Photos

Thanks to the good folks at Dawson Taylor Downtown, a new batch of my photos are on display. 219 nth 9th, downtown.

1975

The Mighty Lions of '75 roared again last night. It was amazing, the women all still looked great. Us guys? We got old!

Since our class officers abandoned us, Ron Dalby(who better?) assembled a committee without a leader and off we went.

Bill Scalf �got the band together� and man did those guys make the years fall away.

Tonight we meet again, let you know.

Define Fine Dining

So what is up in the old Milfords space in BoDo? Rumor has it that a new local downtown resturantrese and her partner are looking seriously at the location. Being right across for PF Changs could be fun. Hopefully they can find the old fresh juicer. There is nothing better then a greyhound made with fresh squeezed grapefruit juice.

Thanks!

It was a glorious day in the park! The 14th annual Blues Society Picnic was a HUGE success. When we say we got a "ton of food." We mean it. At least 2000lbs will go to the Rescue Mission!

Blues music? Six hours! The kids from Boise High kicked it off with some very fine licks. Hope the Short Sided guys will keep it up. Caldwell's Next Exit played a fantastic blend of blues and blues rock. Lori B! was all B! all the time. Good thing her boys can keep up. Larry Conklin keep the traditional blues alive.

Headliner George Stancell was a delight, a nice man and a true "Bluesman." We were lucky to experience his talent.

It was a sad mix of longing and pleasure to be able to pour beer and listen to the Hoochies. Was not alone in missing the Blues Bouquet.

In an earlier column, I mentioned the return of Neighbor Dave. His heartfelt set was the reason we were there. Mine were not the only teary eyes in the crowd. Dave, thank you for finding the way back to the spotlight.

A big thank you to all the media that helped promote the show. KBOI�s Chris Walton and Bryan Harris were their professional best. They made Lori B! and I sound great on �Weekend Idaho� Saturday morning. Not an easy task!

The Blues are ALIVE.

WANT TO LEARN MORE? Click the Boise Blues Society LINK on this page.

If you don't go. . . Don't bitch.

It's just around the corner you blues lovers out there!� Our annual summertime picnic is Sunday, July 17th at Julia Davis Park (near the zoo and the boat rentals) and runs from noon to 6 PM.� Bands include Headliner Gorgeous George Stancell, the Hoochie Coochie Men, Lori B! and the Boys, Next Exit, Neighbor Dave, Larry Conklin, and Short Sided.� Details on the BBS website.�www.boiseblues.org. Check out the Friday Statesman "Scene" and the Idaho Press Tribune's "MORE" sections for additional coverage.�If you don't go, you can't bitch about not having any good live music for a YEAR>>>

Bipolar Boise

In one area you have, lots of families, water, fun, sun, beer and is in the very middle of the city. The other? Some say is not even in the city, but is about the same. In one area there is drinking, dancing and carrying on. Even a couple of drunks. The other? Mostly laid back, a lazy afternoon. At one rich, Yuppy types buy $4.00 beers. The other? The less fortunate drink $4.00 six packs.

The city of Boise has banned drinking on the Boise river. Why not the Grove at events like Alive After Five. The only real difference? Boise City MAKES money selling beer to a fancier crowd at the Grove. What hypocrisy.

Heard it on the Radio

Lori B! and Nancy McIntosh will be on the River morning show Friday morning promoting the BBS picnic. Saturday morn, Ms. B! and myself are booked at 7:30 on KBOI. (insert jokey comment here)

Caldwell Blues

The 8th annual Caldwell "Blues in the Park" is August 12th &13th. This year the fest has expanded to two days. Fridays featured act is Eddy Shaw and the Wolfgang. Saturdays the headliner will be Chris Bell. Cheap at twice the price. $15.00 in advance for both days. Lucky Boise Blues Members get 1/2 off.

Exclusive interview-John Nemeth

WWW.BOISEE.COM Exclusive With Sandon's sax playing in the background it was a pleasant surprise to look up and see John (Forever to be called Fat) Nemeth walk in the restaurant. So I bought him a drink and ask a couple of questions.

John is doin' fantastic. How about this gig. The buzz in San Francisco was so loud that an agent from Thailand hired John to do month on a private isle. Here is his week, hang out all day, play a fiery FORTY minute set, repeat. On Friday he has a long day, the show is televised (Austin City Limits-Bancook style) so John works a whole hour. When he got a little bored with all the work they sent his fiancee over for a couple of weeks.

Songs? Is John still using that rapier wit to write lyrics. "I got a million of 'em!, I love to write about love lost."

How about a new CD? "My current CD is still selling well, especially in Europe. " John and I talked about the music biz and he told me that he'll likely have a record company for the next project. "They have the time and marketing power to promote sales and deliver product. I'm still shipping from my apartment."

John told me he is in town for just a couple of days before heading to play all the hot spots in SF. After that John is headed to Europe for another month in the early fall.

Can't say I'm surprised at John's success. He has the prefect combination of tenacity, style, talent and drive to be a superstar. Even back when he was in high school and playing on the lake in Lake Harbor with the slim Moore brothers, Nemeth had the fire in his eye. Over the years, countless hours of stage time, his dedication to learning his craft and the history of the blues have seasoned John's talent. Soon the whole world can see what Boise audiences have seen for years. John can flat blow.

