The Wednesday Night Farmer's Market Concert Series - September 9, 2009

The Wednesday Night Farmer's Market Concert Series in Red Bluff, California, begins to wind down this month with the appearance of the Sky River Music Band. Founded by Sky River Music owner Dan Massie, who played a purple-colored electric guitar, is joined by fellow axe-players Roy Dyer (of The Roy Dyer Trio) and Brian "Mumblefinger" Birke.

Backed up by Dave the drummer and bass player Mike Moran and, later on, by Truman "TJ" Vernon, these gentlemen groove easily into a rock/folk/blues style that makes people want to get up and dance. Their version of the Elvis Presley tune "Hound Dog" was quite intriguing and unexpectedly fresh. Easily jumping around from classic rock such as "Mustang Sally," where Mumblefinger himself urged the crowd to sing along (me included), to a soulful performance of "Gina Don't Live Here Anymore," a haunting piece of music about a troubled and doomed teenage girl, it's apparent that the vocal talent clearly belongs to Brian.

All guitarists give excellent licks, turning a three- to five-minute song into a ten-minute-long feast for the ears. Dan Massie himself sings and plays the harmonica a couple of times and Roy Dyer turns in a rousing vocal and guitar performance as well. These guys really know how to work a crowd and it shows!

Mumblefinger has garnered praise from such legendary artists such as John Lee Hooker and Curly Putnam and has played in local bands through high school, performed gigs in New York and in the 90's has covered the entire Bay Area. You can check out his tunes and grooves at mumblefinger.com for his CDs, downloadable songs and more.

Local vendors still have plenty to offer until the last day of the Farmer's Market on September 30. The last three concerts will feature Downtown & The Feelers on the 16th, Java Jazz on the 23rd, and the Western Fiddlers on the 30th. If you can, please come to Red Bluff, check out the vendors and chill to some cool tunes.