Phantoms Of The Barrelhouse @ The Bistro

It's been a while since the last update. I've got a lot of catching up to do.

Last Friday, January 20th, I caught the Phantoms of the Barrelhouse at The Bistro in beautiful downtown Hayward. The Phantoms of the Barrelhouse are a fun band consisting of Barrelhouse Solly, Phil Harmonica, Scott Miller, Vic Vicena and Artie Chavez.

It was a really relaxing evening filled some old school Blues. Phil Harmonica was getting over a cold, so Barrelhouse Solly did most of the singing. He's a very talented guy with a huge voice. He digs out some of the nearly forgotten tunes in American music history and dishes them up old school style.

Phil Harmonica plays a very deep rich toned harmonica. His style recalls several of the masters of the instrument. He routinely digs into the songbooks of Big Walter Horton, Lazy Lester and Jerry McCain. Scott Miller is a very versatile and talented guitarist. He can go uptown and play the jump blues of the 40's or he can get down and dirty in the alley. The rhythm section of Vic Vicena and Artie Chavez laid down one great groove after another. Artie Chavez keeps time like Big Ben. Vic Vicena was thumping on the upright bass recalling Willie Dixon's playing in the Big Three Trio.

These guys are definitely worth seeing.