Over the next 10 weeks, Oregonians will have the opportunity to assist our neighbors in Louisiana who are being impacted by the oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico … and hear some of the best music Portland has to offer in the process. Gulfsongs Oregon is a music performance series that will raise money to benefit selected non-profit organizations actively involved in oil spill recovery and assistance. This effort is about helping people in the parishes of south Louisiana who are being directly affected economically.
More shows are being booked weekly as part of the series. On July 30th Gulfsongs moves to Duff’s Garage for a Gulf Coast roadhouse rocking night with Rich Layton & The Troublemakers and Billy D & The Hoodoos. There are August dates at Sam Bonds Garage in Eugene, The Woods and another show at the White Eagle. September brings Gulfsongs to the Doug Fir, Mississippi Studios, and a blues extravaganza in conjunction with the Cascade Blues Association at the Trails End Saloon. Stay tuned to Oregon Music News and Gulfsongs Oregon for complete information on upcoming events.
Oregon Music News is Gulfsongs Oregon exclusive online media sponsor, and Gulfsongs would not be possible without the great support from the Cascade Blues Association, Amanda Gresham’s Delta Music Experience – which provided table space at the Waterfront Blues Festival, music publicist Alex Steininger, Stacy DeHart of Perfect Pitch Booking, artists Tim Huggins and Jay Martin, our local venues and musicians, and a group of dedicated volunteers from inside and out of the Portland music community.
Gulfsongs Oregon is also actively seeking organizational underwriting to provide acknowledgment of the contributions made by the musicians to this effort and to help extend the reach of Gulfsongs Oregon to other venues in the Northwest.
Swamp rock is where “roots meets country meets rock somewhere in the Everglades,” according to Rob Barteletti, who for the past five years has enticed many a talented musician to perform at his annual Shakers’ Ball–a benefit concert for local Parkinson’s disease organizations. Oregon Music News is the media sponsor of this year’s Shakers’ Ball which will be at McMenamins Kennedy School on the afternoon of Sunday, May 2nd and will feature 100% swamp rock.
Bart Ferguson
Show promoter Rob Barteletti was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2002 and seldom performs anymore. This means the highlight of this show will be when Barteletti, a retired Jesuit High teacher, dusts off his guitar to play a few of his songs with Kerosene Dream/Strangers front man Bart Ferguson, a Jesuit High grad.
“I brought two of my best friends in the PDX music scene on board for the show [Rob Stroup and Nick Peets],” says Barteletti. “Nick is a remarkable songwriter and has one of the most incredible voices I’ve ever heard. He spends more time writing than performing, so it’s a special treat to get him on stage for this event. I guess you could say that for this year’s Shakers’ Ball, we’re keeping the music in the family. We’re all writing ’swamp music’ these days, so swamp-rock it is.”
Nick Peets
Peets will borrow Rob Stroup’s band The Blame for this set. Besides Stroup (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), this night will feature Tim Huggins (bass, background vocals), Bob Dunham (lead guitar) and Anders Bergstrom (drums).
Parkinson’s is a serious disease that is a chronic, progressive, and incurable neurological movement disorder marked by tremors and The Shakers’ Ball is a yearly benefit concert in Portland that is put on by and for those who suffer from the tremors. The motto for this benefit party highlights why so many people enjoy Barteletti’s company: “Sometimes when faced with a serious illness, one of the best things you can do is laugh.”
The symptoms of Parkinson’s can be managed, but right now no cure is in sight. “Money is still the bottom line both for continued research as well as support for those of us who may not be able to wait for a cure,” says Barteletti. “That’s why I host this event each year-to do my small part to help in this battle.”
Swamp Rocker Barteletti
Thus far, Barteletti has released a solo album, Old Sombrero (a collaboration with Reina Collins), Even If I Fall, and last year he put out Steady Girl (a collaboration with Paula Sinclair). Barteletti and friends are currently spending time at Rob Stroup’s 8 Ball Studio recording a full length album to be called Tremors, which will feature a different Northwest artist singing on every one of his songs. Vocalists who have or will cut tracks of Barteletti’s songs include Storm Large, Pete Droge, Mike Coykendall, Casey Neill, Fernando, Ian Moore, Bart Ferguson, Steve Wilkinson, Ken DeRouchie, Nick Peets, and Rob Stroup.
