|
Event
Chuck Pyle and Ray Bonneville in Concert
A couple of old Colorado friends meet up in Portland for a night of witty country folk and gritty blues.
Chuck Pyle has won high praise from both fans and peers alike throughout an inspired performance career of over 40 years. When reviewers first gave him the "Zen Cowboy" moniker, he decided to, as he says, "Always ride the horse in the direction it's going," and took the nickname to heart, shaving his head and blending his upbeat perspective with old-fashioned horse sense. He mixes infectiously hummable melodies with straight-from-the-saddle poetry, quoting bumper stickers, proverbs, world leaders and old cowboys.
Chuck's songs have been recorded by John Denver, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Suzy Bogguss. Country fans know him best for writing "Cadillac Cowboy," recorded by the late Chris LeDoux, and "Jaded Lover," recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker.
While fans love his recordings, they adore Chuck's live performance. The first time he made an audience laugh, he was "hooked." A nimble guitarist, critics say his sense of rhythm is more like a fine classical, or jazz soloist, his songwriting musically sophisticated yet full of uncluttered space. The Chuck Pyle Finger-Style approach to guitar has distinguished him as a true original, earning him invitations to teach at such prestigious events as The Puget Sound Guitar Workshop and The Swannanoa Gathering. His music has made him a favorite of Bill & Melinda Gates who have had him play at their home in Seattle.
Ray Bonneville is a Canadian born, Austin based singer, songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player, known for his "loose, darkly funky vibe" (All Music Guide). His Red House release Goin' By Feel was named one of the best CD's of 2008 by DownBeat Magazine and featured the Americana hit "I Am the Big Easy," which was #1 most played song on folk radio that year and won the Folk Alliance Award for Song of the Year. The tune was a powerful tribute to the resilience of New Orleans, where Ray lived for half a decade and picked up his "take your time" attitude toward music. Noted for having one of "the sexiest guitar styles around" (Acoustic Guitar), Ray has performed with such blues luminaries as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Robert Cray. He has quickly become a fixture in the Americana scene since moving to Texas, becoming one of the go-to session players for artists like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Mary Gauthier and Eliza Gilkyson. Following the success of his digital single "Mississippi" (about the flooding of the Mississippi River), Ray releases his new full-length album Bad Man's Blood. The new songs have a down and dirty quality, capturing the hardships of every day life. Born in French Canada and raised in the United States, he writes from his experience as an immigrant, Vietnam War vet, taxi driver and bush pilot, drawing inspiration from the many places he has called homeMontreal, New Orleans, Colorado, Arkansas, Alaska, Boston, Seattle and Paris. Honing his songwriting craft for the last 35 years, Ray's gritty storytelling and deep-grooving blues style has won him much critical attention. With his 2004 Red House debut Roll It Down, Ray made himself a name for himself in the US, garnering rave reviews from DownBeat and No Depression. Since then, his star has been on the rise, with his award-winning release Goin' By Feel, his folk-charting cover of Bob Dylan's song "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry" (featured on A Nod to Bob 2: An Artists Tribute to Bob Dylan on His 70th Birthday) and now, with his new album Bad Man's Blood.
Chuck Pyle and Ray Bonneville take the stage at Portland's Secret Society Ballroom, Thursday, May 17 at 7pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and available from brownpapertickets.com or $20 at the door. This event is produced by Matt Miner Presents mattminermusic.wordpress.com.
www.chuckpyle.com
raybonneville.com
|
|
 |
LocationSecret Society Ballroom (View)
116 NE Russell St.
Portland, OR 97212
United States
Categories
| Minimum Age: 21 |
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
|
Contact
|
