Harmonica Blowout Weekend w/ James Montgomery & Rockn' Jake

Harmonica Blowout Weekend

Read Details Below 

Friday - James Montgomery

Saturday - Rockn' Jake

Both shows start @ 9:30

Tickets not on Sale Online

Tickets Only sold @ the door the night of the show

Limited Seating 1st come first serve

James Montgomery

When blues legend James Montgomery plays the harmonica, he "brings it on home". Whether it's recording with Kid Rock, sitting in with Gregg Allman, or fronting his hot band of thirty years, Montgomery plays with authority. While growing up in Detroit he learned first-hand from the masters - James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, and Jr. Wells - at the legendary "Chessmate." Over the years, he's carried on in the tradition and continues to be a vital presence in Blues as one of the most dynamic performers on the scene.

In 1970, while attending Boston University, Montgomery formed the James Montgomery Band. His inimitable (oh yeah, he majored in English) harmonica playing combined with his incredibly energetic live shows led to the band's quick ascension on the New England music scene. Within two years, the James Montgomery band was among the hottest acts in Boston along with J. Geils and Aerosmith, and they were quickly signed to a multi-album deal with Capricorn Records.

Since that time, James has recorded six albums. His first, "First Time Out" has been remastered and re-released by MRG/Capricorn. Other include "James Montgomery Band" on Island Records which was number nine on Billboard's national playlist, "Duck Fever" with members of the David Letterman Band, "Live Trax," with the Uptown Horns (the Rolling Stones' horn section), and his release on Tone-Cool, "The Oven Is On."

Montgomery has toured with many major artists, including Aerosmith, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, the Allman Brothers, Steve Miller and others. He has jammed on stage with B.B.King, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Jr. Wells, James Cotton, Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, Greg Allman, Laverne Baker, Patti LaBelle, and Peter Wolf among others, including an impromptu session with Mick Jagger at New York's "Trax".

Over the years Montgomery's band has been a springboard for many musicians. Members of his band have included Billy Squire, Wayne Kramer (MC-5), Jeff Golub (Rod Stewart), Jim McCarty (Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels), Nunzio Signore Bo Diddley), Jeff Pevar (Ray Charles Orchestra, Crosby, Stills & Nash), Bobby Chouinard (drummer with Ted Nugent, Squire and Robert Gordon), Jeff Levine (Joe Cocker), Aerosmith's Tom Gambel, and many others.

Regarding the Johnny Winter Band featuring James Montgomery, the Nashville Tennessean writes "If ever the time came to use two "legendary" tags in one story, it is to describe both Winter and Montgomery. They are blues masters of the first and highest degree" The James Montgomery/Johnn Winter combination has worked out beyond anyone's hopes. Since Johnny asked James to join his band along with Scott Spray and Wayne June his shows have been remarkable. Johnny is having his best time playing in many years. He puts his heart and soul into each performance, most of which sell out. The audiences have all been pleased. The highlight in the US, a packed house at Chicago's House of Blues attended by Johnny's old buddy Pinetop Perkins. Look for James and Johnny to go to the House of Blues in LA in January as part of a West Coast tour, and to Istanbul Turkey in the summer as part of a European tour that ends in Norway

Rockn' Jake

Rockin' Jake has been hailed by many as one of the premier harmonica players in the country. His original sound is a hybrid of second line, swamp funk, blues and zydeco with influences from Paul Butterfield, Big Walter Horton, James Cotton, Muddy Waters, J. Geils Band, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Jake has conjured up this formula that is blowing crowds away from coast to coast. Widely known as a touring juggernaut among his peers, his schedule of over 200 performances per year include clubs, concert venues, and festivals.

Originally from the East Coast, the "blues bug" bit at an early age for Jake. He immersed himself in the thriving regional blues scene, which boasted such talents as Roomful of Blues, Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard and Sugar Ray. Primarily self-taught, Jake briefly studied with Jerry Portnoy, harmonica player for Muddy Waters.

In 1990, Jake moved to New Orleans where he began to work with such notable New Orleans mainstays as: blues diva Marva Wright, Mem Shannon, Coco Robicheaux, Little Freddie King, Tommy Ridgley, Eddie Bo and other local legends. During this time Jake also toured nationally with G. Love & Special Sauce, blues and pop legend Maria Muldaur as well as logging international miles with bluesman T.J, Wheeler. He was selected to perform in an all-star band featuring blues legends Pinetop Perkins and Hubert Sumlin at the Howlin' Wolf.

In 1995 he formed the Rockin' Jake Band as an outlet for his original music and his unique swampy sounds. One year later Jake recorded his debut CD, "Let's Go Get 'Em" (on Rabadash Records) which earned him national recognition. In 1999 Jake produced "Badmouth", on Zuluzu records followed by "Full-Time Work" in 2002 on the same label. It included an all-star cast of musicians such as John Gros (Papa Grows Funk), Ron Johnson (Karl Denson's Tiny Universe), Bryan Stoltz (the funky Meters), Ben Ellman and Theryl "Houseman" de Clouet (Galactic). In the spring of 2004 he recorded his band’s first live cd.  Over four days in Key West, Florida at the Green Parrot he and his band record “5 p.m. Breakfast” on Zuluzu records. Jake's work has also been heard on the soundtrack of "The Big Easy" television series, the theme for the "Mike Ditka Show, " and a Miller Beer commercial.

He is a five-time winner of 2004 Off Beat Magazine's coveted “Best of the Beat” award for best harmonica player. Jake is truly a hard working musician with extraordinary talent. He and his band pour out their souls in every performance with high energy and electricity which consistently brings the audience to their feet.

In his spare time Jake managed to snare some culinary kudos in New Orleans, taking the trophy for "Best Barbequed Brisket" at the 1999 New Orleans Musicians Barbeque Competition, and launching his own line of signature hot sauce: "Badmouth" (the edible version)..."man it's hot!"...just like the band! Jake also takes time to give back to his New Orleans community with Project Prodigy Music Camp for children as well as the Blues in the Schools programs in New Orleans and other cities in the US.

Our New Upstairs Lounge is Now Open!!