Coastal roots music via New York and Austin

Ken Petersen learned to play guitar in New York City in the late '60s. His teacher was John Lennon. He has played plenty of times since then but never lost the feeling of the early days. He's joined by Gary Brooker whose influences ride from the Delta into Texas and back home via the Southwest. With Vallorie Hodges on vocals and bass.

kennethp.net
www.bluesic.com

Oregon born and bred, New York educated, Shannon Tower is someone at ease on the stage but is not one to waste time. Her songs are original, urgent, her delivery quick and stylish. Shannon is not particularly happy with Bush America and is not afraid to express her views. With tight backing from lead guitarist Grant Warrens, electric violinist Jeff Sullivan, bassist Andy Baxter and drummer Les Hutchinson.

shannontowerband.com

Hypno gypsy jazz heading for the cosmic side, with the Tillers

The classically-trained violinist meets the wild mandolin player from the West and voila -- the Tillers. The violin, Enion Pelta-Tiller, arrives via the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, New York City punk and jazz circles and a stint with the crown prince of Hungarian New Wave, Menyhart Jeno. David Tiller comes from the alt-pop scene, sharing stages with the likes of the Dave Matthews Band, Sheryl Crow, Ricki Lee Jones, and Blues Traveler. The pace with this bunch is breakneck and the quality of the music tops.

taakra.com

Special National Attraction!
SCOTT HOLT BAND

Ten-year member of Buddy Guy's band, the heart of the blues

Playing the Landmark on the heels of the tremendous Joe Moss shows in July, Holt is another member of the Chicago blues scene, like Moss a rising star helping to move the tradition into the next generation. Since leaving the Buddy Guy band in 1999, Holt has made four albums and traveled a national touring schedule. Holt is the real deal; his albums present a scorching rocker who can deal delicate blues chops.

scottholt.com

Mike Riley brings in the blues from up the mountains

Riley is a consistent and generous blues player who has lived the life all his life. This band is 15 years old, a testament to the mellow style and the depth of appreciation its members have for the music. The blues lives because musicians live with the blues. Mike is backed by Vegas and LA session harp player Kooch Kucera, with Young Pappy Boynton on bass and Bongo Bob Pettit on drums.

Summit Underground

Eugene songwriter performs from new, highly praised CD

From the Oregonian: "The jangly, irresistibly tuneful guitar pop is classic enough to sound familiar; the witty, sometimes charmingly odd lyrics are idiosyncratic enough to sound fresh." The new CD "Get Sounds Now" is praised by the paper, saying it "shines with Jones and The Squids' musical maturity," citing iconic musical influences Lou Reed and The Minutemen. "The angst and angles within the story lines come across with a wry humor and sympathy."

danjonesmusic.com

From the Dead to the Hills of Tennessee, folk and rock

This trio spans America but is firmly planted on Oregon Coast rock. Joren Rushing (guitar and vocals) comes from the Dead tradition of the Bay Area, the 60s and all that, June Rishing (vocals and guitar) is from the Northwest, a recent arrival (1993) to the world of performing and Robin Remaily (everything) is an aboriginal Holy Modal Rounder from the farmland of Pennsylvania. Their union leaves nothing untouched, including the audience.

junerushing.com

Landmark debut!
TASKA and the OUTLAWS

Rock, blues and country from '70s to the present

A new band to party with, featuring Taska Barlow, former Northwest Entertainer of the Year. She'll be joined by Cactus Davis on keyboards and Stx Deal on drums. Davis has been performing since he was six and did a long stint with the band Stampede Pass. Deal has worked with Leo Kottke and is fresh from gigs in Vegas and with Wild Horse, an Eagles cover band.

Dance, dance, dance with Taska and her variety musical revue

Taska Barlow back for a second night but with a different band entirely. Here she is joined by Nancy MacArthur and Rhonda Cruz for dance, dance, dance. The Barlow background includes a stint on the Norwegian Cruise Lines; she created the Oasis Country Nightclub in Portland; she knows how to work a crowd and how to make a crowd work. Don't be shy, here comes Sassy.

As close to the Delta as you¹ll get -- winner of national slide guitar contest!

Raised in New Orleans, Snakeboy produces an unforced, smooth and sometimes soaring sound that comes from deep in the Mississippi Delta. He can do a Robert Johnson that rolls and tumbles and his Muddy Water is ever electric. Snakeboy has his originals as well, he is an entertainer who never forgets his audience. He also has a lot of Texas and taste of Hawaii in the sound. He won first place at the National Slide Guitar Festival in Gray, Tenn., in 2000.

theoriginalsnakeboy.com

Blues and rock featuring Oregon's premier sax player

Biondi is one of those wonderful pieces of flotsam and jetsam that wash up on the shores of the Oregon Coast. Originally from Philly, he has played with everybody from Sinatra to Smokey Robinson, with the Platters and Gladys Knight; he's done the movies and the television. He gave up the L.A. scene in 1998 to live on the coast, playing his magic sax (sometimes two at a time) in tiny places for just the select crowd. He's done that before at the Landmark and he'll do it again.

Paul will be playing with Blue Nation, a Lincoln County band anchored by Steve Wheeler on bass. He's joined by Mark Mugnai, vocals and guitar; Rob Connell, vocals and guitar, and Linn Wheeler on drums.

giftedchildmusic.com/
paulhome

Texas swing and taste of the blues via Austin, Texas

Jim Kasner is a recent returnee to the coast from Austin, Texas, where he learned Texas swing and the dry blues. This band is probably the most improved outfit in the area, sharpening its sound and set list in the country direction for months. So get the boots shined up and see if you find that old cowboy hat.

jameskasner.com/

Eugene blues maestro joined by Hammond B-3 organ player from Baton Rouge

Another ripple from the New Orleans flood reaches The Landmark with the second appearance of Chris Alexander and his B-3. Alexander is a transplant from Baton Rouge who is making a new career in Oregon. By joining Zybach he has gotten a start at the top. And does that B-3 sound good! The good wood never misses the mark.

www.stagehogs.com