Billtown Blues Challenge

Congratulations all around for the Billtown Blues Association and the bands and performers who competed Sunday March 29 at the Billtown Blues Challenge at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport.

The challenge, which determines who will be the opening act at the Billtown Blues Festival, and also who will represent the association at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis next February, is one of my favorite blues events of the year.

This year was no different. Three solo-duo acts and six bands entered the competition, which attracted a huge crowd of enthusiastic blues fans.

The Irving Street Blues Band, a quartet of youngsters from Philadelphia, won the band category against some stiff competition that included Williamsportás very own Blind Chitlin Kahunas, and State Collegeás BluesMoon. Also competing: The Dirty Bird Blues Band, In the Kitchen and the Flicker Blues Band.

Jack and Lilly, brother and sister duo Brennon John and Breanne Venios, won the solo-duo category against Kim and Ed Rhoades, and Doug McMinn and Hannah Bingman.

Irving Street Blues Band, most of whom are barely 20 years-old, got the crowd on their feet with a stellar set that included terrific vocals and Hammond B-3 work by John Bickel. The rest of the band, drummer Doug DiFilippo, guitarist Ian Hooper and bassist Patrick "Doc" Bickel, were right in sync with Bickel. The guys were tight and performed with confidence.

Many of the folks I talked to after the show said they were happy for the guys, who also put in a great set last year at the challenge.

I feel a bit sad for the Kahunas, who came within a whisker of winning on the strength of a very strong set that included great work by newest member keyboard madman Web Kline. As a trio (guitarist-vocalist Chris Bovard, bassist-vocalist Kim "Kimbo" Reichley and drummer Sir Joel Vincent), the Kahunas are formidable opponents no matter who they are up against. With Kline, they are downright scary. If a case could be made for anyone else winning the competition, it had to be for the Kahunas.

BluesMoon, another great band comprised of vocalist Trace Baker, guitarist Scott Bachman, drummer Dr. Andrew Jackson and bassist Bill Smith, also put in a blues rockiná good set to be proud of.

The remaining groups performed admirably but clearly needed to hone their stage act and musicianship. The talent and raw materials were certainly there, however. They just need to work those raw materials a bit longer ...then watch out!

I loves me some blues harp, so I was particularly glad to see two of the regionás top harmonica players, Andy "Badmouth" Barnhart, of In the Kitchen, and Chris Trassati, of the Flicker Blues Band.

Barnhart has been known for years as one of the areaás top blues harpers. Trassati is making a name for himself.

If I had a complaint about the challenge, it would be that it was too long. I was fried and left before the winner was announced, though fortunately, I stuck around long enough for part of an all-star jam that featured last yearás winner, Ann Kerstetter.

The length of the competition was only a minor issue, however. It was, all in all, a terrific show in a terrific venue filled with terrific people -- blues fans!

For those of you who missed the competition, you can still catch some awesome blues on Sunday June 14 at the Billtown Blues Festival. The festival, held every year at the Lycoming County Fairgrounds in Hughesville, begins at noon.

I hope to see you there.