Canadian blues icon Harpdog Brown to perform at Everett show
Published 1:30 am Thursday, November 30, 2017
EVERETT — The doors open at 6 p.m. The downbeat’s at 7.
If you are a blues fan, you won’t want to miss this Cross Border Blues Concert from the Washington Blues Society, to be staged Friday at the Historic Everett Theatre.
Canadian blues icon Harpdog Brown will be joined by local favorites Brian Lee & the Orbiters and Nick Vigarino.
Lee and his Orbiters were given two Best of the Blues awards this year by the Washington Blues Society. They were recognized as the best traditional blues act and as having the best slide guitar.
Vigarino, who lives on Camano Island, has produced three CDs of original music, is found on 12 CDs by other musicians, eight compilations and a film soundtrack. He has performed in 13 countries, and has been nominated for 27 blues awards in three countries. By the way, he won 14 of those awards, including best slide guitar, performer of the year and best acoustic blues guitar.
Harpdog Brown, a gifted singer and harmonica player, has been called a blues evangelist, and the folks at the Blues Society say it’s a fitting moniker.
“I speak the blues like it’s the truth, and it is,” Brown has said. “I do feel like I’m a servant of the people. And I do heal people if they pay attention to the good messages in the songs I choose.”
Based in Vancouver, B.C., Brown was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1962. As an adopted child, Brown has said he has battled the feeling of not belonging his entire life.
“I think I was born for the circus, you know, born to travel,” Brown said in a statement sent by the Blues Society. “The blues tapped me on the shoulder years ago and said, ‘This is where you belong, Son.’ So the blues became my circus, and there’s no better way to travel than with a classic blues band.”
While some might call it the Chicago Blues, Brown calls his style classic blues — the early electric blues. Think Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and Howlin’ Wolf.
Musicians set to play with Brown in Everett include guitarist Jordie Edmonds, bassist Pat Darcus and drummer Andy Graffiti. Regardless of the incarnation you see, this show is unique, refreshing and leaves audiences feeling good and wanting more.
Brown is an award winner (Maple Blues, Fraser Valley, Western Canadian), a Juno nominee and the only Canadian to win the coveted Muddy Award. Most recently he was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta.
His latest release is “Travelin’ With The Blues,” which features a duet with Charlie Musselwhite.
Then on Saturday evening, come back to the Historic Everett Theater to hear some country rock when BlackHawk performs with the Outlaws.
The country band BlackHawk been around in some form or another for about 25 years. Current members include two of the originals — lead singer and guitarist Henry Paul and Dave Robbins on keyboards. Their latest album is a recorded live show, “Live at Eddie’s Attic,” set for release soon.
The Outlaws are considered Southern Rock legends, but the band is now touring with new music. Long associated with BlackHawk, the bands even share members, including Monte Yoho on drums, Chris Anderson and Steve Grisham both on guitar, and bassist Randy Threet.
Cross Border Blues
7 p.m. Dec. 1, Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave.
Tickets are $25. Call the box office at 425-258-6766.
BlackHawk with the Outlaws
7 p.m. Dec. 2, Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave.
Tickets start at $60. Call the box office at 425-258-6766.
More at www.historiceveretttheatre.org.
