Jam Thursdays @ Mojo’s
Sinners Club claims ‘music that’s sinfully good’
“Music That’s Sinfully Good.” That’s the motto of Portland rock legends Sinners Club. This band is the most recent collaboration between front man, vocalist, bass guitarist and sarcastic humorist, Dan Golden and long-time friend Jade Stone, who plays guitars and sings. The two have played music together for over 20 years, since their first band Reckless Abandon.
The Sinners Club
Golden, a native Oregonian and graduate of Wilson High School, is also known as “The Hofner Bass Guy,” because he brings two to most gigs. But Golden is a proud collector of vintage basses including those by Hofner, Vox and Danelectro. This explains why he is also the head curator of the Oregon Rock & Blues Research Library, an organization that offers free vintage instrument identification. On stage, Golden holds a steady beat and provides fun banter with band members and the audience.
The Oregon Rock & Blues Research Library was co-founded by Golden and Stone. Stone has been collecting vintage guitars for most of his 30 years as a professional musician. Some of the electric guitars date back to the early ‘50s. Stone is easily the most traveled member of the band, playing in virtually every state from New York and California to Florida and Alaska. Stone provides solid rhythms, leads, vocals and harmonies.
Drummer Greg Raschio has over 30 years of experience as well. When in the Navy, he played at a National Football League game in San Diego. A graduate of Milwaukie High School, this native Oregonian has played with Golden and Stone for the better part of 15 years.
The final member of the Sinners Club is Brian Jones. He also plays guitars and sings. Jones, with over 20 years of experience, is a full-time musician providing lessons during the day, while “howling to the moon at night.” He’s a native of California, but the guys let him hang around anyways. As Golden says with a grin, “He’s our secret weapon.”
Sinners Club plays a blend of classic rock, blues and ballads with a few original tunes mixed in for good measure. The band has played Rose Festival, the Rose Garden, Crystal Ballroom, Bite of Oregon, Fort Vancouver Fourth of July Celebration, Chinook Winds Resort & Casino, Tigard Festival of the Balloons, Sandy Music Festival, Portland Meadows, Paradise Harley-Davidson TV commercials, HEMPSTALK, Yoshida’s Sand in the City Benefit, AIDSWALK; and appeared on the Conversations with Dr. Don TV show.
They are staples at many of the area’s top clubs including: Coyote’s in Hillsboro, The Cider Mill, Monte’s, Roadhouse 101 in Lincoln City and of course, Mojo’s in Vancouver, where they host one of the best jam sessions in the metro area every Thursday.
The band has played together for eight years and playing at Mojo’s for five. Dave Smith sits in on drums for the jams at Mojo’s. Smith, a well known drummer around town, has played since he was ten. Member of the Cascade Blues Association, he plays with the classic rock band Blue Shot and The Miller Brothers Genuine Blues. Along with Golden, he has been a regular on the Thursday Night Jams at Mojo’s since they began.
Mojo’s owner Brad Krueger says he not only has live music Thursday, he features the top bands in Clark County on Friday and Saturday. Live music goes from 9 to 1. Mojo’s offers Karaoke Sunday through Wednesday with KJs Brandon and Marlin. Sundays are really special featuring Jaggermeister or Stoli specials, with the factory models present offering up a plethora of prizes, on alternating Sundays. Sundays are also ladies night, with great drink specials for the damsels.
Mojo’s provides some great food also, with Philly cheese steaks, whisky chicken and the catfish basket, touted as the house specialties. Maybe, but those burgers are grand also. Two pool tables, a couple of video games and some of the best drink prices in town make Mojo’s a great place to be any night of the week.
Krueger calls Mojo’s “the best place in downtown Vancouver because something fun happens every night.” Happy hour goes from the time they open, 11 a.m. until 6 on weekdays. Mojo’s also is one of the few places in downtown Vancouver to feature an enclosed outdoor patio where people can drink or smoke.
For more information about Sinners Club’s music schedule, look in Bandstand or go to MySpace.com/JoinTheSinnersClub. To find who is playing at Mojo’s, check Music on Tap or go to MySpace.com/Mojos.