McKinney’s Pub will be blues-rocking this weekend as Victoria blues guitarist Paul Black plays the venue Friday and Saturday night, along with some familiar faces.
Born and raised in Terrace, BC, Black didn’t even pick up a guitar until he was 18 years old. After seeing a Stevie Ray Vaughn concert, he fell in love with blues and the instrument and has been playing guitar ever since.
“I met Paul at my store,” says Rockit Music owner Rob Reed, who will play drums for the shows in an incarnation of Paul Black Band. “I did some homework on him and asked if he wanted to play with us. Paul is a killer guitar player. I heard him playing and was blown away.”
The two nights of blues in Townsite will feature many of Black’s original songs, as well as some covers. Black and Reed will be joined by keyboardist and Powell River Academy of Music director Walter Martella, as well as bassist Todd Sacerty, who also plays in Wunderbread and David Gogo’s band.
“It’s a very cool lineup and I’m really pumped about playing with these guys,” says Reed.
Although he has played many times before with Martella, Reed says he is especially excited to be playing with Black and Sacerty for the first time. He says due to the quality of the players on the stage the show will go off without a hitch.
“It’s going to be pretty comfortable up there because they are total pros,” says Reed.
Reed adds that McKinney’s is an ideal venue for blues rock shows, with its professional sound system and 150-plus capacity. Local blues legend Sam Hurrie has also been playing the venue every Thursday for several months to a loyal following.
“It’s an intimate room and it has warm acoustics in there,” says Reed. “It’s great for live music. It should be an excellent show.”
Paul Black Band
When: 9 pm, Friday, October 13, and Saturday, October 14
Where: McKinney’s Pub
Price: $10
Info: facebook.com/mckinneyspowellriver
