Dear Family and Friends, Welcome to the August edition of the Smoken’ News. First I want to thank everyone who made our 4th Anniversary Party the best ever. I’ve probably said more than any of our readers want to hear about these last 4 years so I will just say how lucky I feel to be part of this wonderful community centered on Southern culture, the blues, soul, r&b, and all things New Orleans. July sure was a scorcher and thanks to our uncooperative landlord, the air conditioning really couldn’t keep up like it should. My hats off to everyone who experienced not only the music but also the weather of New Orleans this past month. We continue to press for new A/C but in the meantime we have been thinking of all the ways we can keep it cool. You may have noticed our new blinds put up at the end of June and they seem to make a big difference. Thanks for your patience. We have a very special lineup for August. Lydia Warren and Joshua Fulero return with their smoken band The Neurotics, Blues Legend Ricky ―King‖ Russell joins us and we have a final, very special summer concert with the queen of country blues, Sarah and the Tall Boys from Chicago. Sarah has contributed a special letter from the road to this issue. We love her unique perspective and hope you do too. Smoken’ Joe’s T-shirts are now available. Now you can bring home that ―SJ‖ look and wear it everywhere. Celebrate late summer with the 3rd installment of our Special Beer Guide. Ken describes the bottled beer selection we currently offer. Enjoy! Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday July 31 August 1 2 3 4 5 6 Geoff Bartley Bruce Eddie Scheer w/ Nate Mr. Nick & Alizon Presents: w/ Special Marshall Professor Harp & Stringfield’s Track 44 The Dirty Noe Socha Guest Open Mic Ricky ―King‖ Russell HouseKwake 9PM Tricks 7:30PM 7PM 7PM 7:30PM 8:30PM 9PM August 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Geoff Bartley Bruce Eddie Scheer w/ Alizon Presents: The Lydia Warren Peter Parcek w/ Special Marshall Lisa Marie & Cindy Daley w/ Tokyo & The Trio Guest Open Mic Silvertone Steve Special Guest Tramps Neurotics 9PM 7PM 7PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 8:30PM 9PM August 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Eddie Scheer w/ Johnny Geoff Bartley Bruce Alizon Presents: Parker Wheeler, Barnes Ricky ―King‖ w/ Special Marshall Lydia Warren & Rennagades Amadee Castanell & & The Russell Band Guest Open Mic Ed Scheer 8:30PM Brad Faucher Nightcrawlers 9PM 7PM 7PM 7:30PM 7:30PM 9PM August 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Eddie Scheer Geoff Bartley Bruce presents JB Jr.’s From Chicago: Muzik Makerz Revolutionary Cheryl Aruda w/ Special Marshall Birthday Party Sarah & w/ Road & Dirty Blonde Guest Open Mic celebrating the music The Tall Boys Brad Faucher 8:30PM 9PM 7PM 7PM of James Brown! 8PM 9PM 7:30PM August 28 29 30 31 Sept. 1 2 3 Eddie Scheer: Geoff Bartley Bruce Ladies Sing the Blues The Johnny Sara w/ Special Marshall w/ Shirley Lewis, Alan Arena Frazee’s TBA Thompson Guest Open Mic Alizon Lissance & Band Organ Trio 9PM 9PM 7PM 7PM Big Jack Ward 7:30PM 8:30PM 7:30PM Thursday, August 4 at 8:30PM Nate Stringfield’s HouseKwake Last seen here last May, Nate the great is back! Drums, vocals, MC, music arranger, music director, bandleader, and former member of The Stringfield Family, 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, August 5 at 9PM Track 44 Track 44 is the team of Jimmy Pircio (guitars, vocals), Dan Savush (piano, Hammond organ, vocals), Joe Bellomo (drums, percussion) and Steve DuBois (bass, vocals). Ironically enough BBQ is what brought them together. Collectively, their work embodies a reverence for traditional blues playing with a contemporary feel. As music editor Bill Copeland puts it, ―Blurring the distinction between blues and classic rock... Track44 puts to rest the notion that blues is a simplistic form…‖ Saturday, August 6 at 9PM Mr. Nick and the Dirty Tricks Nick David and Lonely Gus Carlson last played at SJs last June as part of Eddie Scheer’s Allstars and put on a fantastic show. Now, Nick and Gus are back with their own award winning band. Nick David's harmonica playing has a swagger - developed over thousands of one-nighters from Massachusetts to Memphis and from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon, and even across the pond to