It's a recipe for music and mayhem, for intensity and irreverence.

Saturday, September 24 at 9PM Gracie Curan and the High Falutin’ Band Have you been High Falutin‘ lately? And if the answer is no; then prepare yourself to be initiated. It‘s a night of straight up blues, shakin not stirred, with a four piece rhythm section that knows how to get down and dirty. Gracie Curran‘s sultry smooth voice sets the tone that is reminiscent of previous Blues sirens gone by. With the help of her High Falutin‘ ensemble: Tommy Carroll (guitar), Geoff Murfitt (bass), Joe Bellomo (drums) this high energy band achieves everything they set out to do. It‘s a whole lot of earth-shakin, groove-makin blues to make any music lover hungry for more. So, join us for the party, you‘ll be glad you did.

Thursday, August 29 at 8:30PM “Rosy” Rosenblatt and The 11th Hour Band Richard ―Rosy‖ Rosenblatt is simply one of the finest harp players you will ever hear. After joining Erin Harpe and the Delta Swingers they soon won the Boston Blues Society‘s blues challenge and went on to become semi-finalists in the international Memphis competition last Winter. Frequently he can be heard wailing away on J. Geils Band tunes with Danny Klein‘s Full House at stages all across New England. Now, Rosy returns to Smoken‘ Joe‘s with his own band, the 11th Hour Band. Originally formed in the late 70‘s, the 11th Hour Band got together to play at the legendary and now defunct Speakeasy blues club in Cambridge. Now they are back and sounding better than ever. Mark your calendars, this is a do not miss show!

Friday, September 30 at 9PM Danny Banks and Monster Mike Welch The dynamic duo of Monster Mike Welch and Danny Banks tear it up at Smoken‘ Joe‘s. Mike burst onto the Blues scene at the age of thirteen when he was publicly given the nickname ―Monster Mike‖ by Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd at the opening of the first House of Blues club. Recent years have found Mike dividing his time between guest stints (on CDs by Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Nick Moss, Johnny Winter and more). Teen drum prodigy, Danny Banks, has ― that mojo and it certainly is working‖. Since dazzling a national audience on David Letterman‘s ``Late Show,‘‘ he‘s been busy playing with music luminaries such as the Rick Russell Band, Duke Robillard, James Montgomery, Bruce Bears, and many others. Be sure to listen for some of Danny‘s wonderful, original songs off his second CD, recently released, ―Crazy for You.‖

Saturday, October 1 at 9PM Juke Joint 5 Down home, old school, no-nonsense, house rocking, kickass electric blues… just a few of the words we use to routinely describe the great music from one of our favorite bands, Juke Joint 5.

The Juke Joint Five brings together musicians with a commitment to the sounds that lie at the roots of today‘s blues: the voices of Chicago in its heyday; the raw horn-driven jump blues of the forties and fifties; the Sun Studios rockabilly twang; and the kind of Delta blues that still gets people dancing in today‘s Mississippi juke joints. This band is high-octane, electric, unapologetic ―old school.‖ They are: Gretchen Bostrom (vocals); Dick ―The Poet‖ Lourie (sax); Jason Adams (bass guitar); Noah Teshu (drums); and new guitarist for JJ5, Derek Toa. Derek‘s fans will know him from his virtuoso guitar work with the powerful Luke Mulholland band and the highly popular Tumbleweed Company.

Sundays at 7PM Geoff Bartley and Friends Geoff Bartley has been called both a prophet and the ―Godfather of the Boston Folk Scene‖. He is best known for his prolific writing (having songs performed by the likes of Mary Black and John Gorka) and touring as a soloist and accompanist for Tom Paxton. He plays some mean acoustic blues and smoken‘ bluegrass, too. Each week he is joined by a special guest.

