April 22nd, 2005
Well, not sure if I was wrong or early. A month or so ago, I assessed the downtown Boise bar scene. So far most of my predictions haven�t become true.(see Downtown Bar Death Watch) However, Pablonos did become a Coyote Ugly rip-off called Skakers and I believe the Bucket has dropped late-nights.
With the old Brandos/Manhattan location becomingThe Loft and Shotz/Lipps set to reopen(rumored to combine karaoke and martini�s?) there are going to be a lot of lonely Tuesday night bartenders. Can all of these bars survive? Don�t think so.
April 20th, 2005
O.K. here is the new look :}. Needed to list the old articles and I have added links to my sons site- Idaho Radio News and the Boise Blues Society.
April 19th, 2005
Down the alley, the Freak Alley. I entered a surprisingly bright world of, sculptures, painters, musicians and poets. Not a freak in sight.
The visuals were wonderful, I was particularly taken by the art of Sara Mc Donald. Saratops her friends call her. The diminutive artist was a visual delight herself, dressed to impress with a shock of dark black hair and bright red lace up leather knee-high boots(do they still call them Go-Go boots?)
Her work was a display of paintings and two sculptures. The paintings exihibited a powerful sense of color. From strokes of reds, blacks and blues, babies faces and angel wings appear. Off kilter composition and tight framing add to the erie effect.
One of Sara�s sculptures was of a fetus. It was a bit intense for me. A graphic realization of the a real baby. Using wood, wax and cloth the artist was able to convey this beginning of life quite realistically. This gives the viewer a stark look at their origins.
The Freak Alley Gallery show is a great addition to the downtown art scene. We often discount the work of less mainstream artists. By presenting this powerful and somewhat offbeat art, the Freak Alley gives us all a chance to see art from a distinctively different view than the usual �First Thursday� chardonnay stroll.
WARNING THE PICTURE THAT FOLLOWS IS GRAPHIC!!!!
April 12th, 2005
�Come one, come all! Tonight is the Gene Harris Jazz Festival Club Night -
Come downtown and watch some of your favorite jazz and blues artists.�
Nancy McIntosh�s Friday E-mail summed it up perfectly.
What a great night of Jazz. Paul Tillitson was his wiley self. Each year
Paul commands the Egyptian stage and plays that unique combination of
tradition jazz mixed with humor and funk. This years performance reflected
time spent in Sun Valley�s famous Ducthen Room. The nightly work has
polished Paul trio�s sound. Without losing his lighter side
Paul’s gigs now have that certain sophistication of the great club acts.
The most interesting act of the night had to be 11 Eyes at the Easy. The 11�
s are fairly normal jazz band. Brassy up front with Trumpet and Sax, with a
very solid back line. The guitar player stood out with quick licks and
enlightened play. Oh, did I mention the DJ? Mixing, scratching,
looping are not your usual jazz fare. Although not entirely original this
bunch does have a very new sound. The contrast of the horns with the back
scratching was lively. For some it was a little much, but I was somehow
reminded the avant guard jazz of the 50�s.
At the Balcony crowd favorite Luther Hughes returned. The bar was jammed
with happy faces. This was defiantly the hotspot of the night. The bluesiest
band of club night laid down straight forward tunes with class and talent.
Down the street at the Gamekeeper it was standing room only. Charles
McPherson and the New Stories Trio were as cool as the other side of the
pillow.
Locals like The Frim Fram Four (The Reef and later at Pengillys), the
beautiful Cherie Buckner w/Billy Mitchell(Centre on the Grove) and our own
BBS Allstars(Bouquet) held their own and a good time was had by ME.
See you next year.
April 1st, 2005
It is almost here. The best night of music downtown is the Gene Harris Club Night. See you and a couple of thousand others Thursday night.
April 1st, 2005
A great meal can be like a symphony, a harmony of flavors, a jazz ensemble
of taste.
A recent offer for lunch at the Grape Escape was like that. Randall took us
to the �Grape.� The server was quick to the table and told us of the daily
special. Not sure what she called it, but here is what it was.
Bacon and potatoes in a brie cheese sauce. It was wrapped in panini bread,
something of a decadent pot pie, french style. With the subtle flavors of
bacon, cheese and potatoes, one flavor often over powers the rest. This dish
blended to created a powerful performance. Like a smooth blues trio on a summer night. Encore, Encore.