San Luis Obispo Blues Society Upcoming Events Saturday, March 2, 2002 Paul deLay Band with Demolition Blues Saturday, April 6 SLO Vets Hall 801 Grand Avenue 8PM Members $12 / Nonmembers $14

paul delay band

The SLO Blues Society welcomes the Paul deLay Band on Saturday, March 2. Demolition Blues will be opening the show.  The show starts at 8:00 PM at the SLO Vets Hall.  Tickets are $12 for members and $14 for non-members. You can buy a membership for $10 at the door and get $2 off admission for a year of shows.

Since his return to performing in 1995, Portland’s premier blues artist Paul deLay has been on a roll.  He has produced five highly acclaimed CDs and has been voted Best Blues Harmonica Player twice by Real Blues Magazine.  His latest release Heavy Rotation (Evidence) is another reason why reviewers consider him one of the most innovative writers, singers, and harmonica players in the blues today.  He is backed by a core group of band members who have been playing together for the last 11 years. The Paul deLay Band includes Louis Pain on Hammond organ, Peter Dammann on guitar, Dan Fincher on tenor saxophone, and Kelly Dunn on drums. This band is cohesive and focused on the blues, yet is still able to stretch out and explore new areas.

Growing up in Portland, deLay developed musically without the overwhelming influence of the Chicago blues legacy.  This has allowed him to find his own voice as a singer, songwriter, and harmonica player.  His musical career began in 1970 as an 18 year old harmonica player for local Portland blues bands.  The first “Paul deLay Band” was founded in the early 1980s.  This was a hard working, hard playing outfit that over a ten year period produced 4 CDs and played about 200 gigs a year.  Delay's lifestyle changed in the early 1990s when jail time forced him to confront his drug oriented lifestyle.  His re-emergence in 1995 signaled a second start, with a burst of artistic creativity that changed his songwriting and playing.  The cathartic Ocean of Tears (Evidence, 1996) was Paul’s announcement to the Blues world that he was back and better than ever.

“If Little Walter had lived another 20 years, we might have heard similar sounds... These songs are fascinating, every one a gem…You could take the other top five harp-playing bluesmen active today and, even combined, their talents couldn’t match deLay’s.”- Real Blues Magazine

“One of the finest blues songwriters around…easily outclasses the competition when it comes to songcraft and spirit.” – Washington Post
 

demolition blues

Demolition Blues will be opening the show with their high energy, danceable Blues, R&B, and Motown.  The band has been together for about two years, playing for a variety of events, including a Blues Society show last year.  The band cites a wide range of influences including Etta James and Koko Taylor, Eric Clapton and Junior Walker, and Fats Domino and Bach.

Karen Holder is the lead singer for the band.  She is backed by a horn section that includes Bob Osbourne on saxophone and Robert Alberts on trumpet.  The band also features Ed Frawley on guitar and vocals, Tony Hunt on keyboard and vocals, Jim Holder on bass and vocals, and Karen Garman on drums.
 

Volunteer.  Your Blues Society is run entirely by volunteers. Besides a sense of accomplishment, volunteers get into the shows for free and receive a couple free drink tickets.  We could use your help, so call 541-7930 (our voice mail number) and volunteer to work a shift at the show.
 
 

CATALOG OF SHOWS	LOCAL BLUES PERFORMERS	CD REVIEWS	OTHER
January 2002 December 2001 October 2001 September 2001 July 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 September 2000 July 2000 May 2000 April 2000 February 2000 January 2000 December 1999 October 1999 1998 Shows	Big Daddy's Blues Band Croon Dogs Guy Budd Band Valerie Johnson Texicali Divas Karen Tyler	Popa Chubby Michelle Wilson Blind Pig 25 Anniversary Any Woman's Blues Eric Bibb Ernie Hawkins	2001 t-shirt