Schedule Changes: Sunday, September 15 at 7PM Frank Corso

Sunday, September 25 at 7 PM Jeremy Lyons

Mondays at 7 PM Bruce Marshall Open Mic Bruce Marshall is a veteran musician of 34 years with national experience. He is a talented song writer, vocalist, guitarist, and he has led his own bands for years in the NE area and nationally as a member of the Toy Caldwell Band. Bruce Marshall brings these collective talents as he hosts our Open Mic night at Smoken‘ Joe‘s. It‘s an evening where seasoned pros and emerging artists share the stage to rock the house with their fiery fortitude. You‘ll hear original music, blues, folk, jazz, rock, cutting edge, old timey, to name a few. Come on in where the vibe is warm and the riffs are hot. All musicians welcome.

Schedule Changes: Monday, September 5 at 7 PM Special Guest Host: Alan Arena

Eddie‘s Tuesday Night Allstars has become a Boston music sensation with packed houses every Tuesday night. For almost one year now it is the mid-week party in Boston and it has also become a mecca for the finest blues musicians as they stop by late at night to join Eddie for a song or two.

All shows start at 7:30. This Fall, Eddie‘s lineup is stronger, cooler, and more exciting than ever. Here‘s what Eddie has in store for us this September:

Tuesday, September 6 Please join us for a very special evening when Eddie is joined by an old friend, from New York, internationally renowned soul and blues sensation, Anastasia René. Joining them will be the multi-talented, Chris “Stovall” Brown

In the 90‘s, Anastasia frequently sang with Eddie Scheer and the Love Dogs. Their friendship continues to this day as Anastasia often joins Eddie for a song or two when the Dogs come to her present hometown of New York.

About Anastasia René: Anastasia began singing at age 6 when she began training with her mother's vocal coach, Jerry Bragin. After graduating from NY‘s prestigious Talent Unlimited program, she continued on in various choirs through college and received a Bachelor‘s degree in African and African American music.

Anastasia René After college she quickly secured her own weekly gig at the Village Gate, singing backing vocals for Buzzy Linhart, and then moving to Boston, where she and 9 graduates from New England Conservatory and Berklee founded The Daddys, which enjoyed 4 successful years together, a sponsorship from Daddy‘s Junky Music and a Boston Music Award nom for best Funk Band in 1995.

After 9 successful years of working in the New England music scene, she returned to New York and was immediately called back to Boston to work with multiple Boston Music Award winners Superhoney and later Jam band Percy Hill literally tracked her down for a special 12 piece project resulting in the double CD Percy Hill Live. During this time, Anastasia kept her jazz chops honed with her own duo, trio, and quartet. More recently her quartet completed a 12 night tour of Moscow and Siberia.

Most recent recorded work includes Bigga Haitian's Sak Pase, rock band El Camino‘s Autobiotics, Smooth Jazz artist Matt Marshak‘s This Time Around, and Kelle Calco‘s upcoming release.

Chris "Stovall" Brown is one of the most versatile and busiest musicians anywhere, and Eddie‘s personal blues Godfather! Whether fronting his own band on guitar, blowing harp with the best in the biz, or his latest adventure, touring the world on drums with international sensation Watermelon Slim, Chris always puts on a show. His incredible virtuosity is matched only by his "take no prisoners" approach to showmanship - Chris is the real deal!

Tuesday, September 13 Brian Templeton and Billy Loosigian Brian Templeton has been on the scene for close to 20 years now. His barrelhouse belting style of singing, hot harmonica playing and exuberant onstage persona has garnered him a legion of fans in the U.S, Europe and beyond. He has toured as the front man of the legendary Radio Kings, as a solo artist and has worked alongside some world class Blues stars such as Otis Grand, James Cotton, Sonny Rhodes and recently with up and coming guitar wiz Enrico Crivellaro.

Billy Loosigian is remembered as one of the hot guitar virtuosos of Boston‘s 70‘s and 80‘s rock scene. Today he brings the same fire and intensity of his past to his new passion, the blues.