Shh!

It�s a secret!

The best jazz in Boise may be at Pair on Tuesday night,. Saxman Sandon Mayhew and his trio play light but up-tempo licks from till 7:00 to 10:00 every Tuesday @ Pair, 601 Main. Cool Man Cool.

Condos

When you don�t know where you are going it is not hard to find your way. �You just need to blow the stink off.� Not sure what my friend meant, but he was right. So I pointed the little red car east and headed down the highway. Along the way found a man named Arizona in Lime, saw falling water from the top, watched the sun set a couple of times, danced with waves, rode a duck on fathers day and lived well.

Whizzing by at 80 you miss all the good stuff, go to the blue highways. Blue highways are the side roads, �old highway 57 or 8.� They dance along the freeways and used to carry the main load. Now these 'scenic by-ways' roll in and out of little towns past barns painted with Pepsi signs to closed gas stations were Gas Jockeys once waited to wash your windows and fill your tank with Ethel.

Here is one of the adventures.

Took I-84 to Lime, the old concert factory has always fascinated me. When I was a kid the old road old went right through the factory. A huge slew ran over the highway and it was scary to go under. My dad would always make sure to tell us a wild story about it breaking open and crushing a car. Now the factory has been moved down the road and the massive concrete towers stand silently.

�They call me Arizona,� he smiled. Sitting high in his old Ford truck the laugh lines around his eyes bold under his straw hat, a hat almost as stained as his chew stained teeth. Together this man and his truck tell the tail of a fading past. A past when rugged men and equipment, gouged and bullied the land to build the west. Now Arizona is working for an investor who is going to convert the massive concrete holding towers into Condos. Condos for Gawds sake. In the middle of Oregon? That�s where all the cowboys have gone, they are building condos in the middle of no where!

Dirty?

It is dirty, actually got one right. The new bar where Diggy Base was is called, as predicted- Dirty Little Roddy�s. They even have a smattering of doors. Left the knobs on which should help with beer spillage. Did see a couple of peanut shells around. Guess we will see. Can�t imagine the bar having half the charm of the old Roddys.

Fall

Not sure of this connection so I will just post just one photo of the Multinomah falls. More to follow.

BBS Picnic

�I would pay any amount of money, just to hear a couple of good blues bands!� This a statement I have heard a 1000 times lately. So how about a whole afternoon of blues for TWO CANS OF FOOD. For 14 years the Boise Blues society has been hosting the annual picnic, for the last several years it has been in the Julia David park. Next to the zoo, close to the boat rentals. This years line up is one of the best ever.

Long time blues fans will remember Neighbor Dave. Dave Green is one of those unique talents, a solo act that just lights up the stage. Dave�s lyrical voice has the edge of a man who has literally been to deaths door and found his way back. His songs speak of the love of a father, the haunting howl of a blood hound on the trail and a famous pig named Ashley. I would not miss his return to the stage for �all the tea. . .� You should not either.

Although she has not been gone as long we all miss Lori B! and her boys as well. Yes, it is beginning to sound like a party. Did I mention Nampa stars Next Exit. Hey, I�m just getting started here. The Hoochie Coohie men will do a set and then back up Gorgeous George Stancell. We'll kick off this deal with the fresh faces of Short Side. This is a bunch of Boise High students with the BLUES. Below is the flyer. Mark your calendars, bring a friend or two. We'll be talking about this picnic for years and years.

MS KITTY AT TERRY'S STATE STREET

Great news, the lovely Ms. Kitty is back behind the bar and better than ever. Go see her at Terry's State Street. Currently "the whistling girl" works nights the early part of the week. You can bet she will be pouring for the weekend crowds soon. P.S. if you do go on a weeknight, go early evening before the Karaoke starts.

Is it dirty, little Roddy?

As predicted a couple of months ago things are changing downtown after dark. The latest rumor? Diggy Base has closed and the Bistro folks will try to bring back one of Boise's greatest bars. In the 70�s the southeast corner 6th and Main held two great establishments. Jakes was a mid priced grille with a classic �Brunswick� back bar and the best wait staff in the city. Downstairs? The now legendary �Dirty Little Roddys�. What fun, I was just barley able to get in before it closed. It was cool while it lasted. The main decor was wooden doors on saw horses. You had to be careful not to set your beer glass in the hole that used to hold the door knob. Roddys was a dive bar. The classic dive, downstairs, a bit dark, full of interesting characters and cheap drinks. I miss those places. To sell more beer, DLR�s took the concept of giving you something salty to eat to extremes. Peanuts in the shell everywhere. Bet that old timers can still remember the distinctive crunch. In addition to peanuts, cheap sandwiches were available. I believe they wrapped them in butcher paper with a slice of pickle. Did I mention that the place was haunted. The legend was that in earlier times this basement was under the stage and dance hall were China Blue is now. A young actress was savagely murdered below the stage and her spirit never left. Old employees tell of moving glasses and strange flickering lights.

With today's fire, health, safety, and liquor laws, Roddys seems like something out of the wild west. Hopefully Ted and his crew can find something that will work in the disappointing Diggy space. A no frills, good cheap beer joint might be the ticket, but it will never be the dive that Dirty Little Roddys was.