Deja Blooze Back at the Freeland Cafe

Well, Deja fans, those of you who joined us for our October gig at the Freeland Cafe know that the place was packed and the dance floor was full all night. A good time was had by all including our ace bartender Traynor (excuse the spelling). We also had lots of back-up vocal assistance from the "Dejettes" (that would be anyone who wants to join in for a vocal response on selected tunes). The night went so well Petite has asked us back for November and December gigs. So mark your calendar:

Saturday November 22nd 8 to 10 pm
Saturday December 27th 8 to 10 pm

The place'll be hopping so make plans to join us.

Deja photo by Doris Newkirk

November 2008 Marks First Anniversary for Deja Blooze

In November of 2007 Ed Newkirk and I (David Gregor) officially formed Deja Blooze, an off-shoot of our months of playing the Thursday night music jams that began at the old Smiling Dog Cafe. With the closing of the Dog, the Jammers were like a group of gypsies bouncing from place to place looking for a permanent home finally ending up for a long stint at the Island Coffee House in Langley. It was there that Ed and I forged not only a friendship but also a musical kinship rooted in our mutual interest in the blues. We began practicing together, working on a lot of the tunes that we played at the Thursday night jams and in November were asked to do a two hour gig at the Rockhopper Cafe in Clinton by the Sea. That evening at The Rock solidified our desire to continue forward, with an eye towards playing at the 2008 Choochokam Festival. But to do that, we needed to record a demo CD to submit for consideration. On a Sunday in December of 07 we went into the Blue Ewe Studios on the island and laid down seven tracks. In January of 08 we secured a six month, first Saturday gig at the Prima Bistro in Langley. We were accepted for the July Choochokam Festival and from there we played Concerts on the Lane, The Useless Coffee Shed (twice), a fund raiser for the Friendship Peace Library organization and now on our first anniversary we'll be playing the Freeland Cafe. It's hard to believe it has been a year already, but we're ready to rip into year two with the same vigor and drive that got us to this place. We're looking at another visit to the studio to lay down more lively numbers some of which will be original blooze renderings.

It has been our pleasure to play with Dave Gignac on harmonica and most recently Paul Goethel on bass and look forward to more gigs with both.

Deja Blooze to Play Useless Bay Coffee Shed

The four-piece Deja Blooze line-up will play The Useless Bay Coffee Shed Saturday August 9th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. In addition to the original Deja duo of Ed Newkirk and David Gregor, the Blooze will be joined by our guest harpist Dave Gignac





and our newest addition Paul Goethel on electric bass. We are happy to be the first group to play the summer season at UBC and ease Langley visitors and residents into their Saturday activities with our own special brand of lively blues.

Deja Blooze at Recent Concerts on the Lane

The latest Deja Blooze lineup delivered a feisty 90 minute set of their signature "lively blues" on July 26th under the tent behind Angel 1 Chocolates in Langley. We were visited by two Dejettes (Doris & Kit) who provided enthusiastic vocal and rhythmic contributions to our version of Mind Your Own Business. We just recently added bass player Paul Goethel to our Deja family of players and after just one two-hour practice, Paul joined us On the Lane providing a nice heavy bassline to our original two guitar sound. Paul easily slipped into the Deja groove and, according to everyone present (including Ed and myself) the results were just great. You'll get a chance to hear Paul at our afternoon gig at the outdoor Useless Bay Coffee Performance Shed on Saturday August 9th from 11-2 pm. Thanks to Mona at The Angel for having us. Deja photo by Doris Newkirk

Deja Blooze at Choochokam

The Deja Boys did themselves proud today at the Choochokam Arts Festival in Langley. We played a tight 45 minute set from our lively catalog of blues to a great crowd of attendees and we had fun too. As I mentioned in a previous post, playing the main stage at Choochokam was my goal a year ago and when Ed Newkirk and I started getting together late in the fall the whole idea seemed like a possibility. And with the addition of Dave Gignac on harp whenever he's available, the show only gets better. Well, the possibility became a reality this afternoon and for me and the boys it was a thrill to be a part of this great community event.

Mail from a Deja fan:
Hi David, caught Deja Blooze yesterday and was impressed - I love acoustic guitars. You guys seemed like you were having lots of fun and you passed that on to the audience. Loved Who do you love as a final number. Greg G. Vancouver, BC.

All photos by Doris Newkirk

Deja Blooze at Choochokam

Deja Blooze will play the main stage of Choochokam on Saturday July 12th at 12 noon. We're looking forward to being a part of this year's festival lineup and hope to see all of you for the festivities. We have a snappy 45 minute that should get everyone engaged in the weekend of music, art and tom-foolery.

Deja Blooze to Play Choochokam Arts Festival

The Deja Boys have been booked to play the Choochokam Arts Festival www.choochokamarts.com/
on Saturday July 12th from 12 noon to 12:45 on the Main Stage at First St & Anthes. We are looking forward to being a part of this great Langley art and music celebration by providing a non-stop set of lively blues. We will be joined by our good friend David Gignac on harmonica and promise to keep your toes tapping and your head a-bobbing with our signature brand of blooze.

I have to say that, personally, playing Choochokam has been my goal since I experienced my first one in 2004. My goal six months ago in founding Deja Blooze was to be a part of the great lineup of local talent that I have seen over the years on the main stage and for DB to be booked this year is the realization of many hours of hard work with my main man and music partner, Ed Newkirk.

So...mark your calendar and dust off your high-heeled sneakers and join Deja Blooze for a fun and spirited set of Bloozy funk...Deja style.

David Gregor

Fan Mail Report

Received this email from a recent Langley visitor and GRB customer.