Tuesday, September 20 TVS (The Vocal Section) – A 7 Piece Band with 3 Female Vocalists! Maddie Sifantus is a founding member of TVS (The Vocal Section) which performs in nightclubs and in recording studios. Their work can be heard on the soundtracks of "Dick Tracy" and "The Secret of Roan Inish", as well as on multiple recordings, most recently on the latest CD of The Love Dogs. The group is comprised of Maddie Sifantus, Suzanne Boucher, and Sally Sweitzer, with a great rhythm section! They have been singing together for 30 years.

Tuesday, September 27 Cheryl “Dirty Blonde” Aruda and Bob Enik Some people were just born to entertain and we can't think of anyone who fits more perfectly in that category than our delicate flower, Miss A. She combines an old school blues belter voice with a razor-sharp sense of humor to put her own spin on blues and soul classics as well as some great original tunes! Joining her is Bob Enik, Cheryl‘s longtime friend and one of the most in-demand guitarists in the area. Bob is a Waltham native, has played for the past six years with Cheryl in Dirty Blonde, as well as with rootsy Porter Square cult-faves Fandango, and many others who beg for his energetic, creative and uniquely melodic blues/rock style, which has taken him around the world... we hear he's HUGE in Thailand!

ALLSTAR ALERT! Do not miss our October Newsletter when Eddie announces his plans for the first ever anniversary celebration, this coming October 4th, of his now infamous Tuesday Night Allstars. Needless to say, this is going to be one hell of a party that you DO NOT want to miss!

Alizon Lissance is one of New England‘s most intriguing performing and recording artists. Playing piano since the age of six, her gutsy rock n‘ blues style has been honored at home and across the world. Each week she invites a guest performer (or two) to sit in, creating a dynamic and innovative resonance. All shows start at 7:30.

Wednesday, September 7 Duo with Mike Williams Mike Williams is a brilliant blues and jazz guitarist who has toured and recorded with James Cotton, Fathead Newman, and David Maxwell among others.

Wednesday, September 14 Sandy Martin, Kathy Burkly, and Scott Shetler From the popular band, Girls Night Out, Alizon will be joined by the talents of Kathy Burkly on drums and Sandy Martin on bass.

Scott Shetler is a saxophonist extraordinaire, poet and denizen of our local neighborhood. Scotty has spent the last 25 years working with virtually every blues artist in the Northeast. He's a multi- instrumentalist with a big sound and even bigger sense of humor. He's also a gifted artist - check out his watercolors from the road, on display @ Joe's right now!

And be sure to check out Scott Shetler when he plays with the powerhouse band The Hubcaps, on Thursday, September 8.

Wednesday, September 21 Chris “Stovall Brown” and Eddie Scheer Chris is one of the most versatile and busiest musicians anywhere. Whether fronting his own band on guitar, blowing harp with the best in the biz, or his latest adventure, touring the world on drums with international sensation Watermelon Slim, Chris always puts on a show. His incredible virtuosity is matched only by his "take no prisoners" approach to showmanship — Chris is the real deal!

Wednesday, September 28 Alizon’s Monthly Blues Jam The last Wednesday of every month is always a special night at Smoken‘ Joe‘s when Alizon hosts her monthly blues jam. Both serious amateurs and professional musicians are welcome to play. First the house band warms up the crowd, then, the jammers are invited onto the stage. Under the warm spotlights and in front of an enthusiastic crowd, these jam sessions are always full of surprises.

As the name implies, Gary Shane and Tabasco Fiasco are set to heat up the night when they make their debut performance at Smoken‘ Joe‘s this coming Thursday, September 22nd. They play their own style of country blues and they do it very well.

The name Gary Shane may be familiar to Boston music lovers. The North Shore rocker burst onto the scene 30 long years ago after teaming up with guitarist David Champagne and penning the reggae-informed hit Shadow World for the Shane-Champagne Band, a number that topped the WBCN-FM charts for months in 1979.

