Parker Crook

Morning Star Staff

It isn香蕉视频直播檛 about the money, it香蕉视频直播檚 about the music.

That香蕉视频直播檚 the mantra of bluesman Harpdog Brown, who香蕉视频直播檚 playing with the Travelin香蕉视频直播� Blues Show featuring Sugar Brown at the Prestige Inn Ballroom Saturday.

The dynamic duo met last fall while Harpdog was on tour in Ontario.

香蕉视频直播淭his man has truly given me hope that there is a chance that classic blues is alive here in Canada,香蕉视频直播� said Harpdog, the Maple Blues Award winner for Harmonica Player of the Year in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

香蕉视频直播淕uys like me and Sugar are keeping the torch alive.香蕉视频直播�

After meeting, the two bonded over their love of classic blues: music straight from early 香蕉视频直播�50s Chicago.

香蕉视频直播淭hat was wicked. It was the most natural love affair,香蕉视频直播� said Harpdog. 香蕉视频直播淚t was encouraging, (and) we香蕉视频直播檙e pretty excited about the blues marriage.香蕉视频直播�

Sugar, born in Ohio in 1971, is a professor of East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto who grew up playing the blues with the likes of Taildragger, responsible for giving Ken Kawashima his stage name; Dave Myers; and Willie 香蕉视频直播淏ig Eyes香蕉视频直播� Smith, the late-drummer of Muddy Waters band.

香蕉视频直播淪ugar Brown香蕉视频直播檚 blues were shaped by playing the small clubs and venues along the west side of Chicago,香蕉视频直播� said Harpdog. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 paid his dues and he香蕉视频直播檚 paid his time.

香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 educated, but not too educated. If you get too over educated, it becomes jazz.香蕉视频直播�

Classic blues comes from passion and emotion, said Harpdog, not about technical prowess.

香蕉视频直播淢usic has become a sport 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 all tricks, but it香蕉视频直播檚 lost its language.香蕉视频直播�

So when the two bluesmen played together, it was a natural connection.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 like having the right guy on your stage,香蕉视频直播� said Harpdog. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 amazed and overwhelmed by the talent.香蕉视频直播�

But, because of its focus on passion, Harpdog said blues will never be popular to the degree of top 40.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think anyone gets into the blues to be rich and famous,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 never going to be the flavour of the week. It香蕉视频直播檚 not a sprint, it香蕉视频直播檚 a marathon. Blues is a lifelong experience.香蕉视频直播�

Harpdog stumbled into the world of blues after already being involved in music. He didn香蕉视频直播檛 go searching for the blues, it found him.

香蕉视频直播淚 can kind of see how I was designed for the circus, and blues was my circus,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淏lues is the thing (where) I really felt like I truly belonged. The blues gave me a purpose in life.香蕉视频直播�

Growing up as a foster-child in Edmonton, Harpdog always felt out of place. He was named three times by people he never knew, but only once did the name feel right.

In 1989, when Harpdog was in his late-20s, he played a gig at the famous Mama Gold香蕉视频直播檚 in Kitsilano, Vancouver. In the crowd was a group of well-dressed men.

香蕉视频直播淎t the end of the night, they were chanting 香蕉视频直播榟arp dog, harp dog.香蕉视频直播�

He thought about it a few days later, and decided he liked it.

香蕉视频直播淚 truly connected to the name. I never felt like I belonged as anything but Harpdog.香蕉视频直播�

And after a divorce four years ago, he legally changed his name to Harpdog, known as 香蕉视频直播淒og香蕉视频直播� for short, because as he says in What香蕉视频直播檚 your real name, 香蕉视频直播淎fter all, I am the dog of the harp, not the harp of the dog.香蕉视频直播�

Harpdog played the Prestige Inn Ballroom last year, loved it, and decided to make it an annual show.

香蕉视频直播淚t was pretty damn successful,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Despite his love for the blues, it香蕉视频直播檚 still a job, and sometimes he has trouble getting out of bed in the afternoon, but he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 quit.

香蕉视频直播淚 never regret going to work on my way home.

香蕉视频直播淧laying live is what it香蕉视频直播檚 all about. Like a priest without a congregation, if there香蕉视频直播檚 no audience, there香蕉视频直播檚 no point.香蕉视频直播�

Through playing the blues to live audiences, Harpdog has affected their lives. Hearing about other peoples香蕉视频直播� struggles helps them realize their situations aren香蕉视频直播檛 so bad, he said.

香蕉视频直播淏lues is a practice. It香蕉视频直播檚 not something to listen to. It香蕉视频直播檚 something to live and to share. It香蕉视频直播檚 music that can change a person香蕉视频直播檚 life.香蕉视频直播�

And that香蕉视频直播檚 what keeps Harpdog going.

香蕉视频直播淭hose moments are more valuable than money in the bank.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 about the funny, not about the money.香蕉视频直播�

Tickets to Harpdog Brown and the Travelin香蕉视频直播� Blues Show featuring Sugar Brown are available for $20 at Bourbon St. Bar and Grill, 4411-32nd St., and East Side Liquor Company, 4209-27th St. Doors at 7 p.m. Show at 8 p.m. For more information, visit .