When asked about the expected release of the new record, Barteletti said, “Probably at next year’s Shakers’ Ball.” In the meantime, there is a swamp rock party for us all to attend this year.
You wouldn’t know it by his rock star looks but Portland producer Rob Stroup is a Cascade country guy for sure. He was raised in the small Bible-belt town of Newberg Oregon; home to hay fields, wine country, dairies and hazelnuts, and at some point Stroup, the accomplished producer/singer-songwriter grew up, lost his religion, pulled up roots and moved to the hip music town of Portland…and he owns that decision to leave. Blame Rob Stroup.
Listen to Rob Stroup in his band The Blame on “Glass Ceilings.”
Rob first came to popular attention in Oregon with his alternative country band The Baseboard Heaters which transitioned him to a successful music career. These days Rob spends his time recording other artists’ music at his 8 Ball Studio and playing in his band Rob Stroup and The Blame. Although he must work some odd hours as his weekends are usually booked up with clients, for the last seven years Rob has enjoyed the hard earned luxury of working exclusively in the music business, which means unlike most folks in the music industry, he has no day job working for ‘the man’. His career focus is on the studio work which allows Rob to play music for the love of it.
Stroup definitely puts some of his groceries on the table with his commercial advertising work and although he is known as a Rock/Roots/Pop producer, 8 Ball Studio has gained critical respect throughout the Oregon music community. Rob has skillfully and creatively produced the recordings of artists from many different genres. From Kory Quinn, the foot-stompin’, train jumpin’ hobo, to the traditional Jewish music of Oya Baby and the Melting Pot sounds of Leslie Kernochan of Vagabond Opera, Rob Stroup covers the musical spectrum. Other recording artists that have come through 8 Ball Studio include Will West, Tyler Stenson, Tony Furtado, Steve Wilkinson, Scott Fisher, Rob Bartelletti, Pilsr French, Paul Sinclair, Nick Peets, Mission 5, Joshua James, Jennifer Lynn, Debra Arlan, and Andrew Calhoun. With a roster like this it is no wonder that 8 Ball Studio has such a great word-of-mouth reputation-you just don’t find pros like this by surfing the yellow pages.
The word on the street is that 8 Ball studio is comfortable, professional and well equipped. Within the studio stands instruments such as a grand piano, Hammond B-3 organ & Leslie cabinet, and a plethora of new and vintage guitars and amps. Rob often records musicians “live” where the whole band plays at once rather than in isolated tracks which can be intimidating even to seasoned musicians.
8 Ball is a digital recording studio where the recording, producing and mixing is all accomplished via Rob Stroup. This means that when a CD comes out, the artists can take ownership of the musicianship, songs and vocals but when it comes to production…Blame Rob Stroup. This producer is quick to point out that he is blessed with the amazing contributions of Tim Huggins, who also happens to be the smokin’ bass player and back-up vocalist in The Blame. A computer and web guy by trade, Tim has designed several state of the art Web sites associated with Rob’s work and lends his business administration talents and musical collaboration skills (among other things) to The Blame and 8 Ball projects.
Rob Stroup is currently finishing up a recording project for Rob Bartelletti. Members from across the music community have donated their talents and skills at no charge for this record which is intended bring more of Mr. Baretlietti’s music to the world and will benefit the Parkinson’s Foundation. Blame Rob for bringing together the studio and producer time, administration, publicity, manufacturing as well as cameo appearances by vocal greats such as Storm Large, Pete Droge, Mike Coykendall, Casey Neill, Fernando, Ian Moore, Bart Ferguson, Steve Wilkinson, Ken DeRouchie, and Nick Peets.
Stroup and the band will be playing at the 6TH Annual Shakers’ Ball, also a benefit for local Parkinson’s organizations on Sunday, May2, 2:5:30pm at the Kennedy School gym. Donations are $10 at the door for all adults; ages 16-and-under are admitted free.
Barteletti, founder and host, promises that the music at this year’s event will be “swampier than usual kind of roots-meets-country-meets-rock somewhere in the Everglades.” He calls it “SwampRock.”
“This year the music will be more or less one genre. In the past, it has been a musical smorgasbord but this year,” Barteletti says, “I brought two of my best friends in the PDX music scene on board for the show: Rob Stroup and his band, The Blame, and Nick Peets and his band. We’re all writing ’swamp music’ these days, so SwampRock it is!”
OMN is happy to be a sponsor of the Shakers’ Ball. Look for our coverage as we get closer to the event.
