Parker Crook

Morning Star Staff

It isn害羞草研究所檛 about the money, it害羞草研究所檚 about the music.

That害羞草研究所檚 the mantra of bluesman Harpdog Brown, who害羞草研究所檚 playing with the Travelin害羞草研究所� Blues Show featuring Sugar Brown at the Prestige Inn Ballroom Saturday.

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

害羞草研究所淭his man has truly given me hope that there is a chance that classic blues is alive here in Canada,害羞草研究所� said Harpdog, the Maple Blues Award winner for Harmonica Player of the Year in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

害羞草研究所淕uys like me and Sugar are keeping the torch alive.害羞草研究所�

After meeting, the two bonded over their love of classic blues: music straight from early 害羞草研究所�50s Chicago.

害羞草研究所淭hat was wicked. It was the most natural love affair,害羞草研究所� said Harpdog. 害羞草研究所淚t was encouraging, (and) we害羞草研究所檙e pretty excited about the blues marriage.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所淏ig Eyes害羞草研究所� Smith, the late-drummer of Muddy Waters band.

害羞草研究所淪ugar Brown害羞草研究所檚 blues were shaped by playing the small clubs and venues along the west side of Chicago,害羞草研究所� said Harpdog. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 paid his dues and he害羞草研究所檚 paid his time.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 educated, but not too educated. If you get too over educated, it becomes jazz.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淢usic has become a sport 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 all tricks, but it害羞草研究所檚 lost its language.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like having the right guy on your stage,害羞草研究所� said Harpdog. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 amazed and overwhelmed by the talent.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 think anyone gets into the blues to be rich and famous,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 never going to be the flavour of the week. It害羞草研究所檚 not a sprint, it害羞草研究所檚 a marathon. Blues is a lifelong experience.害羞草研究所�

Harpdog stumbled into the world of blues after already being involved in music. He didn害羞草研究所檛 go searching for the blues, it found him.

害羞草研究所淚 can kind of see how I was designed for the circus, and blues was my circus,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淏lues is the thing (where) I really felt like I truly belonged. The blues gave me a purpose in life.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 in Kitsilano, Vancouver. In the crowd was a group of well-dressed men.

害羞草研究所淎t the end of the night, they were chanting 害羞草研究所榟arp dog, harp dog.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚 truly connected to the name. I never felt like I belonged as anything but Harpdog.害羞草研究所�

And after a divorce four years ago, he legally changed his name to Harpdog, known as 害羞草研究所淒og害羞草研究所� for short, because as he says in What害羞草研究所檚 your real name, 害羞草研究所淎fter all, I am the dog of the harp, not the harp of the dog.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚t was pretty damn successful,害羞草研究所� he said.

Despite his love for the blues, it害羞草研究所檚 still a job, and sometimes he has trouble getting out of bed in the afternoon, but he doesn害羞草研究所檛 quit.

害羞草研究所淚 never regret going to work on my way home.

害羞草研究所淧laying live is what it害羞草研究所檚 all about. Like a priest without a congregation, if there害羞草研究所檚 no audience, there害羞草研究所檚 no point.害羞草研究所�

Through playing the blues to live audiences, Harpdog has affected their lives. Hearing about other peoples害羞草研究所� struggles helps them realize their situations aren害羞草研究所檛 so bad, he said.

害羞草研究所淏lues is a practice. It害羞草研究所檚 not something to listen to. It害羞草研究所檚 something to live and to share. It害羞草研究所檚 music that can change a person害羞草研究所檚 life.害羞草研究所�

And that害羞草研究所檚 what keeps Harpdog going.

害羞草研究所淭hose moments are more valuable than money in the bank.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 about the funny, not about the money.害羞草研究所�

Tickets to Harpdog Brown and the Travelin害羞草研究所� 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 .