Shane-Champagne never followed up and split after a couple of years, but then Gary came back with another band, The Detour, and a monster hit, Johnny's Coaltrain, a tongue-in cheek rock homage to John Coltrane, the jazz saxophone giant. These tunes pulled down some of the biggest numbers the Rock of Boston had ever seen.

Then there were the Silvertones, and the Free Radicals, a band whose name refers not to 1960s- style political activism, but is an allusion to body chemistry. And that list is not inclusive. There are three other bands that left a recorded musical legacy, Gary Shane and the Maldens, Alan Ladd and the Abashed, and the Felonious Monks and other groupings that came and left without leaving a trace.

Then in mid-2004, Shane put together the New Ensemble, a new band, but one that had a familiar feel because it featured Eric Kolosey from the Free Radicals on guitar and Richard Pierce, a blues journeyman who performed with Shane and the Silvertones on the 1995 album Saddle Up, on harp. At that time the band started performing an updated version of Johnny’s Coaltrain and it looked like a revived version of the Detour was beginning to form but it was not to be. Since then, Gary has continued his energetic and creative evolution and is now bringing his encyclopedic knowledge of rock, blues and country together in a new band, Tabasco Fiasco. Be sure to stop by on Thursday, September 22, and give this exciting music veteran a warm Smoken‘ Joe‘s welcome.

Check out Johnny’s Coaltrain on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piuOXjEOFBM&feature=related

For almost forty years Hugh Holmes, the ―Undaunted Professor Harp‖, has been a central figure of the New England Blues Scene. Although born and raised in Boston, the emanations from his harmonica and vocals make it clear that Professor Harp has the blues of Texas and the whole wide Delta coursing through his veins. Finally, after so many years and so many fan requests, the Professor has released an album worthy of his name.

The album is a combination of old favorites and original new tunes. It has some rock‘n‘roll and a whole lot of blues — the good blues like jump, Texas style, jazz-influenced Louisiana blues, and Chicago blues. The reviews coming in have been stellar for this album. This is some of what Jim DeKoster had to say about this CD in the most recent August edition of Living Blues.

―Boston's Hugh Holmes was a Gene Krupa-inspired drummer until 1969, when an encounter with George Smith left him so enamored of the harmonica that he sat In with Muddy Waters in the mid-70s and assumed his current stage name from nicknames bestowed on him by Waters and Solomon Burke. Now, after some 35 years of gigging around Boston and the northeast, he finally has a debut recording to offer.

The Smith influence is immediately apparent in Holmes' huge sound, which gets its fullest expression on the closing instrumental tribute to his mentor, Eine Fur Herr Schmidt, on which it sounds like he's running the sound from his chromatic harp through a Leslie rotating speaker for added effect For the most part, however, the program stays up-tempo, as on the opening title track, the Little Walter- influenced romp Texago at Doyle's and a take on Sugaree that owes more to the Hank Ballard version than to composer Marty Robbins' original, and there are tastes of jump blues on What You Do to Me, jazz on It Just Comes Natural, rock 'n' roll on Wild Weekend, and Texas/Louisiana blues on Sly Black Fox. Fightin' the Battle is an atmospheric but pointed lament on racial struggles penned by guitarist Tom Ferraro, while Bob Margolin's slashing slide guitar licks recall Waters on Holmes' own My Life: An Exercise in Blue, Other familiar names among the bandsmen include baritone saxophonist Doug James, bassist Marty Ballou and drummer Mark Teixeira (the Duke Robillard sideman, not the Yankee first baseman).

Throughout, the Undaunted Professor Harp proves himself to be a self-assured, powerful singer and player, You can mark this one down as a debut recording that deserves a sequel. ― — Jim DeKoster, August 2011

This fine album will be available for purchase when Professor Harp commands our stage on Saturday, September 10th.

