Papa King Cole family and friends provide great music to help a much missed friend

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I caught the end of a hot memorial concert for Harpdog Brown at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Saturday, April 30. Harpdog Brown passed away of a heart attack, Jan. 7.  So local musician  Papa King Cole put together a big  fundraising concert for Brown’s family.

I missed the main acts, including the Cole Harbour Boys but caught a big jam at the end of it.

 

Charlie Jacobson shows his best moves at the Harpdog Brown Fundraiser at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, April 30. Photo by Richard Amery

 Charlie Jacobson, with a little help from Steve Martin on bass and backup singer Jolene Draper and drummer Tony McBride, did every trick in the blues performer playbook. He played guitar with his teeth, played behind his back and did a few Pete Townsend windmills, teetered on the edge of the stage and sat on his amp for a few bars of slower blues, while somehow losing his shirt in the process.

 Jacobson really cut loose for his solo show. He was a lot more sedate when he was playing with Harpdog brown at the owl back in November. 

 

 He played  some impressive licks and really put on a show.

 

 The jam continued with Papa King, who had Tony mcBride behind the kit this time and special guests including bassist Doug Freeman.

 

Papa King Cole playing the Harpdog Brown Fundraiser at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, April 30. Photo by Richard Amery

 It was a family affair for the Cole family, as King’s sons and daughters both , jumped on stage to sing and play.

 Charlie Jacobson returned to play drums for a song. But as King usually does triple duty on vocals, percussion and guitar, it was nice to see him take centre stage and just sing and play rhythm guitar on a  set  of mostly original  blues music including my favourite “ Busy Boy Blues.”

 

 He and the band started with a long jam on “Mellow Down Easy,” and took off from there, playing plenty of greasy riffs and growling vocals like   he was channelling the spirit of Dr. John.

“Busy Boy Blues was a highlight as was “Surprise.” 

  King topped off the night’s donations including that from a silent auction for a cool print of Harpdog Brown, to make a $2,000 donation to Harpdog Brown’s family.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

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Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 May 2022 17:07 )