[Howlin’ Hounddog & the Infamous Loosers will perform Saturday, August 11, at the East Burn (1800 E. Burnside, Portland) from 10PM to 1AM. A good time will be had by all who attend, so make certain to be there.]
I met Howlin’ Hounddog at the recent Rocket party where he told me that he and his band, the Infamous Loosers, would soon perform in Portland. Mr. Hounddog is a charming fellow in person whose gregarious manner is nothing like the boisterous tough-guy heroes of many of his country-blues and honky tonk songs. Howlin’, whose real name is Erik, is the owner of Vagrant Records and has been a fixture of Seattle music for many years where he is instantly recognized everywhere by his distinctive black hat and sunglasses, two fashion statements which add both danger and mystery to his persona.
Hounddog, who counts Blind Willie McTell as a primary influence, calls his music, Porch Music, because it is “what you play on the porch with your friends when you want to hang out and do that kind of stuff.” There is a spontaneous quality to Hounddog’s music which enhances the deeply felt and urgently sung lyrics of his earthy, edgy and direct compositions. If these are songs played on Mr. Hounddog’s porch, he must live in an emotionally charged house where Erik is clearly the biggest dog on the porch. (And if you can’t run with the big dogs, as they say, get off the porch.)
Howlin’ Hounddog’s 2011 release, The Adventures of Howlin’ Hounddog, and his 2008 work, Goin’ to the Country, are both excellent. He plays country blues mixed with rock, rockabilly, am-trad, country, alt-country and urban blues. There’s a lot of Highway 61-era Dylan in his music, as well as touches of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Howlin’ Wolf and early Lowell George.
Hounddog tours frequently, something he enjoys immensely, adding “Luckily, I get to travel around touring, doing that kinda stuff for folks all over this big world, and sometimes I even get paid for it.”
When he comes to your town, you absolutely MUST get out and see him.
Stream some of his music here:
