It was a good night for the blues with very few people to hear it at the the Slice on Friday, Aug. 25.
I always look forward to Calgary songstress Erin Ross, so I cut Whoop Up Days a little short so I wouldn’t miss her.
I didn’t and, as a bonus , was lucky enough to catch Murray, Utah blues/roots / Americana musician Columbia Jones.
Jones, backed by lead guitarist / didgeridoo player Brandon and a bassist.
The audience was treated to a didgeridoo solo to begin the set from Brandon.
Jones, strumming an old resonator guitar, and his trio reminded me of Elliott Brood, but without the banjo.
They played a gritty set of old school Delta blues with folk leanings before playing a few original songs from his CD “Blue Collar Blues.”
A couple of highlights were a song about plans falling apart called “25, ” a slower train song “Cold, Cold Desert Night” and “Trouble.” He stomped out a rhythm on the stage as his bandmates added extra flavours and textures to his music.
Erin Ross is always a pleasure to see and hear.
she accompanied herself on electric guitar singing impassioned folk and roots influenced originals but showed she has a way with a guitar on a couple of instrumentals. “Steel Touch.”
She invited the Columbia Jones trio on stage with her to end the night by jamming on some JJ Cale.
— By Richard Amery, L.a. Beat Editor