"SEND-OFF PARTY" for
The International Blues Challenge "Goin' to Memphis"
 BATTLE of the BANDS WINNER

Appearing along with Roger's band were...
                Irving Street Blues Band / lower case blues /
    Pat Kane / The Pork Roll Project / + special guests

Saturday, January 17, 2009
at J.B. McGinnis Pub & Grill
New Castle, Delaware
~

"Good bands come and go and few can lay claim to having a resounding impact on the regional music scene, but Roger Girke and his talented group are doing just that. Roger's intensely soulful vocals and thrilling guitar work is highlighted by a veteran group of blues antagonists that take contemporary blues to a new level"   ~Phillyblues.com
                                                                               

Veteran guitarist/singer/writer Roger Girke has been performing and recording steadily after hitting the nightclub circuit in 1975. By 1978 and at just 21 years old Roger scored a pivotal touring gig with Capital Recording Artists Pickins'. Pickin's was legendary at the time for their funky fusion of blues and rock. Contacts made during that early success paved the way for a string of regional and national touring opportunities with diverse artists on Arista, Electra and RCA records. At the conclusion of twenty years of playing over two hundred plus over the road dates a year as a first-call guitarist, Roger was ready to focus on his own projects. In 1995 Roger relocated to Delaware and joined up with the venerable Dr. Harmonica and Rockett 88, playing with the Dr. on his wild performances for three years and recording and producing the good Dr's only CD effort "Swingin' Easy" In 1999 Roger formed Roger Girke and The Funky Twisters (later changed to The Roger Girke Band) and released two critically acclaimed CD’s, the later “My Baby Loves That Stuff” winning an esteemed “Top 5 self-produced” accolade in the 2005 International Blues Challenge, which takes place every year in Memphis, TN. Additionally the band is a two time IBC finalist (2005 & 2006)
                                                                                                                                                                                    
The Roger Girke Band continues to evolve each year with a solid mix of contemporary and traditional blues, especially drawing on the New Orleans tradition. The band's live performances feature strong original songs, combined with ecclectic covers and energized performances all anchored by Roger's intense vocals, guitar style and personal energy. In addition to Roger, the band is anchored by by Glenn Bickel on keyboards and vocals, a veteran of counteless Philly blues and soul acts; the incredible Pat B on bass and vocals and Dave Rainey on Drums, also a vet of tons of philly based blues, jazz and songwriting acts.

(SPECIAL Thanks go out to NENE ABEL for her great pictures of the bands below.)

Irving Street Blues - "Blues is our business and business is good!"  Johnny Bickel- Loves his Hammond B3, and all the ladies love his voice. Patrick 'Doc' Bickel- Bass player and backup vocals for ISB and The Roger Girke Band. Doug DiFillipo- Drummer. Always lays down a funky beat. Ian Hooper- You smell something burnin'? Ya will when he plays his guitar.

Pat Kane
 

Pat Kane is known to DSBS audiences from his smokin' appearances with his other iteration, TOMATO CAN.  Tomato Can is a four-piece blues/jazz band featuring Kane, the 18-year-old guitarist who's shared the stage with such acts as Johnny Neel and Derek Trucks. T-Can's eclectic sound is a mixture of influences, which include blues greats such as Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters, but also John Coltrane, the Band, and Tom Waits. We expect more of the same in this DSBS appearance sans the T-Can moniker.

The Porkroll Project, from the greater Philadelphia, PA area is hard rocking 6 piece blues band who play a high energy blend of fresh covers and originals.

The music is blues, but it's done up Porkroll style. Little bit of grease, good dose of funk, whole lotta drive and grind. Throw that together with some dangerous lead guitar and harmonica, powerful organ, and rippin' piano, and you have a recipe for a night where anything can happen!

The band has a collective experience that runs deep and wide, having played together in various other projects for over ten years. They've shared the stage, not only with each other, but also with such notables as Bo Diddley, Los Lobos, Mem Shannon, Michael Hill's Blues Mob, Bobby Radcliffe, just to name a few. They are well seasoned veterans of events such as the Phila. Jam on the River, the Annual Chameleon Club Blues Festival, the Phila. Folk Festival, and the always fun Bandana Blues Festival.

So if you and your crew are craving some hard rocking, foot stomping, hip shaking, earthquaking entertainment, give an ear to a heaping helping of The Porkroll Project. It's the right thing to do, and a tasty way to do it.