6th Annual Shakers' Ball
Rob Stroup and the Blame
Nick Peets
The Notorious Kinesia Brothers
- Kennedy School - Gymnasium |
- Sunday, May 2
- 2 p.m. to 5:30 |
- $10, 16 & under Free |
- All ages welcome
The 6th Annual Shakers' Ball goes "SwampRock" this year!
Rob Barteletti, founder and annual host of The Shakers' Ball benefit show for local Parkinson's disease organizations, promises that the music at this year's event will be "swampier than usual - kind of roots-meets-country-meets-rock somewhere in the Everglades." He calls it "SwampRock."
"This year the music will be more or less one genre. In the past, it has been a musical smorgasbord - but this year," Barteletti says, "I brought two of my best friends in the PDX music scene on board for the show: Rob Stroup and his band, The Blame, and Nick Peets and his band. We're all writing ‘swamp music' these days, so SwampRock it is!"
Stroup, former frontman for The Baseboard Heaters and The Imprints, redirected his music towards the marshier regions of roots-rock with the incarnation of The Blame a year ago. "I am returning to my roots in a way. Writing a little grittier these days" says Stroup. "Part of my on going, but recently more intense, obsession with Dylan and JJ Cale."
Besides Stroup (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), The Blame includes longtime collaborator Tim Huggins (bass, background vocals), as well as Bob Dunham (lead guitar) and Anders Bergstrom (drums). Paul Brainard (pedal steel) and Jean-Pierre Garau (keys) are occasional members of The Blame.
Peets, former frontman for Jigsaw Jones, plays out less frequently than Stroup.
"Nick is a remarkable songwriter and has one of the most incredible voices I've ever heard. He spends more time writing than performing, so it's a special treat to get him on stage for this event," says Barteletti.
If Peets' band looks familiar, it's because they are the same players as The Blame.
"Nick and I are close friends and musical collaborators," Barteletti explains. "And Rob Stroup is also a very close friend of ours - and another musical collaborator. I guess you could say that for this year's Shakers' Ball, we're keeping the music in the family."
Barteletti, diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2002, seldom performs anymore, but will dust off his guitar to join his neurologist, Dr. Matt Brodsky of OHSU's Parkinson's Center and Movement Disorders Program (a beneficiary of this event), as the third act, the duo "The Notorious Kinesia Brothers." Peets and another Barteletti friend, former Kerosene Dream frontman Bart Ferguson, will join the pair for a few songs.
"Like the name of the event, our duo's name is a tongue-in-cheek response to the seriousness of PD. Dyskinesia and bradykinesia are two Parkinsonian terms," says Barteletti. "Dyskinesia is a jerky, dance-like movement of the arms and/or head, which usually occurs after several years of treatment with levodopa. I call it ‘bobble-head syndrome'."
According to Barteletti, levodopa is turned into dopamine in the body and therefore increases levels of this vital chemical, deficient in those with Parkinson's. Bradykinesia, one of the cardinal clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease, is the slowing down and loss of spontaneous and voluntary movement.
Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive, and incurable neurological movement disorder marked by tremors, rigidity, slow movements, and posture instability. It occurs when dopamine-producing cells in one of the movement-control centers of the brain begin to die for unknown reasons. Its symptoms can be managed with varying degrees of success by various therapies, most commonly through medication. So far, however, no cure is in sight.
"Though that can change, given all the trials and experiments in the pipeline," says Barteletti. "But money is still the bottom line - both for continued research as well as support for those of us who may not be able to wait for a cure. That's why I host this event each year: to do my small part to help in this battle."
On a lighter note, he says, "Matt and I are still deciding who should be Dys Kinesia and who should be Brady. I'm kind of leaning towards being Dys." About their alter-egos, he adds, "Sometimes when faced with a serious illness, one of the best things you can do is laugh!"
Holly Chaimov, executive director of Parkinson's Resources of Oregon says of Barteletti, "Rob has blended his energy and enthusiasm for music with his dedication to supporting the Parkinson's cause. We appreciate his efforts to bring awareness as well as donations to help us help those with this disease."
Barteletti, retired from teaching at Jesuit High School in Portland in 2007 because of his illness, but has continued to follow his lifelong dream to be a songwriter. He has released his debut solo album, Old Sombrero (2005); his collaboration with Reina Collins, Even If I Fall (2006); and his collaboration with Paula Sinclair, Steady Girl (2009).
His latest project, with Stroup as producer, is an ambitious 12-song album to be called Tremors, in which a dozen Northwest vocalists each perform one of his songs. It will be released sometime in 2011.
"Probably at next year's Shakers' Ball," says Barteletti. "The logistics for this are trickier than any CD I've ever released before. First, all profits from the album will go to Parkinson's organizations, so I need to set up a charitable trust to make that happen. Then, because of the amazing singers on it - Storm Large, Pete Droge, Mike Coykendall, Casey Neill, Fernando, Ian Moore, Bart Ferguson, Steve Wilkinson, Ken DeRouchie, Nick Peets, and Rob Stroup - I want to market and release this CD with as much fanfare and attention as possible. "
But before that happens, "SwampRock" is the theme at this year's Shakers' Ball at The Kennedy School gym.
About Rob Stroup and the Blame
Rob Stroup & The Blame formed in Portland in early 2009. Band members include front man and guitarist Rob Stroup (Baseboard Heaters, The Imprints), bassist Tim Huggins (James Low Band, The Imprints), lead guitarist Bob Dunham (Scott Fisher, Debra Arlyn), and drummer Anders Bergstrom (Scott Fisher, Climber).
The Blame plays American music. Drawing on roots of folk, country, rock and blues - they have formed a sound reminiscent of early JJ Cale, Dire Straits, and Dylan. The lyrics touch on themes ranging from love and politics to Kerouac-inspired road stories.
Rob Stroup has been playing in the Portland music scene for over ten years. Forming The Baseboard Heaters in 1996 - the roots-rock quartet enjoyed several years of a loyal Portland following as well as some regional successes playing venues such as The House of Blues, The Troubador, and the Viper Room. Stroup and his band also served as backing band for Pete Droge for a dozen or so shows, before going on to form the pop quintet The Imprints in 2004. Stroup met Huggins (who had previously fronted Austin's power-pop trio Foot) during the formation of The Imprints. Huggins also plays with the Portland Americana hero James Low.
In 2002, Rob Stroup started a small recording studio at his home in SE Portland (8 Ball Studio). Over the last several years he has engineered and/or produced countless records for artists including Scott Fisher, Debra Arlyn, Scotland Barr, Chris Robley, Rachel Taylor Brown, Lesley Kernochan, Paula Sinclair, Nick Peets, The Sort Ofs, House of Badger, Mission 5 and many more. It was in the studio that Stroup met Bob Dunham and Anders Bergstrom. Dunham's old-school sensibilities, unique tone, and vintage gear make him a perfect fit for the project. Bergstrom provides unwavering talent and a classic vibe - reminiscent of drum legend Jim Keltner.
This solo project was seeded over two years ago when Rob started getting back to the roots and began the writing process. Some of the writing coming with a little help from his friends - he collaborated on some material with Pete Droge and others.
- website:
- http://www.robstroup.com/
