Ok, I know I’m a couple of days late this week.  So sue me.

The Outlook hosted some illustrious talent last week, with even more to come.  I don’t know where to start.  Yes I do!

The Hammer Smith Band.  I have fallen in love with yet another harp virtuoso.  Chris “Hammer” Smith has such a tremendous command over the harp, that on more than a few moments, had I not been able to see, I would have assumed I was listening to Jason Ricci.  Although stylistically unique, there are many similarities between the two masters.  My favorite difference between them is that Hammer is old school.  He sticks to the blues.

He also juggles the guitar and harp like a seasoned circus performer, making it look effortless.  Jerry Deall and I sat in awe of this band.  They don’t have a following out here yet, but they will.  More on this band soon.

Then, on Saturday night, the Mistress of the Blues took the stage and excited us all with her forte, both on harp and vocally.  She is a treasure and should be treated as such, and I’m one happy Blues Bee that she is becoming an Outlook regular.  With her throaty vocals and clever lyrics rendered with perfect delivery, she seizes the audience within seconds, and never lets go.  And if all that weren’t enough, we all got to find out how generous she is. 

Let me explain.  The Mistress broke out the “Happy Birthday” for Animal, her drummer (and husband), and about midway through invited us to join in.  We did, and we were all getting into the birthday greeting when suddenly from somewhere in the middle of the room we heard it.  I was sitting with Jerry Deall (who sat in a bit later), Jim Primock, Anna, the renowned cake-baker, and Jenn Cleary, and our five pairs of eyes and ears left the stage and scanned the audience trying to locate the nightingale among us.  She’s about six feet, so it didn’t take long.  Suddenly, The Mistress says, “Where are you, Pamela?”  Rising abruptly from her seat, the very tall Pamela Falcon stood and, at The Mistress’ insistence, headed toward the stage to help take “Happy Birthday” all the way home.  And back again.  And home again.  And back again.  I can’t remember a time when anyone, let alone an entire audience, refused to let that song end in a timely fashion. 

After that, The Mistress, hot on the heels of bestowing a blues name on yours truly, did the same for Pamela:  Pamela “Birdie” Falcon has landed.  On the stage at the Outlook.  The Mistress kept Birdie up for most of the evening, and the two of them went to town!  They had as much fun as the audience, and by the end of the evening I had convinced Birdie to join us for the blues jam the following evening, and the announcement was made. 

I sent Lionel Young and Mark Diamond a heads up email, and spent most of Sunday in rapt anticipation of that voice.  By the time Lionel called her up (Mark was elsewhere), the place was getting crowded and ready, and she thrilled as I knew she would.  She spent the majority of the evening on stage, once again having more fun than is probably legal. 

Pamela “Birdie” Falcon is an American, from New York, but who has called Düsseldorf, Germany home for the last decade.  However, one never knows when she’ll be ready to come “home,” and as her brother lives in Boulder, this is more than likely where the Birdie will alight.   I’m hoping.

I know there has been a lot of focus on the Women of the Blues lately, but what can I say?  They’re happening!  The next big female happening in our state is the incomparable Kelly Richey.  She’s taking the stage at 7:30 next Tuesday, May 20^th.  Incomparable.  That is the perfect word. 

It’s tempting to write about her as one of the best female guitarists around, but she’s one of the best around period, gender notwithstanding.  Kelly Richey can more than hold her own sharing a stage with, well, fill in any name of any guitarist and there’s your answer.  She’ll be coming back on June 13^th, but that night will cost you.  On Tuesday, there won’t be a cover, but you might as well mark your calendars for 6/13 as well, ‘cuz you’ll want more.  I also urge our regular artists to come down and support Kelly.  She’s building a fan base here, and you’ll want to be part of that, trust.