Sunday Blues Jam with Jim Perry and friends

Every Sunday 5-8
Greendale's Pub
404 West Boylston Street
Worcester, MA

He's baaack!

Sunday afternoons belong to the Blues at Greendale's Pub in Worcester. Tucked away in an industrial setting, this working-class cash only venue has its own charm and started to grow on me. The kitchen is open every day from 4-8 with reasonable prices; no sticker shock here: Greendale's is home of the original dollar dog. The best drink value would be $4.00 Jack/Johnny and Sam Adams for $2.25; try finding that price anywhere else in Worcester!
Blues breathes its own life force into the crowd, and there were plenty of wiggles and smiles. Full of ample bodied-blues that shoot from the hip, Mike Lynch led the vocals with Jim Perry his first mate singing the harmonies. Jim Perry and his house band feature a great new guest artist each week.

It is a continual burn of wild raw blues that is definitely worth taking a listen to.

Each week the feature ends with an open mike blues jam with plenty of crowd participation. One week was devoted to Bob Dylan with tributes of "All Along the Watchtower" "Knockin' on "Heaven's Door" and "Rainy Day Women #12 and #35" for the legend's birthday.
The Blues Jam is exactly that - a jam; it's an improvisational set of whatever develops. Nothing is nailed down to perfection, but there is a familiarity. Jim introduced a bassist Peter McGilvery , as "one of the craziest people I know ~ in a good way"
Continually extrapolating the sound, Mike Wailed through "You know we will meet again...if your memory seves you well." and "Sweet little rock and roller...she never gets any older." rough and loud...just as this crowd likes it.

One open mike participator was particularly striking with a smooth grin and a white shock of hair. He played the harmonica with the vendetta of a broken heart.

Jim traded his Les Paul for a Fender Telecaster, and energized the fanfare.

Jim Perry and the house band turned and burned during the Open Mike as "Cheeky Steve" blew on the harmonica like a saxophone; he held the harmonica in one hand and the microphone in the other. "Steve" was a fan of rockabilly blues jams with lyrics of "I'm in love with you babe`let me ride in your automobile...you got a fine little car....with too many drivers at the wheel."
Bringing years of blues under his belt, Jim Perry slides into the keyboard as well as he plays the guitar.

It is a mostly older crowd, but the ladies are well-groomed and fickle.

"Kim" an audience member, strutted to the mike to sing "Me and Bobby McGee" accompanied by the Greendale equivalent of Big Brother and the Holding Company.