Europe. Mr. Nick & the Dirty Tricks unites veteran musicians Nick David (a.k.a. Mr. Nick), "Lonely" Gus Carlson, Teddy B. (Bukowski) and Rick Rousseau for one of the region's most formidable live outfits in any genre. But their hearts belong to blues. They play elegant, stomping and swinging classics like Little Walter's "Mellow Down Easy," Howlin' Wolf's "300 Pounds of Joy" and Wynonie Harris' "Good Morning Judge." Their bag of originals are a mix of rhumbas, jump blues, and boogies they're developing for a debut album and currently taking to legions of fans in New England on their way to stages throughout the US and abroad. "This band is a killer outfit," says David. And that's the truth. Everything comes together when they play: their deep mutual understanding and knowledge of blues, their originality and depth as players, and the band's ability to put on a great show that brings people to their feet. It's a blend that wins new converts wherever they perform. Thursday, August 11 at 8:30PM The Tokyo Tramps "Don't be fooled by the look - or name. This three-piece band from Japan plays as if its musicians were raised in the Deep South and brought up on Delta blues." - Boston Globe. Quickly becoming a fan favorite here at Smoken’ Joe’s, The Tokyo Tramps were first formed in 2002. They are a popular blues/rock trio playing frequently throughout New England and beyond. In 2010 they won the River City Ohio Blues Competition and went on to compete at the 2011 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. in February, 2011, The Tokyo Tramps were the runner-up in the 2010 WFNX best local R&B act category and in 2007 they won the WFNX best local blues act category. Please join us for an exciting night as we welcome the return of The Tokyo Tramps! Friday, August 12 at 9PM Lydia Warren and the Neurotics At the core of The Neurotics is blues duo: Lydia Warren and Josh Fulero. Guitarist/singer Lydia Warren, a familiar face to New England blues fans, has been touring and recording since 2000. This summer she won the Granite State Blues Challenge, toured from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon, opened for Edgar Winter and Jonathan Edwards, and played the North Atlantic Blues Festival. Oregon native Josh Fulero is a veteran of the blues circuit and is fresh off the road from two national tours with Blind Pig recording artist John Nemeth and a recent tour of Europe. His guitar, harmonica and vocal skills have taken him from slots on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise to sharing the stage with B.B. King at the 2009 Blues Music Awards. Saturday, August 13 at 9PM Peer Parcek Trio If you are not familiar with Peter, he is simply one of the finest, most innovative blues/jazz guitarists to play in the Boston area. Recommended for a Grammy nomination this year, Peter Parcek’s daring, incendiary and soulful style is a distinctive hybrid. He weaves rock, gypsy-jazz, country, folk, and blues-- especially blues-- into a tapestry of melody, harmony and daredevil solos that push those styles to their limits without sacrificing the warmth of his own personality. Peter calls his approach ―soul guitar,‖ an appellation that alludes to his playing’s depth of feeling and character that is a combination of deepest roots in classic American music and a look to the future. He recently completed Pledging My Time, a four song tribute to Bob Dylan. These four songs represent some of Peter’s personal Dylan favorites and are available to music fans at a name-your- own-price and can be downloaded from Peter’s website: www.peterparcekband.com Thursday, August 18 at 8:30PM Rennagades The Rennagades bring a rootsy platter of blues, jazz, rock n' roll and country soul. Singer/songwriter Sir Cecil, who has recorded for EMI, Decca, Columbia/Deram/world wide release and has done tv/live radio for the BBC, simultaneously creates the drum beats and truly amazing vocalizations while Chris Renna bends and slides his way around the guitar. Sven Larson will bring his bass violin which always helps propel the groove for a great night of music! Friday, August 19 at 9PM Johnny Barnes & The Nightcrawlers Johnny Barnes first debuted at Smoken’ Joe’s this past June and he was greeted with great enthusiasm and calls for encores. Now, Johnny is back and we hope to make him a regular attraction here at Smoken’ Joe’s.