T-BONE STONE BAND

Eugene veteran of the blues brings his band to the coast

T-Bone Stone has been playing music since he was 8, starting with the sax and moving to guitar and vocals. He has played blues fests all around the country including Chicago, Monterey, Sacramento, and the Mississippi Valley Fest. He has also appeared at Buddy Guy's in Chicago and B.B. King's in Los Angeles.

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MARS RETRIEVAL UNIT

Layers of funk from a rising Portland band

Here's the band's description of itself: "Layered funk and progrock, soaring vocal harmonies, instrumental dazzletation,and all within the framework of catchy, hooky songs... the ultimate technologofunkical groove that will gnaw away at you till you want to hear more." Well, we did want to hear more. The band lays down a nice groove all right and the sax adds a lot to the funky side of this up-and-coming unit.

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SILAS

Jam band from Eugene, with a rockin' style

This five-piece band features a noticeable twang through its rock and jam groove. Its brand of alt country evokes the likes of Robert Earl Keen, Whiskeytown, Phish and Steely Dan. There is also an Americana sense about this band and here they conger up Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle. "WWJD?" and "A Thousand Children", songs from the Silas CD, are among the top song picks on Neil Young's web site. The band is made up of Todd Dennis, guitar and lead vocals; Steve Arriola, lead guitar, lap steel, vocals; Scott Dillinger, keyboards and accordion; Joey Croce, alembic bass; Sean Brennan, drums and percussion.

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DIGGABONE

Jam doodling in a fusion groove from a Portland experiment

Eric Bohne is back with the latest incarnation of a hard-working project in originality. His label is called Made to Sound Pro Records and he lists is band as E.B., Doe Eye, J. Mac and Just B. The audience can be identified as Dig N. It. During a finger snapping return to the Landmark a couple of months ago, the band managed to throw a spell over the crowd. Not your usual bar band.

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HOOKAH STEW

John Michael Young can play them all -- and does: funk, blues and rock

Some performers of the electric guitar stay outside the instrument; others, like the leader of Hookah Stew, go inside. John Michael Young formed this band 10 years ago and gave it a crash course of Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Aquarium Release and the Five Fingers of Funk. Some Stevie Wonder and a lot of Hendrix has rounded the sound in the past few years. The strength of this band grows the more it plays. And it has been playing more lately – on its own after breaking out the casino rut.

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KEVIN SELFE & THE TORNADOES

High-energy blues from electric Chicago to Texas swing

Selfe, who earlier this year moved to Portland from his base in Roanoke, Va., has played over 1,500 gigs in 15 states over the past 10 years, conquering a wide circle of East Coast venues. Here is a veteran player with something to prove. He's out to show the Northwest he has the chops to step up in the Portland scene. He's motivated and he's dedicated to the blues. His music passes through Chicago down to Texas and up through the Delta.

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ONE HORSE SHY

Alt country and pop, with that Americana feel, from Ashland

American roots music takes a step farther down its ever-evolving trail with this group from southern Oregon. Featuring  female vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and strong musicianship, the band takes it influences from people like Gillian Welch and James McMurtry. One Horse Shy's sound is the culmination of 100 years of roots music and 30 seconds of soul-searching, foot-stomping blues rock. With a passion for expressive songs like the satirical "California" to the thumping beat of "Honey in My Tea," One Horse Shy promises to enchant the listeners with unforgiving harmonies, artful songcrafting, and vivid lyrical imagery.

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KITA MONTGOMERY & THE LB 4 LB. BAND

Blues and soul from a favorite Northwest songstress. With John Pound.

Kita can tear up a place with her Koko Taylor-style renditions of blues classics. She playing with her old band, the John Pounds-led funk mainstay. Expect a few surprises in the new set lists and also expect plenty of cheers.

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Reggae from the heart - feel the love!

The drifting rhythms of reggae groove are hard to find in the land of the big trees, but they are there... or in this case, here. I-chele has put together a sensuous unit of sound and built it carefully over the years, never losing the spark. Vince Black adds that true Jamaican feel, songmate Julie provides the icing and a large and talented percussion section weaves that tropical balance. With Roger McConnell on guitar.

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KEVIN SELFE & THE TORNADOES

High-energy blues from electric Chicago to Texas swing

Selfe, who earlier this year moved to Portland from his base in Roanoke, Va., has played over 1,500 gigs in 15 states over the past 10 years, conquering a wide circle of East Coast venues. Here is a veteran player with something to prove. He's out to show the Northwest he has the chops to step up in the Portland scene. He's motivated and he's dedicated to the blues. His music passes through Chicago down to Texas and up through the Delta.

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