I didn't see any close to McKee's Rocks. Here's a link to a calender of blues music. A whole bunch of us will be in Wheeling,W.Va. for the Heritage Blues Festival. This is a big festival with major acts. It's maybe an hour+ drive from Mckee's Rocks. If you have the time,that's the place to go. There's a big after jam every night,but the waiting list can be long.
http://www.bswpa.org/cms/LiveBlues/EventCalendar/tabid/56/Default.aspx
Last Edited by on Aug 07, 2012 4:45 PM
The Thunderbird Cafe owner John Pergal has a nice jump blues band (The Pawnbrokers) with a very good harp player (Gary Asmussen). Although his band is not playing that I see, there is an Open Jam on Monday night listed. No help for the weekend that I know of, though.
No,they haven't been too active lately. Too bad,Garth would be a great player to see. I don't see any bands with harp playing this weekend. That open stage at the Intermission might be you're best bet. Not sure how "open" it will be. Make sure to tell them you're from out of town and want to blow some harp. Chismo doesn't perform much anymore due to a stroke,but he's a great singer-or was. I'm not sure if he's at 100%.
My mistake...his name is Garth Amussen, and he's very good. I've not seen him in a couple years, and I spaced the name. Their
Although it is not an open jam, The Blues Orphans are playing Friday night on the Northside (across the river from McKee's Rocks. They have another great harp player, Andy Gabig.
Blues Orphans - 8 PM James Street Gastropub 422 Foreland Street Pittsburgh, PA. 15212 412-904-3335 http://oldmonmusic.blogspot.com/2010/07/blues-orphans.html
There is supposed to be an open mic / open stage at Zippy's in Brookline, but I know little about it. It may be hard to find if you don't have a car, but from McKees Rocks you go through Beechview, across Rt. 19 and then up the hill to get to Brookline.
Oooh. I missed the Blues Orphans listing. They're a great band to see. Not pure blues, they mix up a lot of genres. Andy G. is great and unique. You WILL enjoy them. Lots of originals.
eharp- if you're free tonight(Thur.), try to catch Wil E. Tri in Mt. Washington at Smokey Joe's. He's been doing this Thur. night gig for at least 10 years. He's a great harp player and is, as they say a "character".
No doubt Tuckster, Will E Tri is a "character" and will give ya the blues "in a good way" Will E Tri Willie wrote a really GREAT blues tune years back called "Snake Eggs" and was Covered by the late great MICHAEL BURKS. Willie is an excellent blues guitarist too as well as harmonica player and sings with power and depth - he is a triple threat - see him if you can!
I seen Sugar Blue some years back and he didn't have a Bass Player for the gig...Willies Bass Player was hired to fill in!
Last Edited by on Aug 10, 2012 5:12 AM
