by Mike Corrigan
Elsewhere in our magical city of endless entertainment options, we find at Boomerang's on Friday night a blues band invasion by the likes of local legends TOO SLIM AND THE TAILDRAGGERS and young upstarts AARON RICHNER AND THE BLUES DRIVERS. Then on Saturday, it's a double whammy of jazz/funk/rock jam action from former local boys SOUP OF THE DAY and Seattle's FLOWMOTION.
Tim "Too Slim" Langford, Tom Brimm and John Cage form one of the tightest, most versatile rocking blues units in the Northwest -- heck, they were named "Best Band in the Inland Northwest" by you, our readers, in this very issue. They've been at it for years and on track after track of their recent CD, King Size Troublemakers (on Portland's Burnside Records), the group's well developed chops and intuitive understanding of the musical form shine through. Aaron Richner may be barely old enough to order a beer, but his guitar playing and convincing vocals exhibit a depth rare in players twice his age. The band's CD Nothing to Lose showcases Richner's Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn inspired licks, solid songwriting and the well-oiled unit that is the Blues Drivers. Two scorching local blues bands in one show? Hot damn.
Saturday night's full-on jam orgy features two bands that have made a name for themselves around the Northwest with original compositions that rely on improvisation and extended instrumental forays. Though originally from the Inland Northwest, these days Soup of the Day firmly considers itself a Seattle band. The group (including bassist Geoff Larson, guitarists Ben Jahn and Cameron Newell, percussionist Justin Sorensen, kit drummer Nick Vincent-Mahoney and turntableist Andrew Fuller) has just released its first full-length CD, Four Feet High.
The guys in Flowmotion -- Josh Clauson (guitar), Colby Styles (drums), Jessie Kansanback (bass), Jason Holden (guitar) and Beau Borrero (congas, djembe) -- all sing and all beat on stuff creating one heck of a rhythmic racket. Their sound is wide-ranging, encompassing elements of jazz, country, blues, calypso and the occasional rap/ska interlude. If it jams, they're into it. If you're into it, you should get off your duff and head on down. F
Soup of the Day and Flowmotion play Boomerang's on Saturday, March 31, at 9 pm. Cover: $4. Call 994-7476. Too Slim and the Taildraggers and Aaron Richner and the Blues Drivers play Boomerang's on Friday, March 30, at 9 pm. Cover: $6. Call 994-7476.