Oregon music producer Rob Stroup does fabulous work with the Northwest music world and let’s hope he sticks around Portland rather than going back to his roots in Yamhill county where real cowboys sport Wranglers and roper boots while they shop the biggest Wilco Farm Store in Oregon.
The Blame play every second Saturday at Biddy McGraw’s and are manufacturing their first studio album as this article goes to press.
Rob Stroup and the Blame and The Redeemed Sat. May 11, Biddy McGraw’s, 9:00, 21+, Free
It was second Saturday and The Blame & The Redeemed played their usual double bill at Biddy McGraw’s Irish Pub last weekend. The frosting on this ongoing monthly concert is that there is extra Guinness in it for everyone because their show is always free! How lovely to be able to go out and see music for a short visit and not pay cover.
Rob Stroup and The Blame
The Blame had the opening set and started out quietly with just Mr. Stroup and his guitar, which was a great segue for the dining and conversing crowd. Joined by his three band mates, Rob Stroup and The Blame moved through their set of songs; some with a Dylanesqe folk rockness to them, some with a dash of JJ Cale, and a few songs that were “one pork-pie hat away from the blues” according my fellow writer Karen Fox who joined me that night.
I had an opportunity to chat with Renaissance man Rob Stroup at the show. Look for an interview later this season as part of my Oregon Music Producer Series. Rob is well-known about town for the recording and producer work he pops out of his 8 Ball Studio. There is an upcoming full length album for The Blame and a preview of some of their yummy songs can be found on their website linked below.
The Redeemed
As The Blame played their tasty and cleverly crafted music, The Redeemed started rolling into the room. Front man Steve Lockwood looked like a Russian poet in his plaid and faux fur overcoat and his bandmates were looking hot as ever in their rockabilly jeans, chain wallets and duck-ass hair cuts. Once The Redeemed hit the stage, that pedal steel let the listener know straight away that this is a country band. Yes, there’s a little rockabilly from time to time (stand up bass player Ivan helps certainly helps here), a few songs leaning towards the blues and a rock-tinged murder ballad here and there, but The Redeemed are definitely on a country cruise. Hard core fans of Lockwood’s 90’s era Haymaker songs were singing along to some of his old tunes that have now morphed into toe tapping country ditties. The Redeemed is a fine example of the cascade country music that is coming out of the Northwest these days.
Biddy’s has free music often which might explain the always interesting and well mixed crowd that seems to be one half neighborhood walk-ins and the other half inner-city hipsters. Too bad the condescending and suspendered bartender refused to look up from his hour-long newspaper read to greet patrons or explain that the food and beverage service is from the bar. The fish and chips were as good as any take-away in Dublin (so plentiful we are going to share a plate next time) and the friendly kitchen help that served our food and bussed our table made it only a little less irritating that the bartender continued to ignore us and everyone else by text messaging and drinking his half quart of milk straight from the carton. Once the music began, a second little gal bartender showed up to clean up the bar and dining room that the slacker had ignored, and she smiled sweetly to guests and offered beverages proactively. Good thing because this Irish girl needs her Bushmills!
Opening for Matthew Price was fellow singer/songwriter Justin Jude. Although Justin did a fine job of warming up the crowd with a partial collection of his own original songs, this night belonged to Matthew Price.
Matthew played all the songs on his new CD and then went on to show off some of his newly written material that is surely destined for his next album. Aside from the great music, it was just as enjoyable watching Matthew stop between each song to express genuine appreciation to all those involved in his success, giving some insight into his songwriting process.
Although Matthew performed a few songs solo, he was backed by some real musical pros: Rob Stroup on drums and percussion, bassist John Preis, and Nate Hagen on lead guitar.
On February 5th, Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre will be the setting for what Matthew Price says “will truly be a celebration of a giant step in my musical journey.” Matthew is an award-winning songwriter from Silverton, Oregon, and his experiences growing up in rural Oregon can be heard and felt in so many of his original songs.
His Salem gig is a CD release concert for Stranded and a celebration where “I will be backed by an incredible group of musicians,” says Matthew on his MySpace. “Rob Stroup on drums, Nate Hagen on guitar, and Jon Preis on bass. I feel fortunate to be playing with these talented guys.”
Matthew Price will also be taking his “freewheeling folk rock” to local and national venues in the weeks and months to come.
