Hondo Mesa Records recording artist, Brian Francis, opening for Volker Strifler this Saturday at HopMonk.

Hondo Mesa Records recording artist, Brian Francis, called me today from sunny California. He was excited to discuss his upcoming gig. Brian is opening for Volker Strifler this Saturday at HopMonk. This is s prime spot. Volker is making a name for himself in CA and Nashville and the folks at HopMonk love Brian and wanted him to open. Way to go Brian!



Here's some info. on Volker Strifler from the HopMonk website:



HopMonk presents...
VOLKER STRIFLER
blues / rock / americana

The Volker Strifler Band is a sizzling package of roots and soul mixed with a little rock, jazz and a taste of the Delta just to let everyone know it's still the blues. The increasingly popular Sonoma County Band is the recipient of the 2007 North Bay Area Music Awards for Blues, the Monterey Bay Blues Festival competition and returned from Memphis to well received accolades at the 2008 Blues Foundations International Blues Challenge as well as being selected for the pre nom round of the 2008 Grammy's in 7 categories.

Moving from languorous jazz and roots, to white hot blues/rock to a funky calypso rhythm Strifler connects his disparate influences into a seamless whole showing that blues is a feeling more than a style. He has a compelling soulful voice that is confident but not brash putting life in perspective offering frank discourse and humor dealing with the tribulations that periodically come our way. Strifler aptly proves that music is a refuge where optimism and human resiliency reign, souls are cleansed and spirits raised.

Having shared the stage with such luminaries as Robben Ford, Lowell Fulson, Chris Cain, Elvin Bishop, and BB King, Volker Strifler has become a talent one cannot ignore. However it is his songwriting that truly stands out from the crowd, lending a caring sensitivity that erases lines and connects his audience by recognizing that life is the ultimate shared experience, one that is defined by both joy and sorrow and an acute social awareness. "Volker is a wonderful blues songwriter, which is an important contribution in keeping the Blues genre vital" Robben Ford.

The Volker Strifler Band is an extraordinary group of musicians that is more than just the sum of their shared and individual experience as performers. With Volker Strifler on guitar and vocals, Gary Silva on drums, Don Bassey on bass, David Schrader on saxophone, Carl Bowers on trombone, and "Chip" Roland Condon keyboards, they conjure up a seductive mixture of old and new styles and hard to find originality.

In 1996 Volker recorded his first solo release titled ‘Full Moon' and in 2002 released his eponymous 1st release on Blue Rock'It records to great reviews. It is compiled of mostly originals and showcases his talents as a player, singer, songwriter. The release of his third solo CD ‘The Dance Goes On' shows just how gifted Strifler is as a guitar player, singer, songwriter and producer. As proof, the CD was added to play lists in numerous radio markets throughout the United States and abroad, including the legendary WWOZ in New Orleans, San Francisco's KPFA, Santa Cruz's KPIG and many more. "One of my favorite releases of the year, it's as impressive lyrically as it is musically. That he's a killer guitarist with a superb voice adds to the overall appeal..." Mark Gallo of Blues Bytes writes. "This is a don't miss within 100 mile show!' Ricky Stevens, Blues Foundation Board Member.

Strifler has also lent his talents to the Ford Blues Bands releases of ‘Tribute To Paul Butterfield' ‘In Memory Of Michael Bloomfield' ‘Another Fine Day' and ‘1999' as well as currently fronting the band, touring Europe and the US.