It seems that everywhere you go today, people are talking about that ―SJ‖ look and wondering how to get it. Well, the answer is as clear as black and white and we‘ve got it. The first delivery of t-shirts sold out fast. The way things are going, we might soon be known as a t-shirt store that also has music. In any case, new shirts have been ordered and will be available soon in our gift emporium. Men‘s t-shirts will be available in Medium through XXL sizes. The stylish ladies tanks will be available in S, M, and L and all for the low, low, inflation busting price of only $15.99!

Of course, we can‘t promise that you will look as good in your SJ t-shirt as blues super model Nikki Chase does but we can guarantee that your friends will be impressed, your income will quickly double and your sex life will be better than ever.

Celebrated jazz trumpeter and New Orleanian Louis Armstrong‘s favorite food was red beans and rice. The musician famously signed his name ―Red Beans and Ricely Yours, Louis Armstrong‖. Red Beans and rice is an emblematic dish of Louisiana cuisine that was traditionally made on Mondays and often served with a side of either smoked sausage or pork chop.

The question remains, why is Joe‘s authentic Cajun style red beans and rice so incredibly delicious? To begin, Joe starts with the trinity. Called by some chefs the holy trinity of Creole and Cajun dishes, the aromatic vegetables bell pepper, onion, and celery are roughly diced and combined in cooking. Then Joe adds his red beans, some black beans, and his own special blend of spices along with a touch of cinnamon. Joe‘s spice blend gives it a little kick.

What makes this dish authentic and so delectable is the addition of Tasso. Much to the disappointment of many, this Cajun specialty is hard to find outside Louisiana. Tasso is a lean chunk of cured pork (usually shoulder) that‘s been richly seasoned and smoked. The result is a firm, smoky and flavorful tangy meat that is principally used for seasoning.

Of course, leave it to Joe to make his own Tasso. He begins by marinating the pork in garlic. After it is carefully seasoned he smokes it not once, but twice. The first is a cold smoke at 90 degrees and the second is a hot smoke at 175 degrees.

Unlike most other chefs, as the red beans and rice simmer, Joe adds a little tomato sauce. This is the way Louis Armstrong liked it and Joe figures if it is good enough for Louis, then it is good enough for his best customers.

And that is why Joe‘s Red Beans and Rice is the best you‘ll find in New England. Enjoy!

At Smoken‘ Joe‘s we‘re serious about our food, we‘re serious about our music, and we‘re serious about quality beer being served. We hope you have enjoyed our 4 part series on the beers served both on tap and in bottles and cans. We hope it has encouraged you to experiment a little with some brands and types of beer you had not already tried. As always, our beer varieties will change over time. We listen to our customers and vendors to keep things interesting at the bar.

