| |
The Last Hurrah Reunion Scheduled Bands
(Exact Dates & Times Coming Soon - Subject to Change)
|
 | One of the reasons for the Hurrah’s success was the variety of music we presented. A big piece of that variety was our jazz nights and weekends. The Tom Grant band provided a local, but internationally famous addition to those nights. From Sunday night Jazz to New Year’s Eve 1986 and beyond, Tom was a big part of The Last Hurrah. A master instrumentalist, talented singer and natural entertainer, Tom nimbly walks the line between jazz tradition and modern pop. Tom has recorded 21 discs since the early 80’s and has consistently landed at the top of the Smooth Jazz charts, a genre of music he, along with another famous Last Hurrah alumni, helped pioneer in the mid-80s. http://www.tomgrant.com/ |
 | The Hurrman Burrman Band (name taken from an I Love Lucy episode) rocked into Portland from Grants Pass in 1977 and took the place by storm. The Burrmans quickly developed into one of our all time favorites. The Burrmans still record and play a few live engagements. Smiley Brion, Steve Vincent, Jim Sanders, Willie Warwick, Ron Stephens, and Lyly Annis play The Hurrah once again. "We don’t fit in any one corner, never did and never will!!!"
http://www.burrmans.com/index.htm
|
 | Early in the Hurrah’s run, Jon was the drummer for the legendary Portland band Sleazy Pieces. When the Pieces broke up, Jon approached Michael Mott with an idea for a new band, Johnny & the Distractions. Johnny & the D’s first played The Hurrah on a snowy weekend in February of 1979. From there he rose to become the most dynamic rock and roll performer Portland has ever known. Jon’s music has mellowed a bit, but it will still grab you and make you realize this is something special.
For more info http://www.jonkoonce.com/
|
| |
 | The Jeff Lorber Fusion first took the Hurrah stage on a Monday night, February 6, 1978. They returned to play Mondays for five months that year, with no cover charge during the hot summer. Jeff returned the next year, each time pushing bar records higher. Since then Jeff has been nominated for the Grammy awards, released twenty-one albums, is considered one of the fore runners of today’s Smooth Jazz genre, and also does a three-hour radio show called “Lorber’s Place” Sunday nights on Sirius’ Satellite Radio’s Jazz Café Channel. Playing with Jeff Lorber, Marlon McClain first hit the Hurrah with the legendary North Portland band, Pleasure. He then played many nights with Cool’R, who were signed, on reputation alone, to a contract before they had played a note.
|
 | Started in a Eugene coffee house in 1971, Wheatfield was already a powerhouse when they first played the Hurrah. By the mid-70’s, Wheatfield was said to be the top unsigned band in the Northwest. Long one of our favorites, they got back together in 2002 after taking about 20 years off to raise families. Original founders Will Hobbs and Pete Wolfe are joined by long time mates Paul Douglas, Kerry Canfield, and Steve Aubrey. Everyone should make a point of seeing these guys.
|
 | The Shooz first played The Hurrah early in 1981, took over the popular Wednesday night spot and ended up playing more dates at The Last Hurrah than any other band. Michael Mott backed their first album, which got them a deal with Atlantic Records, a gold album in “Poolside”, and their chart topping hit, “I Can’t Wait” in 1986. Now, with the formation of the NU SHOOZ Orchestra, the group takes yet another bold step beyond the sonic pale with an eclectic sound that is at once part funk, world beat, R&B, jazz, and avant garde movie soundtrack.
|
 | Now known as the naysayers, Rod and Rick Langdahl founded Thin Man and first played in the fall of 1982. They started out as the opening act for a couple of the Seattle bands we brought in, graduated to being a regular Ladies Night band, and stayed with us to the end. Joining Rod and Rick are Jimmy Jacobson, Bob Logue, and Dennis Winslow. the naysayers continue to play dynamic rock and roll and have released several albums, including “Come Into Focus” in 2007. |
Even More Great Last Hurrah Bands!
|
Burnside Bombers
The Bombers were The Hurrah’s second regular Wednesday Night Ladies Night band, holding that spot for over a year. They were one of our most popular rock and roll weekend bands from 1977 through our final month 10 years later. X-Angels
Played The Last Hurrah as the Cowboy Angels in our early days, and came back through the years. The X-Angels are led by Tom McGriff and John Bunzow with Rich Gooch, James Wright, & Tim Royer. They still play professionally in and around Portland. The Rascos
Hank Rasco and his bands (Hank Rasco & the Wasted Rangers, The Rasco Brothers, and The Rascos) rocked The Last Hurrah for years. Michael Mott backed the Wasted Rangers album which was recorded live at The Last Hurrah. Joining Hank are Bob Love, Mark Koreywo, and Jeff Woodcock. Lone Coyote Club
Our first regular Ladies Night Band packed the Hurrah week after week. Rockin Country and tight vocals propelled the Coyotes up to the peak of popularity during the late 70s. Bob Love, John Lansing, Jake Jacobson, Ronn Peebles, Dick Hooff, and Curly LaJolla hit the stage together again. Billy Rancher’s Unreal Gods
Billy Rancher and the Unreal Gods first played the Hurrah in early November of 1981. Billy went on to become one of Portland’s most revered songwriters. Billy’s songs and the band’s presentation drew from the swagger of the Rolling Stones, the modernism of David Bowie propelled by the rhythms of Jamaican SKA and Reggae music. Billy called this music Boom Chuck Rock. They ruled Portland and signed with Arista records in August of ’83. Billy, who had fought cancer earlier, had a relapse and succumbed to the disease in December of 1986. The original Unreal Gods (Jonny DuFresne, Billy Flaxel Gardner, Dave Stricker, Alf Ryder Wolf, and Houston Bolles) are back, performing Billy’s songs with the energy that Billy wrote into them. |
| |
