It seems trite to refer to Samuel James’s CD-release show as a coronation, but the evidence supports it: the concert sold out on an unusually busy Saturday night in Portland; there were at least three photographers with big cameras on hand; a dozen of Sam’s muses joined him in performances of blues and gospel standards, clearly deferent to the appeal he’s granted their scene; his father handed down the crown with a celebratory instrumental duet; heck, the clouds literally parted after a day of nasty rain just as his set began.
And as befits a coronation, the concert promoted both James’s artistry and his personality. He let Blind Billy Blake’s bellowing chortle steal the show in the gospel “You’re Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond,” made elegant harmonies with Joe Fletcher of Wrong Reasons on “Cold Water,” and continued his rowdy, funny, jawdropping games of epic one-upmanship (guitar twirling, hat stealing) with Meantone and his “Knock Knock.” Most hilariously, he let a hooligan in a black Yosemite Sam beard named Railroad Wil sing a song about kidnapping and killing children, at which point James quipped something like, “Blues songs aren’t about killing kids, they’re about killing women.”
The night was a testament to James’s charm and ever-increasing skill. So much about his act has become (even) better over the past two years: he’s more confident, his vocals are more dynamic, he knows how to keep a long set fresh, and he’s still overwhelmingly humble and generous. The show climaxed with James’s twelve special guests joining him onstage for another standard, “How Long, How Long Blues,” an inspired, “We Are the World” kind of moment in Portland music lore. It ended in hoots, bows, everything but a crown, which is probably for the best: it wouldn’t look as cool as his hats do.
Related:
Book of Samuel, Vol. 3, Samuel James at SPACE and the dilly on Dilly Dilly, As Fast As at the Empire, Grand Hotel's new album, and more, More 
- Book of Samuel, Vol. 3
It's so easy not to think about the music Samuel James makes much at all. Built from the very pillars of American music, it's easy to dismiss it as an homage, a throwback, a curiosity. And it is all those things, with James's ageless voice — he could be 20 or 80 — and variety of stringed instruments that scoff at modern technology.
- Samuel James at SPACE and the dilly on Dilly Dilly
• Keep next weekend open: throwback bluesman SAMUEL JAMES has a release party scheduled for his third full-length, For Rosa, Maeve and Noreen. Joining James on August 22 at SPACE will be the likes of SONTIAGO , LADY LAMB , MICAH BLUE SMALDONE , MEANTONE , and, well, lots of other folks. Sounds like a party.
- As Fast As at the Empire, Grand Hotel's new album, and more
AS FAST AS are playing a reunion show of sorts July 3 at the Empire.
- Eternal Otter Records releases a slew of singles
On July 10 ETERNAL OTTER RECORDS will be releasing its next slew of vinyl singles with a cool gig both in the Narrow Gauge museum and on the train itself.
- Short-form Portland
I can hear the snarky comments already: "What?!? Rustic Overtones put out an album this year and Pfeifle hasn't fallen all over himself naming it #1? The sky is green!" But this isn't 1999. It's 2009. And it isn't all that strange for a phenomenal album to hit Portland's city streets anymore.
- Summer Festivus Meximus: The Portland Music and Arts Festival, and other local music news
People sure do like putting on festivals.
- Topping the charts
The metalsmiths in DEAD SEASON have hit the HEATSEEKERS (NORTHEAST) BILLBOARD chart with their latest album, The Negative NUMBers . It's debuting this week at positive number 2.
- Otter calls
The adventurous folks at ETERNAL OTTER RECORDS have been keeping things nice and weird lately.
- Swinging blues
On the eve of Samuel James's second CD release on Northern Blues Music, For Rosa, Maeve and Noreen , we needed to catch up on all of his happenings since the release of 2008's Songs Famed for Sorrow and Joy .
- Music Seen: All over
Last week we spent five of six nights out on the town. If anyone ever complains that we don't have enough venues or shows to attend we beg to differ.
- Pour some Sugar on me
“I want this company to add substantially to the blues repertoire,” he writes on the label’s site, “and not just come out with the ‘same old, same old.’”
- Less
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