Here are eight more beers you may enjoy: In Bottles and Cans: Red Stripe Jamaican Lager A refreshing beer. Pours a light golden hue with a very small quickly receding white head that lingers due to an immense fountain of carbonation. Smell is light grains bit of citrus in the nose. Taste is crackery grain with a small zest of citrus hops that is brought about by the bright carbonation. Mouthfeel is very clean and light almost effervescent with the amount of carbonation. Overall this is not an overly complex beer and it pairs well with Cajun and jerk or spicy cuisine. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale Rich copper color, fairly clear but not brilliantly so. Pours a fairly large head with creamy fine bubbles. Good head retention. Taste is simultaneous malt and hops, with a good piney hop flavor dominating. Bitterness is assertive but not overpowering, but definitely lingers into the finish. Holds up as a great, hop forward beer. Everything is perfectly in balance, and oh so drinkable. Berkshire Brewing Pours a clear bright yellow with a decent head retention. Aroma is Company Steel Rail Extra unique - biscuity and hoppy, though not the ultra-bitter smell. Very Pale Ale inviting to take a sip. More faint biscuit taste in the mouth with restrained hops. Finishes with a slightly sweet malt finish. Each sip begs another as it's balanced and ultra-clean. Stella Artois Clear light golden beer with a small white head. Very herbal aroma, nearly czech-like, with strong green notes of grass and a little hay. Taste is medium sweet with a nicely balanced dose of floral, grassy hops. More bitter than most other macro-lagers. Medium body, oily texture, lively carbonation and a dry, bitter finish. Maybe a little one- dimensionel hop-profile, but it does a nice job cleaning your palate on a sunny day. Weihenstephaner Pours crystal clear golden straw color with a capping of fine white Hefeweissbier bubbles that make up a creamy head. It is crisp and mostly grain on the palate with a touch of biscuit and bread as well as just a tinge of hop bitterness. It is slightly sweet as most adjunct lagers go and has a rounded finish. This is a highly drinkable beer! Weihenstephaner This beer pours with a two-finger head and a cloudy, honey-brown Hefeweissbier Dunkel complexion. The head retention is good. The aroma is pleasing, presenting with a light spiciness, fruity esters, a bread-like heartiness, and no noticeable hop presence. The taste has a strong malt sweetness, light spiciness on the tongue, and cloves. The mouthfeel is pleasing with a light coating left on the tongue. Overall, this is a very good beer, hearty and satisfying. Gluten Free: Several of our customers are gluten intolerant. This is a wheat free Bard’s Original Sorghum beer made especially for them. Malt Beer One of the best tasting malt free beers made. It has a nice dry finish and a well balanced herbal hop profile. The grain character comes across nicely in the aroma with notes of toasted grain and caramel that almost seem like actual malt. This aspect isn't as convincing in the flavor profile, but it is more full bodied than most gluten free beers. New to Smoken’ Joe’s! Pours a rich copper body with a foamy, light tan head that leaves Narragansett Fest sticky remnants of lacing clinging everywhere to the glass. Generous Vienna malt aromas with bread notes and faint toffee. Pretty much a very nice, standard Oktoberfest, with sweet malt, in a peanut type of way, caramel malt, bread and a hint of hop spice. Medium to fuller in body with a crisp and refreshing finish and medium carbonation. An excellent Oktoberfest from one of our favorite local breweries.

Last July 21st we celebrated Feestdag, Belgian Independence Day, with beer flights and beer pairings courtesy of the PALM Brewing Company. At that time we paired Kriek Boon with our rich Chocolate Truffle Cake. As it turned out, the combination was a taste and a slice of pure heaven. We have decided to add this fantastic combination to our daily menu and we are going to make you an offer you can‘t refuse. Buy a Kriek Boon beer at the regular price and we will serve it with a slice of our delicious Chocolate Truffle Cake at no extra charge!

Kriek Boon is a beer of spontaneous fermentation, 100% Lambiek beer base, matured in oak vats and ―maceration‖ of real cherries

(―Krieken‖ cherries) at least 25% or 250 grams per liter of beer. It has a fresh cherry flavor and may be unlike any beer you have ever tasted. It is a sour-sweet treat.

You may have noticed a mild, refreshing breeze the last time you came to our restaurant. In response to our customers who expressed some degree of discomfort with the room temperature on hot summer nights and who thought they might spontaneously explode into flames, we have installed four ceiling fans. Of course it would have been easier to have installed a state- of-the-art, computer controlled, energy efficient air conditioning system but that would not have looked nearly as pretty as our fans and not nearly as much fun to stare at as they whirl away the hours. Aesthetics count at Smoken‘ Joe‘s…

Well, another month goes by, Fall foliage is just around the corner and we all settle down after another hectic summer. Feels pretty good to me as the air cools off. Everything just seems more inviting. I hope you enjoyed our take on the Boston Blues world. I hope to see you soon at Smoken‘ Joe‘s and have a wonderful month.

The Smoken’ Newsletter ® 2011 Editor: Ken Boege Supervising Editor: Wendy Dodd Suggestions can be sent to Ken Boege [email protected]