It was the best damn show at the Miners Foundry Last Night with Rev. Peytons Big Damn Band and Vermillion Lies. What a show it was. The night started with Vermillion Lies, two sisters, Zoe and Kim who put on a show closer to a vaudeville act with music. The show involves the sisters pulling their odd instruments out of a large trunk onstage before each song, prompting the audience to ask, "What's in the box?" which incidentally is the name of their brand new album. I saw them once before at Coopers and love there act. They are entertaining and funny, and include the audience participation as often as they can.
Then Rev. Peytons Big Damn Band took the stage and WOW!!! Rev. Peyton plays the hell out of the National Guitar and a Flat Top Gibson and has a voice like a southern preacher. His backing band includes Breezy Peyton on Washboard and Accordion and Jayme Peyton banging on the Drums. I was just blowed away by there powerful sound. The crowd at the Miners Foundry was small but very enthusiastic and we all had a most wonderful time.
Festival John

www.minersfoundry.org
www.myspace.com/therevpeytonsbigdamnband
www.vermillionlies.com

Shay Dillon and her Band put on an excellent show last night at The Chief Crazy Horse. I always describe her as the little gal with the big voice. Shay Dillon was the 2007 International Award Winner for Best R&B Artist and Album for Toronto Exclusive Awards and 2006 International Award winner for the Best Female Solo Artist from the Music Aid International Music Awards. She is the best local Blues Singer that I have heard. I and the rest of the crowd at The Chief Crazy Horse were really into the fabulous music all night long, and the dance floor was packed. It was wonderful to see her at a small and informal club like the Crazy Horse. I had an awesome time and can’t wait till see Shay and her band play again. Real soon I hope.
Festival John

www.chiefcrazyhorseinn.com
www.myspace.com/shaydillon

Five Eyed Hand put on an outstanding show last night at Coopers. With help from Tistrya and Friends and Brian from Izabella the night was awesome. The night started with Brian doing a solo set of music and then Five Eyed Hand played a set of jamming psychedelic jazz music. Then when they took a break Tistrya and Friends played a set of great music. The Night ended with Five Eyed Hand playing another set of wonderful music. Many of the local Festy Loving Folk were on hand for the night’s entertainment. I first saw Five Eyed Hand at The Bobolink Music Festival last spring and fell in love with their sound. I had a blast and love that Coopers has so many of the Festival Jam Bands. Izabella is playing at Coops next Thursday 1/29 see you there.
Festival John

www.myspace.com/yourcoopersaleworks
www.fiveeyedhand.com
www.myspace.com/tistryaandfriends
www.myspace.com/brianrogersmusic

This last weekend in Nevada City was like a Blues Music Festival, except that I got to go home and sleep in my own bed at night. It started out on Saturday Afternoon (2-6pm.) with the Jeff Watson Band playing at Coopers with special guest Daniel Castro. This Fundraiser Tour will help send the Jeff Watson Band to the Blues Foundation's International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN as representatives for the Sierra Blues Society on February 4 -7, 2009. I swear that when Daniel Castro was playing with the Jeff Watson band his Guitar was actually smoking. Then Saturday Night Coppers had Oliver Compton & The Comptones playing the Blues. The Comptones are made up of Oliver and Ted Standcliff on Guitar, Gary Bennett on keys, Gaylord on Bass and Kenny on Drums. They did have a special guest, Brian Bertke on Sax and the music was awesome. Also on Saturday Night the Loose Change Blues Band played across the street at The Chief Crazy Horse. They have a new lead singer Jamal Walker and the sound is wonderful. Then on Sunday Afternoon Coopers have a Weekly Blues Jam (3-7pm.) hosted by Oliver Compton & The Comptones. This was a remarkable Jam with guests including Mark Hagen on keys, Michael Clemens on Guitar, Larry Dumas Vocals & Harp, Mike Casey (Freight Train) on Drums, and Dennis Sies on Vocals & Harp. So it was Live Blues Music from 2:00pm Saturday till 7:00pm Sunday. Wow!!! What a Weekend.
Festival John

www.myspace.com/yourcoopersaleworks
www.myspace.com/chiefcrazyhorseinn
www.myspace.com/jeffwatsonband
www.thecomptones.com
www.myspace.com/loosechangeblues1

The Open Mic every Wednesday Night at The Chief Crazy Horse just keeps getting better and better. Hosted each week by Lisa among all the other things she does like owning and running The Second Heaven Store on Maltman Dr. in Grass Valley. She has a new band with Chuck, Ken, Keith, and Ashley and they started out the music with gusto. This week they were followed by Chuck and Bill for another great set of music. Then Dave Wilcox from the band Freedom and the Tall Cans got up and did a solo set of outstanding tunes. Then we got a preview of Friday Nights Music at The Chief Crazy Horse with Alisha and the South Yuba String Band. The members of this band that were there include Alisha, Josh Ford and Tim Mercer. These guys Rocked and I can’t wait till Friday Night. Next up was Rowan playing the Keyboards as he has at this Wednesday Night Open Mic from the time it was at Kirby’s Creekside (now Dos Banditos). Then Keith got back up and played the Keyboards for awhile then my roommate Dennis Sies joined him on vocals and we rounded out the night with Keith and Lisa doing “What a Wonderful World”. And So It Is.
Festival John

www.chiefcrazyhorseinn.com

The Saul Kaye Band Rocked The Chief Crazy Horse last night. Singer/Songwriter and San Francisco Bay Area emerging Artist Saul Kaye is astonishing. His music is a wonderful mix of old blues tunes and original music that sounds impressive. Saul was joined on stage by Brahm Sheray on Bass, and Andy Korn on Drums. The crowd was really into his music with the dance floor packed most of the night. I had a wonderful time and I can’t wait till He comes back to are musically gifted little town.
Festival John

www.myspace.com/chiefcrazyhorseinn
http://www.myspace.com/saulkayemusic

The Band No Taboo put on an awesome show Saturday Night at Coopers. I should say they overcame adversity as one of the main speakers at Coopers was blown out and the sound was horrible. They had to unhook it and instead use a monitor as a speaker. After they finally got the sound dialed in the rest of the night was great. The band consists of Michael Powers wailing on Lead Guitar and Fiddle, David Bastian on Keyboards, Sax, and Harp, Jeff Marshall on Bass & Vocals, and the Drummer is David Pazos. These guys are joined by Bimmy Rode on lead vocals and percussion. She has opened shows for greats such as BB King, Jefferson Starship, Taj Mahal, just to name a few. The newest band member is Aaron Gayden on keyboards & vocals. I love this high energy band and the songs they play are all ones that I know and can sing along to. Their music gets the crowd out on the dance floor and the next time they play I know that I’ll be there.
Festival John
www.myspace.com/yourcoopersaleworks
www.myspace.com/cnotaboo

The All Around Town Band Rocked the Rafters at The Chief Crazy Horse last night. Dr. Greg playing Lead Guitar, T-bone playing Bass, & James on Drums is the basic three piece band. They play mostly the Blues with a little Classic Rock and even some Pink Floyd thrown in. Last night Kimberly Bass joined in for several songs including Bridge of Sighs by Robin Trower. Then when I thought it could get no better Behzad joined them on Didgeridoo and with Kimberly singing. WOW!!! What an awesome night of music. I was sure glad to be there.
Festival John

www.myspace.com/chiefcrazyhorseinn
www.kimberlybass.com