Sandy Saunders & top-notch band
puts on the power,
performing tasty originals & hot
covers at area clubs
The Sandy Saunders Band
(Photo by Kurt "Swingcat" Johnson)
If you haven’t heard Sandy Saunders or enjoyed her playing live, you owe it to yourself to do so. After a night of listening to the Sandy Saunders Band, you’ll find this southern girl puts on the power from start to finish and leaves you wanting more.
If you ever have the occasion to talk to Saunders, the first thing you notice is the strong southern accent. You see, she is a transplant to Oregon from the great state of Georgia and it comes out with every word spoken on or off the stage. If you happen to meet her alongside her partner on stage, guitarist Billy Lindsay, things get really interesting. The first thing you notice about Lindsay is a strong Scottish accent (making for some interesting eavesdropping). You don’t know if it’s the southern influence or the U.K. heritage, but there is definitely something in this combination that makes this band stand out.
Billy Lindsay
(Photo by Robert Parks)
Not many bands begin a set with a Dixie Chicks cover, throw in some tasty originals in the middle, follow it with Purple Haze and have the set flow flawlessly. With sets like this, you have to ask, “What music category would you put yourself in?” Saunders says, “I really don’t think I can put it into one category, I just play what I like and what I feel other people would like. I have people come up to me and say 'I’ve never been a country music fan but I really like you.' I’ve also heard 'I don’t generally listen to Jimi Hendrix, but this is great!' Coming from the south I grew up on country music, but upon moving to the Pacific Northwest, I've developed a love for the blues and when you play with such great musicians as I have had the privilege of performing with, one can't help but get a Hendrix and Led Zeppelin addiction as well.” One thing’s for sure, the Sandy Saunders Band seems to take all these music styles, throw ‘em in a southern stew and serve it up with Louisiana hot sauce. Read More
Bolt Upright
Rockin’ blues CD is definitely
‘Up for Grabs’
“Full-Release” CD Party @ Hipbone Studio
Bolt Upright’s Ashbolt Stewart, bandleader, drummer and vocalist, presented his full-release Up For Grabs CD party at Hipbone Studios recently. This group may not be local too much longer as they are on their way to big-time fame.
Bolt Upright band members include: Stewart (drums, percussion and vocals); Sus (rhymes with “snooze”) McDonald (bass and vocals); Ken Brewer (guitar, piano, organ and vocals); Brad Ulrich (saxophone and harmonica) and Dave Grafe (pedal steel guitar). Guitarist Adrian Martin and conga player Timmy B. were featured at the party for the total unit of the musical team.
Up For Grabs CD
Stewart is a power-punchin,' solid groovin' drummer with serious soul. He is the centerpiece of the tight-knit band who keeps the groove jammin' and live. They are top quality musicians with many original tunes. They are all vocalists and perform background harmonies while playing their instruments. Sus McDonald has a smooth style as she plays the bass. Her musicianship and original tunes are superb.
Brewer plays piano, organ, guitar and sings. He has quality and fire, sometimes playing the guitar and piano in one tune. What a joy and pleasure to watch him perform.
Jeff Burke opened the show mentioning the year of hard work, time and management to finalize the CD Up For Grabs. Over 22 tunes were played during the course of the party. Old rockin' tunes included tunes by artists such as Junior Wells, Ray Charles, Joe Cochran, James Brown, Van Morrison, Paul Simon and Wilson Pickett. Many tunes performed were written by Stewart, McDonald and Brewer. Read More
Darren Klein
Darren Klein is a young and very talented Portland jazz guitarist; together with his friends, he performs his original music under the name The Darren Kleintet. The band released a CD titled Sounds from Tiny Earth available on CD Baby (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/DarrenKlein.) They are available for shows as well.
Darren Klein
(Photo by Brad D. Morley)
When you hear this band, talent abounds as you watch each member ply their craft and share the limelight performing solo spots and highlights. Klein performs his duties as band frontman and music conductor with ease and a cool, laid-back style. He calls out each song title for his team and also addresses his audience with witty repartee, explaining the origin or the motivation for each composition.
On drums, Russ Kleiner is a fantastic player. One could spend hours listening to this man play the drums; his style and approach to Klein’s songs is very refreshing. Keeping this band firmly on the right path and in time is an easy task for Kleiner; he improvises and fills in with ease, bringing a smile to the face of any musician in the audience.
Bass guitar duties are handled by Sam Howard. He plays a unique style of bass and will give any bass player a few things to think about as one drives away from a show. Howard moves through the songs and around his instrument with ease, using the entire fret board. Howard has put in the time required to master a great right hand thumb-slap-and-pluck style blended with his left hand living well above the 12th fret. He is a player to watch as he grows with his talents and makes his way in the jazz music community.
Noah Bernstein plays sax, performing stage front and center and loves the sax. Bernstein is a pleasure to hear and watch as the Kleintet runs through the paces; his horn adds the right touches to the song’s hooks and melodies.
Akila Fields is a great addition to the Kleintet, manning the keyboards. He uses his keyboards to fill the sound and smooth out the edges. Fields also adds some very inventive sounds and melodies of his own, moving his instrument from the background to the front of these bands compositions. Of all the talent in this band, Fields manages to hold his own and draw his fair share of attention, not easy when you’re sitting down in the back. Read More
Shelly’s Echo Inn
Cozy spot beckons hot music & food
lovers
The hamlet of Carver was recently incorporated by the City of Damascus but it doesn’t change the wonderfully cozy Shelly’s Echo Inn’s personality for good food, occasional live music and an encounter with good people.
Steve Willette
(Photo by Edmund Jordan)
Along with a full service bar, there is pool and video games to engage. The Echo Inn prides itself on having the best food in Carver with even a smokehouse on the premises and large BBQ on the back deck; so you can bet that your taste buds will be delighted. Daily specials range from prime rib dinner, barbequed ribs and steak, to tacos and are all very easy on the wallet, served in generous portions.
An additional feature which you would find very amenable is the outdoor decking area; both a covered section and outdoorsy area sitting just on top of and overlooking the Clackamas River where, in the day, you can watch eagles fly. Nicely lit in the evenings, it is a very cozy environment for one to enjoy.
On the music end of things, John Wheeler hosts a hot show in the jams department with a supporting cast consisting of John Police on drums, Severio Amato on guitar and Robert Carson on bass. The music is blues-based, but man can it drive!! One recent Saturday, Steve Willette sat on the skins and generated quite a show of talent which was extremely motivational. He was accommodated by Calen Uhlig on bass and wow!! (This writer sat in on drums for a tune.) What a walk in the park of music…just the best and hot!!
Wheeler’s regular band is called the Band-its and they’ll be performing at the Trails End in Oregon City in June. It should be a good show. Read More
