That School Of Blues Show!

 

Rising Star...Nyah... Empty Spaces [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Nyah- Empty Spaces [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

by steven masone

    Florence, Oregon is one of Oregon Coast's destination tourist attractions for it's sand dunes in and out of State Parks and lakes which one can find every ten miles or so, along with all the rivers that flow into some of the most beautiful coastline in the world. Not to mention it's Old Town area with restaurants and shops, both tourist focused and art inspired by it's artistic and eclectic talent pool. Now Florence is also home to a very talented teenager, Nyah Vollmar who is now a “national recording artist” after the release of her first single, “Empty Spaces,” last winter. At just 15 years old, Nyah is preparing a total of five songs this year to be included in her first EP with InRage Entertainment, with “Empty Spaces” as the first single. The next song, “Thousand Wishes,” has already been recorded and three more songs will be worked on in the coming months. The goal is to release the EP sometime this fall. The song debuted courtesy of InRage Entertainment Music Video at the Florence Events Center.

About InRage Entertainment...

Bruce and Ebony Rae Vanderveer of InRage Entertainment

 I have spoken with Bruce many times on the phone and learned about InRage Entertainment and the cutting Edge model he and wife Ebony have built into one of the fastest growing new Production/Record Labels west of the Mississippi.

Bruce: "I started my music career as a multi-genre artist who auditioned for 13 record labels before getting signed to Morgan Creek/Polygram. From the beginning of my career, I was attracted to every genre of music because my mom listened to everything. So, here I am living in the slums in Brooklyn and my favorite artist is The Beatles. I taught himself to produce music when I was young and broke – I produced my landlord’s daughter in exchange for free rent! After moving to California from Brooklyn, I got a double production deal from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’ Perspective Records/A&M Records. Then, I was signed to Sony as a songwriter and producer, but because my catalog was so diverse, it was difficult for the label to figure out what to do with me. Because I had yet to build a name for myself, people wanted to use my songs, but didn’t want me to get the credit yet, so I was a ghost producer for many years. I built InRage Entertainment because I wanted to create the music I wanted to, when I wanted to, on my own artists."

I haven't had the pleasure to meet Ebony yet, but here is an excerpt from an article in VoyageLA:

Ebony: "I met my husband in the studio when I came in to record on a project he was producing. We’ve pretty much been in the studio together ever since. I’ve been singing since I was very young in church and got my degree in music from USC and had just worked in administration at USC for 4 years, so when he asked me to build the company with him, I was game. We make a great team. He produces and writes and I write for Sony Hong Kong, Korea Branch. He says what he wants to happen and I figure out how to make it happen."

So keep your eyes and ears open about Nyah performing in the Great Northwest as well as the LP 

Marco Pena and Resurrection Blues Band in Florence, Oregon

ICM Restaurant in Florence, Oregon Hosts: Friday Nite Blues with Resurrection Blues Band

Resurrection Blues Band With 15 year Old Guitar Prodigy Marco Pena….

Appearing At April 19th &26th      1498 Bay St., "Old Town Florence"                                        6 pm - 9 pm  

Oregon (OR 97439)

(541) 997 9646

                                                                               

                                  
                                              
A Review by 
Steven Masone

The ICM is a great place to get fresh seafood and good service. Reading some of the Yelpers poor reviews, leaves me a bit mystified. But...not really, tourists who do foodie reviews usually find their complaints at motels, and other tourist stops fall on deaf ears...and this usually clouds their perception looking for good food and good service. Finding perfection is a fools errand. The day I dined at ICM, a Saturday, I found out they had served over 500 customers that day. I ordered the Cod Fish & Chips. which was fresh filets of Pacific Cod deep fried to perfection. My coleslaw was delicious and the chips were as well. Expecting servers who are as busy as they are on week-ends there to be over friendly is a two way street. Help them smile with your friendliness and you will reap what you sow. I also spoke with the owner and found him professional and interested in his customers enough to try and make sure their experience is going well. That goes a long way with me. As far as prices are concerned, quality fresh seafood costs have gone skyhigh in recent years and you are not going to find seafood priced to compete with Skippers or Long John Silver fast food joints using chopped and preformed frozen fake fillets. My Fish & Chips were on special for $9.99 anf my dinner mates spent an average $15-$19 for their entrees and were raving about their food as well. I have reviewed Florence's top Italian Restaurant that was comparably priced. I recommend any customers considering ICM to not be daunted by some of these other Yelper reviews. This is one of your best choices not only in Florence, but at any of the other tourist seaside stops you will find in Oregon. 

Welcome to ICM Restaurant "ALL YOU CAN EAT DUNGENESS CRAB" Every Day of the Year !!! Boats unloading daily !!!

Bluesman James Funk in Eugene, Or Feb 22, 2019

James showed up at the Fri Nite Jam session last month and stole the show. With his homemade cigar box guitar, and a hot harmonica, this Mississippi transplant (Now living in southern Oregon) comes up once a month for military reserve duty. Been playing harmonica since age 12,  James was in high school choir, played music at college also, then joined the Navy Seabees in 2012, stationed in Europe then back home in Mississippi in 2014. "Murky Waters"... a blues joint in Gulf Port MS. was his first blues venue where he cut his teeth playing with real Mississippi bluesmen, and will always be home base for him. 

