Once again, this Thursday, August 23^th, the Outlook features yet another amazing blueswoman (having recently hosted the incomparable Kelly Richey for two amazing nights).  Mary Jones Russell, originally from East Texas, has played with everyone in the blues world, paying dues most of us can only imagine.  She’s local now, and we are damn lucky.  Playing the guitar and composing her own music since adolescence, she is experienced and seasoned in the blues world.  Her vocals are reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt, and she can handle a guitar with numbing expertise.  Come on out Thursday night and get your blues on with one of Colorado’s best.  http://www.maryjonesrussell.com/

And on August 31^st, we welcome the green.  Having not hit the quarter-century mark yet, Max Allen is green in years, but one would never know it by listening to his determined lyrics and intricate guitar work.  With four CDs to his credit already, and frequently being compared to Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Johnny Lang, he is a quickly-rising star with the talent and discipline to be around for decades.  This will be his first gig at the Outlook, so join us as we witness the early musical history of an artist who will be around, and huge, for years to come.  This kid’s got it. http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.asp?epk_id=14132

For those of you with the great misfortune of missing John Németh the other night, we pity you.  Mr. Németh is the caliber of artist one rarely encounters.  We at the Outlook refer to him as The Voice.  Yes, he can wail on a harp with exceptional skill, but that voice.  And his original songs are stupendous, rendered with passion, humor, and a notable level of confidence and skillfulness.  He’ll be back at the Outlook in the Spring.  Stay tuned, as he’s another young man the world will know and crave.  http://www.johnnemethblues.com/

And one more reminder; Tuesday and Wednesday, August 28^th and 29^th, the bayou again pays visit to Boulder in the form of Alvin Youngblood Hart.  We cannot emphasize enough the power of this musician.  When he hits those first few notes, the present and all its laden reality give way to another time, another place, with humidity, crickets, and the reverberation of old juke joints where the blues faithful would gather to learn and outdo each other.  Anyone would be hard pressed to outdo Alvin Youngblood Hart.  He brings the history of the blues to his performances.  Do yourself a favor and go on Tuesday; that way you will find out for yourselves and will want to go on Wednesday as well.  Trust!   http://www.mojomusic.com/alvin/

Friday the 24^th the Shuffletones bring their high-energy, jammin’ blues to the Outlook, a perfect way to decompress after a long work week.  Eat, drink, and dance, and let the Shuffletones do their job in eliminating the residual workweek stress.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arr_FZU891o

Glancing into September, on the 13^th, the Erica Brown Band returns to the Outlook.   The Erica Brown Band has been a Denver favorite for years.  Lucky Denver.  Boulder, however, is catching up, and with semi-regular gigs at the Boulder Outlook Hotel, we’re going to out-fan Denver (we can be competitive).  The delicious Ms. Brown makes it easy by tearing the house down with a voice that would the turn the most jaded atheist into a true believer.  From where else could that voice have come?  The marvelous contradiction presented by this astoundingly first-rate, high-energy blues band is that when they perform, they chase away any and all blues from anyone within audible range.   When Brown takes the mic–clearly her “on” button–she could coax joy out of Dick Cheney.  It is oft said that comparisons are odious.  Be that as it may, they are frequently necessary to reveal a comprehensible depiction to the uninformed.  So, picture the moves of Tina Turner, the vocal range of Francine Reed, and the quick-witted, ad lib comedy of Robin Williams.  Brown was born to perform.  She’s like a cordless appliance and the stage is her charger.  Mark your calendars and tell your friends to put on their best dancing shoes.  We’ll see you there.  http://www.ericabrownband.com

Honey Sepeda, 8-22-07