The Preachers Play at the Starday Tavern and Leslie Milton turns 75

The Preachers trekked down to Portland, OR on July 19th to play at the Starday Tavern.  The Starday is located on Foster Road in Southeast Portland, and is owned by the same folks that own the popular Duff's Garage across town.

We had to slog through a 50-mile long traffic jam in Washington, that stretched from the Southcenter Mall to Olympia.  As usual, the backup in the southbound lanes appeared to be caused by people rubbernecking at an accident that occurred on the I-5 northbound lanes.  Once we passed the site of the accident on the other side of the freeway the traffic cleared out.

However, we made it to the club early enough to set up and relax for a little bit before the 9:00 PM downbeat.  The Starday is a small narrow bar with the stage located next to the front door and the front windows. A portion of space at the rear of the club is allocated to video gambling machines.  The club provides a small four channel PA system with flying speakers.

We played a two hour show to a small but appreciative audience that included several of Portland's fine musicians, plus our old friend Ray Varner, and Cascade Blues Association President Greg Johnson (he created the black and white photos below).  A special shout out to our friends Rob and Kristi (and friends) for always coming to our shows.  Thanks guys!

Here's a couple of photos from the Starday date:

Photo created by Greg Johnson

Stoop Down's got the blues!  Photo created by Greg Johnson.

In other news, our friend Leslie "Stardrums" Milton (aka: "Pops" or "The Miltonian Institute") is turning 75 years-old and they threw a big birthday party for him at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant yesterday.  A New Orleans native, Leslie has had quite a career recording with numerous artists in New Orleans and Los Angeles, and playing with many bands in the Seattle area including the Bluestars, the Slamhound Hunters, and Stardrums & Lady Keys.

I could only stay for a minute to wish Les happy birthday, but I did get a few photos while I was there:

Happy birthday, Les!

Eric "Two Scoops" Moore on the rocket 88s.

Guitarist Daddy Treetops with Bassist Mark Dalton and his wife Katha.

You can find out more about the Boneyard Preachers here.  See you at the nightclub!

Jet City Blues CD Review

By Mark Dalton

Decade of Soul – From the Soul by Star Drums and Lady Keys

Surely the longest running continuous gig that fits under the big tent of the Pacific Northwest Blues scene is that of New Orleans native Leslie “Stardrums” Milton and Gael “Lady Keys” Kurath at Everett’s Alligator Soul Creole restaurant. Leslie and Gael have had a regular Saturday night gig at this venue for over a decade – a “house band” gig of the kind that has almost completely vanished from the national horizon in this era of big street television and downloadable, disposable music.

I had the good fortune of growing up in an era when longer term engagements were much more common – when setting up equipment for at least two nights, and often four or five was the rule, rather than the succession of one-nighters scattered around the area, which is the nearly invariable situation today. Longer engagements allowed a band to settle in and get to know their audience, and vice versa. I once played a five-night-a-week job with Tom McFarland that lasted eight months, and during that time we got to feel like part of the family at the Boulder Café on First Avenue… a very strange, intriguing, and sometimes scary family – but an experience I’ll never forget!

This live CD captures the warm relationship that has developed between this duo and their audience very well. Stardrums and Lady Keys sound relaxed and happy here, confident of their acceptance by the enthusiastic crowd. The material covers quite a range; from Louis Armstrong’s “Wonderful World” to the country standard “Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You” to the New Orleans classic “Junko Partner.” Standout tunes for me include Leslie’s sly version of “Little Red Rooster,” and the Guitar Slim classic “The Things That I Used to Do” (with stinging guest guitar by Walter Young), and Gael’s rollicking takes on “I Want to Be Loved” and “Madam Kicks,” and the scolding “Don’t Lie to Me” (with Mike Lynch taking a great harp solo). Other good tunes here include Marcia Ball’s “Red Beans,” Larry Davis’ “Texas Flood” (made popular by Stevie Ray Vaughan), Willie Dixon’s classic “I’m Ready,” and Leslie’s unique reading of “Tennessee Waltz.”

This is a pair of consummate entertainers. Leslie Milton is one of the finest drummers ever to hit a Northwest stage, and Lady Keys’ two-fisted piano playing shines throughout. I’m thinking you should head out to Alligator Soul some Saturday night soon; get yourself some good Cajun food, settle back and get into this joyful show! And if you like what you hear (and I guarantee you will), pick up a copy of this CD and take them home with you.

Originally from Nebraska, Mark Dalton moved to Seattle in the early '70s. He is an accomplished bassist and stalwart bluesman. He currently plays with Chris Stevens' Surf Monkeys. Photo by Ronda Lee.

The Miltonian Institute turns 70

On July 19th I drove up to the Alligator Soul Restaurant to participate in the 70th birthday party for the Miltonian Institute. No, it's not a financial instution, it's the name I came up with years ago to describe the musical entertainment dynamo that is better known by the name of Leslie "Star Drums" Milton." A native of New Orleans, Leslie has been active on the Seattle blues scene since the late '70s, when he played with the band BlueLights (which also included the now well-known keyboardist Chuck "Barrelhouse Chuck" Goering and Seattle guitarist Daddy Treetops).

The Alligator Soul recently moved to a new, larger facility on Everett's Broadway street. Leslie, resplendent in a canary yellow jacket and matching shoes, and his musical partner keyboardist Gael "Lady Keys" Kurath were set up on a nice large stage, and during the evening were joined by several guests, including another drummer, a bassist, guitarist, plus Seattle blues harpists Kim Field and yours truly. Leslie and Lady keys have been playing at the Alligator Soul every Saturday now for 10 years - the last time I saw them was at the old location years ago when my band was playing up the street at the now defunct Horseshoe Restaurant.

Leslie "Star Drums" Milton and Gael "Lady Keys" Kurath

Leslie Milton

Kim Field and Leslie Milton

Leslie has played with just about everybody over the years, including Johnny Otis, Lee Dorsey, Sonny & Cher, and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band, and Seattle's Slamhound Hunters and the Isaac Scott Band, to name just a few. He and Lady Keys and friends put on a great show for a full house of well-wishers. Man, I hope that I've got half of Leslie's energy when I turn 70!

Happy birthday, Pops!