Hi David, I was in your shop on the weekend and we had a talk about learning to play the guitar and blues. You also gave me your CD. My friends and I played it on our way back to Ft. Ebey and the truck was rocking. What a great selection of songs - done excellently. We laughed and danced (limited by being in a truck) and sang along thru the whole set - and that was without the benefit of libations. Needless to say we are trying to figure out when we can come back and attend a live Deja Blooze.

Anyway you've inspired me to get more serious about the guitar and the blooze. Thanks for that.

Greg G. (Vancouver, BC)

Thanks, Greg. We look forward to seeing you and the crew at a live Deja event.

Robert Johnson

Robert Johnson is considered by many music historians to be the "most influential bluesman of all time and the person most responsible for the shape popular music has taken in the last five decades." While Johnson only recorded 29 songs between 1936 and 1937--including such blues standards as Terraplane Blues and Cross Road Blues--he nonetheless altered the course of American music. Eric Clapton has called Johnson "the most important blues musician who ever lived....I have never found anything more deeply soulful than Robert Johnson. His music remains the most powerful cry that I think you can find in the human voice.” As a young man, Johnson roamed widely around the south playing juke joints and levee camps picking up songs and guitar skills from a variety of black players creating his own distinctive style and voice phrasing. Legend has it that Johnson brokered a deal with the Devil in order to learn to play the guitar. Supposedly the deal took place at midnight at an undisclosed delta crossroads; when Johnson emerged he was recognized as the king of the delta players. In 1986, Robert Johnson was recognized by the music industry for his influence on popular music and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"Blooze for Two" the new Deja Blooze CD

The Deja Boys are proud to release their new CD, "Blooze for Two". The CD features 15 cuts from the Deja songbag of lively tunes. The song list is:

1. Blow Wind, Blow Wind

2. Spoonful

3. Nadine

4. I’ve Had My Fun

5. Baby what you Want Me To Do

6. Walkin’ Blues

7. I Let My Baby Do That

8. Built for Comfort

9. Blues for Two

10. You’re The One*

11. Terraplane Blues*

12. Travelin’ Riverside Blues

13. Mind Your Own Business

14. First and Last Love

15. You Better Watch Yourself

The CD features David Gregor on rhythm guitar and vocals, Ed Newkirk on lead guitar and David Gignac on harmonica on cuts 10 & 11. Cost is only $10 and can be purchased by calling 360.221.8331 or emailing gregorbooks@gregorbooks.com.

The Deja Blooze boys at the February 2nd Prima Bistro gig. The place was packed though you wouldn't know it from this photo.

Deja Boys Back from the Studio

Yesterday we wrapped up our second studio session at the Blue Ewe Recording Studio here on Whidbey. We laid down 9 tracks in a five hour period and were joined by mouth harpist David Gignac who sat in with us at our first Prima gig. Mr. Gignac blew some nasty licks on two tracks that will appear on our upcoming Deja CD. The majority of the material has just recently been added to the Deja repertoire, and we're looking forward to performing it live. David Malony (of Blue Ewe Studios) is working on the final mix, and we hope to have the CD available for our March 1st appearance at Prima.

Deja Blooze returns to Prima Bistro

Greetings Deja fans.

BACK TO PRIMA
Ed Newkirk and I (aka Deja Blooze) have been asked to reprise our inaugural appearance at the Prima Bistro earlier this month on a regular monthly basis. So on March 1st and the first Saturday of each month following (except May...that date to be announced), the Deja boys will be at the Bistro in Langley from 8 pm to 10 pm. Those of you who joined us for our first appearance heard mouth harp player David Gignac sit in with the Dejas for a rousing rendition of Spoonful. If David's travel schedule permits, he will join us again for the March gig.

THE DEJA BOYS PREMIER AT PRIMA BISTRO
Saturday February 2, 2008 marked the official launch of the blues duo known as Deja Blooze. By showtime, the restaurant was full of anxious music lovers, and Ed and I were ready to shake up the crowd with some fun blues renditions. Within a half hour of starting, it was standing room only with folks doubled up around the bar. It was reported that people were eating their dinner on the stairway because there were no tables available once the music started. We're sorry for the inconvenience to those diners; next time it might be good to book a table early and stay late. Restaurant staff estimates are that approximately 120 people packed Prima (which officially seats about 90) and finally extra chairs were brought in to accommodate late arrivals. The great turnout did the Deja boys proud. We heard that a Seattle couple who were just in the restaurant for dinner but stayed for the music called later to ask when the group would be playing again; when they were told of the March date the caller said she would call the Inn at Langley and book a room for that weekend. That's a fan. To say we were pleased to hear that would be an understatement. We were knocked out! Thank you to all of you who came out to welcome Deja Blooze to Langley's live music offerings. We are looking forward to an even livelier evening on March 1st. We hope to see you then.

DEJA BLOOZE CD SAMPLER
Last December, Ed and I went into David Malony's Blue Ewe recording studio in beautiful Greenbank and laid down 7 live tracks on a Sunday afternoon. Ed is a longtime veteran of studio sessions around here and previously on the East Coast, but it was my first time in a recording studio. Both Ed and David Malony made the pressure of recording as minimal as possible for this rookie. The tracks include: "Blow Wind Blow Wind", "Spoonful", "I've Had MyFun", "Walkin Blues", "Blues for Two", "Mind Your Own Business", and "First and Last Love". We have copies of the CD available for $10.

BACK INTO THE STUDIO
The Deja boys are heading back into the studio to add 7 more classic and lively blues offerings to our first efforts. We'll keep you updated.