Regulars at Jollie's, Kindling burns down the house monthly
June 30, 2008
No matter what your favorite dances might be, the Texas two-step, a little swing or just burning up the floor doing your own stylish thang, Kindling should satisfy your palate quite well. For years now, this country group has headlined at some of the bigger venues around the state. They are regulars at Spirit Mountain Casino in Grande Ronde, Jubitz Ponderosa Lounge in Northeast Portland and Jollie's in Ridgefield, Wash.
Bob Gagliasso handles rhythm and lead guitar with Ron Baldwin on drums. One of them is usually handling Kindling's lead vocal chores also. Robin Suskind is a standout pedal steel guitarist and Joe Garland plays the bass. Suskind and Garland also sing and play with another local group, The McKenzie River Band, that has reformed and is out gigging around the state. While all the guys have years with many different great local bands, Suskind was also one of the original members of Pure Prairie League that had some critical acclaim and a few hits a decade or two back.
Gagliasso, Kindling's leader and driving force, feels the group has some of the tightest vocal harmonies around and they back up that claim quite well. They cover almost every facet of country music, but really shine when performing songs like Vince Gill's It's A Long Long Way (To The Top Of The World), Merle Haggard's Silver Wings, Gene Watson's Memories to Burn or George Strait's Stars On The Water. Other crowd favorites include Invitation To The Blues, You Can't Take It With You (When You Go ), Wrapped Around, The Fireman, Country Swing, Somewhere Out In Texas, Heart Over Mind and Six Days On The Road.
Last month at Jollie's, just off I-5 in Ridgefield, Kindling played to a packed house of country fanatics. During a break in the action, Gagliasso tried to visit with all the regular fans but another set drew him back to stage.
Most people in the Portland area are aware of Spirit Mountain and Jubitz, but they should try taking the short drive up I-5 to Jollie's and check it out. It's located just off the first exit north of where I-5 and I-205 join, across the freeway from the Clark County Fairground’s and Amphitheater. Jollie's is a family-owned, 24-hour restaurant with a large lounge and dance floor.
Jollie's features a full breakfast menu. They offer great sandwiches for lunch and a variety of fried seafoods and chicken, broiled steaks and burgers for dinner. Combine that with a fully stocked lounge, full array of Washington State Lottery offerings, the large dance floor and a great band on stage, Jollie's is not only a local hotspot, but one that attracts people from all over the Clark County area. (See ad and Music on Tap this issue for schedule.)