A clean–cut white guy from Oregon, in his 20s, David Jacobs–Strain is one of today’s more direct links to the old Mississippi delta bluesmen.
Hailed as a blues prodigy before his 12th birthday, Jacobs–Strain is a slide guitarist whose prowess on the acoustic guitar have made him a sort of modern–day folk hero in the Pacific Northwest.
At David Grisman’s invitation, Jacobs–Strain appeared alongside many of the nation’s great string players on the Tone Poets compilation. Boz Scaggs chose him to open two cross–country tours.
Jacobs–Strain has an emotional singing style, and in his songwriting (and playing style) he’s transcended traditional blues to incorporate rock, jazz, folk, and the sort of swinging, soulful Southern hybrid of great ’70s bands like Sea Level and the Atlanta Rhythm Section.
There are two Chatham County shows coming up for Jacobs–Strain. On Saturday, Oct. 23, he’ll perform at the Ships of the Sea Museum, in an 8 p.m. concert put on by the Savannah Folk Music Society. Tickets are $10 public, $5 students and seniors, and free for Folk Society members.
The next day (that’s Oct. 24) Jacobs–Strain will play at the Tybee Post Theatre. It’s the second time this year the Friends of the TBT have had music inside the still–being–renovated vintage building.
That show is at 3 p.m. Tickets are $15.
See savannahfolk.org and tybeeposttheater.org.
And now, this
@ Duly noted: Australia’s Little River Band will be in Richmond Hill’s Gregory Park Saturday at 9 p.m., headlining the Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival. Of course, it’s 2010, and Glenn Shorrock, who sang lead on all the boys from Oz’s great ‘70s hits (“Reminiscing,” “Lady,” “Cool Change”) is long gone from the lineup. Having said that, of course they’ll play all those tunes anyway. Just wanted you to understand. Admission is $12 adults, $3 children 12 and under.
@ Stan Ray and Jefferson Ross have begun the Savannah Songwriters Series, monthly “in the round” acoustic shows with our area’s pre–eminent singer/songwriters. The next one is Nov. 7 at Cha Bella Restaurant. See savannahsongwriters.com.
@ The Tybee Arts Association production of Steel Magnolias now has official performance dates: Nov. 5–14 in the Tybee Arts Center. See tybeearts.org
@ In our exclusive interview with John Mellencamp a few issues back, the sometime Tybee and Daufuskie resident talked about recording parts of his No Better Than This album in Savannah. Privately, Mellencamp told me he’d like to perform here but he wasn’t exactly crazy about the Savannah Civic Center. Well, concert dates have just been set for Columbia (Feb. 26) and Atlanta (Feb. 27).