Matthew also adds, “You have already made the album the #1 Oregon album on CD Baby, with your help I think we can make this one of the best shows of the year in Salem. I can’t thank you enough for all the support. I hope to see you on February 5th!”
Doors open at 6:45 PM and the show will begin at 7:30 PM. Tickets are available for $8 in advance or $13 for an advance ticket plus CD. Tickets will also be sold for $12 at the door on the day of the show.
This weekend, Someday Lounge will present Carnivale Americana, a two-day event showcasing the world-class talent of Portland Americana acts, all paying tribute to the late Scotland Barr. This is a feel good show as 100% of the show profits go to temporary housing at the Homeless Families Warming Center and Human Solutions .
A few months ago, Portland lost singer/songwriter Scotland Barr to cancer. This two-day extravaganza highlighting some of his songs begins on Friday night January 22 with shows from: that band whose members all have the same last name, Tango Alpha Tango; scenester psychedelic country guy Rob Bonds (aka Highway); and Portland’s rock and roll hero Brian Berg (44 Long).
Later this year, Scotland Barr’s band The Slow Drags will release a double CD, We Will Be Forgotten, which Scotland was racing to finish before his death “for so many reasons,” according to Scotland. The Slow Drags will play songs from this upcoming album.
Listen to Rob Stroup in his band The Blame on “Glass Ceilings.”
CASEY NEILL
Saturday, January 23 will sport a second day and a powerful lineup with a duet from Norway Rat Casey Neill and Portland’s country music princess Little Sue, and sets from arena power popster Steve Wilkinson (Mission 5, Gravelpit), Steve Lockwood’s cowboy act The Redeemed, the rich americana of The Blame featuring Rob Stroup (8 Ball Studios), and a solo set from singer/songwriter/producer Mike Coykendall (Old Joe Clarks).
The Slow Drags band leader and singer-songwriter, Scotland Barr (Scott Moritz), left this place way too early, passing away on September 1, 2009.
A huge loss to music fans in the Cascade area and beyond, the self-described boozy-style vocalist wrote such great songs that other singers want to interpret them. Cats from Oregon’s country and rock scenes gathered at the musician’s wake and gave Scotland’s friends and family a snapshot of how his songs will carry on.
Listen to Scotland’s “Saving Grace” produced by Rob Stroup.
The bitter-sweet of Scotland’s life story is that he learned of his illness just over a year before he died. Scotland was gifted a rare opportunity to prioritize his musical personal, and business life. He married his long time sweetie and obtained far-reaching distribution for his Aardvark Habanero hot sauce.
The prolific song-smith booked studio time and laid many of his songs down forWe Will Be Forgotten (his next record) and beyond. The Slow Drags intend to release this follow-up to their most recent and critically acclaimed albumThe Great Aviator’s Agree and are accepting donations to do so on their website.
You wouldn’t know it by his rock star looks but Portland producer 
Stroup definitely puts some of his groceries on the table with his commercial advertising work and although he is known as a Rock/Roots/Pop producer, 8 Ball Studio has gained critical respect throughout the Oregon music community. Rob has skillfully and creatively produced the recordings of artists from many different genres. From Kory Quinn, the foot-stompin’, train jumpin’ hobo, to the traditional Jewish music of Oya Baby and the Melting Pot sounds of Leslie Kernochan of Vagabond Opera, Rob Stroup covers the musical spectrum. Other recording artists that have come through 8 Ball Studio include Will West, Tyler Stenson, Tony Furtado, Steve Wilkinson, Scott Fisher, Rob Bartelletti, Pilsr French, Paul Sinclair, Nick Peets, Mission 5, Joshua James, Jennifer Lynn, Debra Arlan, and Andrew Calhoun. With a roster like this it is no wonder that 8 Ball Studio has such a great word-of-mouth reputation-you just don’t find pros like this by surfing the yellow pages.
8 Ball is a digital recording studio where the recording, producing and mixing is all accomplished via Rob Stroup. This means that when a CD comes out, the artists can take ownership of the musicianship, songs and vocals but when it comes to production…Blame Rob Stroup. This producer is quick to point out that he is blessed with the amazing contributions of Tim Huggins, who also happens to be the smokin’ bass player and back-up vocalist in The Blame. A computer and web guy by trade, Tim has designed several state of the art Web sites associated with Rob’s work and lends his business administration talents and musical collaboration skills (among other things) to The Blame and 8 Ball projects.
The CD release party celebrating 
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