The current incarnation of the BDBS (Andy "Badd Dog" Koch, BDBS veteran guitarist Randy Howe, bassist Luke Houglum and drummer Ian Shuler) are on their way to rounding out a ten-week stay at Kito's Kave.
Kito's is one of two bars at opposite ends of town, and it takes about five minutes at a casual pace to walk between them. Either place could make a fine setting for a blues documentary, with the commercial fishermen and cannery workers mixing it up with the sport fishermen that pass through their town, but Kito's (on Sing Lee Alley) has the Badd Dog in the house.
I was fortunate enough to sit in with BDBS on sets two nights in a row before I had to take the ferry out of town, but it was good just to sit and listen and wait my turn, too. The rhythm section lays it down for Andy and Randy. I found myself listening intently to Randy's tasty rhythm and lead guitar, and enjoyed his blues drumming on tunes when he handed his Strat over to me. Ian and Luke have added their own spice to the BDBS, too.
But this gig is the making of Mr. Andy Koch, in his fifth year at Petersburg, and he wouldn't be there if he and the town hadn't developed a true love for each other. In my short time, I have to say, what's not to love? The musicians are treated well, and friendships in a small town translate to hospitality.
There are some fine friends to the blues in Petersburg, as there are in Bellingham. I found myself stopping in Sing Lee Alley on my last night before wishing the band goodbye, talking with Petersburg friends I'd made in the short time I was there.
Long story short, Petersbug is a fine place to be, and it's a better place with the BDBS in town. Andy plans to wrap up with a short stay in Juneau before returning to home base in Bellingham, WA. Let's welcome him home when he gets back!