James made his first cigar-box slide guitar in 2016 from a box of Cuban cigars a piece of cedar and some concrete anchor bolts. Played music from Mississippi to Baton Rouge down to Florida to Alabama and New Orleans, before moving to Oregon. Recently separated from the military now bringing some of that authentic delta blues once a month to Eugene. 

James has an energy and charismatic stage presence that will get you grinning from ear to ear. His singing is both delta swampy as well as a cross of Chicago blues styling with his excellent harmonica playing.  Don't miss this show...Friday Feb 22, 2019...Fri Nite Blues Jam @ Jalisco Mexican Restaurant 941 Pearl St. Eugene 7pm. Jam starts after 1st set w/ James Funk. Sign up starts @ 6:30 pm For further info call (541) 517-5224

Fifteen Year Old Guitar Prodigy Emerges in Northwest Blues Scene

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Marco Peña and Band; "Troberg"

by steven masone

Last time I found a Diamond in the rough, was when Steve Clausman, of Claussie Productions, and I listened to a tape by fledgling rockers and band mates... called City Kid. What we heard caused us to arrange to see them at their next practice session in their garage. They were a power trio instrumentally, with a lead singer. Later, renamed TESLA. Frankie Hannon, was a 16 year old guitar prodigy. Singer Jeff Keith, guitarist Frank Hannon, bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Luccketta were the original City Kid who later added guitarist Tommy Skeoch. 

TESLA

Steve Clausman hired me to partnership with him to consult on working with another one of his Bands; Ian Shelter. Steve was new to the music business, and asked me after the audition if I thoughtCity Kid had potential, I told him if he didn't sign them... I would! We already had a concert planned for Ian Shelter at the American River College Campus in Sacramento and let City Kid open up for Ian Shelter. Steve was promoting Ian Shelter's EP "Show You" 

...otherwise he would have given top bill to City Kid, which was my recommendation. Of course City Kidstole the show! 

Ian Shelter EP "Show You"

I met Marco Peña at a Blues Jam in Eugene, Oregon just last month and did a set with him and other jammers.

As soon as he started playing, he was "Shredding" like I remember Frank Hannon did that sold Steve Clausman on signing him and City Kid. The "Buzz" about town of a "Guitar Prodigy" has hit the Eugene music scene. Marco Peña started jamming with seasoned pro's just in the last month. Marco and his band mates have only been together a couple of months and pulled off two... one in a half hour sets at the Maker's Faire held at the Science Center where this video was taken.

Bass player Aidan Goodwin and Drummer Tom Troberg

However, the "Buzz" will also be revving up about the band "TROBERG" soon. This Power Trio has had very little practice time for all the songs they did in their debut show. Marco Peña has signed with Masone & Associates' "School Of Blues." School Of Blues is a blues and rock component of Project  PRO/AM  (PPA)

PPA is a pilot program where professional artists
and business people teach young people, both
academically stable, and those at risk... to learn
all phases of a Dinner Theatre and a collaborative
Performing Arts Program. The professional food
and beverage component will be a culinary school
training program that will prepare students to not
only become skilled in all phases as workers, but
also provide entrepreneurial training and hands
on management opportunities. Then if desired,
cross trained in Theatre Arts. And vice-versa.

As an after school and summer program, PPA will
utilize family, community and school personnel to be
involved with students internship and participation
in PPA. The Executive director of PPA will
coordinate and act as case worker as to students
progress, liaise with family, educators, and
any other relevant person or agency involved in student's
counselling for future school and or job placement.

PPA will initially outsource much of the class room
curriculum with established culinary and business
programs in local high schools and college/
technical schools where resources are available.

The Theatre Arts program will be a first phase,
where students will be involved with production of
a  musical chosen where the professional theatre
 company will have trained and rehearsed all
students involved as cast members, and all other
aspects of show. However, the professionals will
appear and perform in the shows that will be
competitively priced and staged like any regional
level Dinner Theatre Operation.

The student productions will then be performed and
produced by the students themselves  for
the amateur non-profit program. And where appropriate;
gratis pricing. ( As inducement for underprivileged
youth to encourage their participation.)

The long range goals of PPA will be to coalesce the
program into a School for the Performing and
Culinary Arts. The students will be challenged to
work towards completing their formal education
while gaining invaluable experience, skills, problem
solving, in an atmosphere designed to instill self-
confidence and social interaction and team work
with peers in a culturally diverse environment.

Students will learn valuable customer and human
relations, with cross training in the guest
relations aspects of Theatre, Food & Beverage
and Hospitality Industry.

PPA will use resources available to evaluate
students skill level and proficiency to assist in
capitalizing on their strong areas and develop
leadership skills with internships at participating
organizations and businesses PPA will partner
with.

PPA will utilize a mentor-ship model where college
level students will mentor the younger students
and tutor those who have need to bring their
academic scores to acceptable levels as "staying in
school" will be a requirement for participation in PPA.

Hank Shreve: Live @ Westside Jam, Eugene,Oregon

"Hank Shreve is quite simply one of the best harmonica players I have ever heard. He is a fiery, open minded, unique, musical harmonica player that can share the stage with any living player of any ability and hold his own or out shine them. He is a monster musician and a great person on top of that!"                                                                           Jason Ricci

Hank Shreve began playing harmonica at the age of 8 and has established himself as a major harmonica talent on the blues scene in the Pacific Northwest. Between the age of 8 - 18, he became proficient on other instruments such as Drums, Keyboards, Guitar, Dobro , Lap-Steel and Vocals, 

​

Hank Shreve - Lollipop Mama 2013-07-04 Live @ Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland, OR

Hank won the Northwest Harmonica Championship in 2008 and CBA’s Muddy Award for Best Harmonica in 2009 and 2013. Hank has performed at the Toronto Jazz Festival and the Cognac Blues Passions in France with Karen Lovely, and Seattle’s Bumper Shoot with Magic Dick and Lee Oskar.  In November 2018, Hank will teach at the Jason Ricci/Winslow Yerxa Harmonica Collective, in New Orleans, with John Nemeth and Rick Estrin.

​

Hank has shared the stage with delta-blues legend Honeyboy Edwards, Smash Mouth, Merle Haggard, Norton Buffalo, Gregg Rolie, Marcia Ball, Sista Monica Parker, Amy Clawson & Pam Tillis, Terry Robb, Magic Dick, Lee Oskar, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Karen Lovely, Deanna Bogart, Roger Fisher (from Heart), Curtis Salgado, DK Stewart, Lloyd Jones, Paul deLay and many other well-known national and international acts.

Hank and his band, (The Hank Shreve Band) have performed at numerous notable venues/events such as The Waterfront Blues Festival, Big Sky Blues Festival, Fourth At The Fort Festival, Willamette Blues/Brews Festival, Eugene Celebration, Oregon State Fair, Highway 99 Blues Club (Seattle), Jazzbones (Tacoma), Sasquatch Brewfest (Eugene)....The Hank Shreve Band has won the CBA's Muddy Award for Best New Act 2012, and Best Regional Act 2013, 2014, & 2016.



Apart from being one of Eugene, Oregon's  respected and well-known musicians, Hank is an official Artist-In-Residency at Music Masters in South Eugene where he teaches music with a curriculum that includes Harmonica, Drums, Guitar, Lap-Steel and piano. See Hank's website @ https://www.hankshreveband.com/

A Review: Ben Rice Blues Band

By steven masone

    I first saw Ben Rice with Karen Lovely at Mac's in Eugene, Oregon. I had booked Karen at the Isleton Cajun Blues Festival opening for Elvin Bishop in the last Festival held in Isleton, Ca. I hadn't seen Karen since 2014, so had to do an update review on her new CD's. After hearing Ben, I had to do a review on his CD also. "Live At the Purple Fox Loft" has 18 songs...where do I start? From his version of Ida Mae, traditional blues tune to Somewhere Over the Rainbowinstrumental, his commitment to authentic blues roots, and pushing the envelope to show his modern versions of west coast blues with rock, funk, and soul, he is just what the doctor ordered to keep the blues relevant... making new fans, keeping the blues alive. His rendition of Key to the Highway was one of my favorites, but they were all good! You can sample the tunes on Amazon and pay 99 cents each or buy the CD getting all 18 at only 50 cents each.The CD is out of the box and innovative, while the live performance and Ben's banter with the audience about the songs, gives the listener a snapshot of Ben's affable personality and down to earth persona. 

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_srch_drd_B01B7ZCQHQ?ie=UTF8&field-keywords=Ben%20Rice%20Trio&index=digital-music&search-type=ss

Ben Rice and the Illamatics were the Cascade Blues Association’s representatives at the 2014 International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN, where they placed as one of the top nine finalists out of 250 acts from around the world. Along with their music is an exhilarating stage show featuring, cigar box guitars, resonators, and lots of crowd interaction. Ben Rice has already been established as a virtuosic guitar player with a soulful voice. His inventive twists on blues are creating a buzz up and down the West coast.''?

 Winning the 2013 Male Vocalist and Traditional Act of the Year from the Cascade Blues Association as well as Performance and Acoustic Guitar of the Year from the West Side Blues Society. Ben’s CD, “Pour Me Some Whiskey” is comprised of all original songs, is being hailed as one of the best CD releases from the Northwest. Although Rice is young, he has a lot of experience. 

Playing alongside some of the top musicians in the National Blues Scene. First picking up his fathers nylon stringed guitar at six years old, playing in school jazz band, and symphonic band during his high school years, he now has almost 18 years of playing experience. At this young age he's received numerous awards, prestigious nominations, and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from the University of Oregon in 2011. In a musical world saturated with young guitarists, his reputation is building. Not as a “hot rod guitar player” but as a good band leader, great songwriter, engaging performer, soul inspiring singer, and a guitar player that can do it all, “Of course he does, it’s Ben, he can do everything"

Ben is one of the best guitarists I have seen in a long while and can't wait to see where his next level of success is going to take him. Looking forward to reviewing his past projects as well as future.

See his facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/benriceband/