Tunesmith Night at Lear's Pub & Grill

The Wallowa Valley Music Alliance continues their monthly songwriter showcase, Tunesmith Night, on Saturday, December 14 with Al Bell, Simon Tucker and Janis Carper.
 
Al Bell is from Joseph and plays blues, pop, classic rock, folk and Americana.  He writes across many genres of music but you can feel the heavy influence of his 1950's rock and roll and doo wop roots.  Having played with several local bands over the years, Bell finds the greatest satisfaction in playing solo.  He is a harmonica player by trade but racks the harp, strums the guitar and sings in a Robert Earle King-Steve Earle sort of way for his songwriter appearances. 
 
Simon Tucker came to Portland, Oregon from his hometown Lewiston, Idaho in 2011 to expand his music career, then 13 years in the making. Less than two years later, Tucker has performed at some of Portland's most renowned venues (Crystal Ballroom, Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, The Goodfoot, Mt. Tabor Theater, Laurelthirst Pub, Mississippi Studios, Horning's Hideout), and with some of its most respected players (Damian Erskine, Mike Snyder, Ben Darwish, Tyler Thompson, Russ Kleiner). Tucker artfully blend his roots in blues, soul, and gospel with more contemporary styles from the 60s onward, and performances highlight his virtuosic guitar skills, and soulful voice. 
 
Music Alliance director Janis Carper will switch hats from organizer to performer for this edition of one of her favorite programs. Her ability to craft lyrics and melodies that reach into the heart and mind is paired with a command of the guitar, resulting in songs that grip the listener—from the somber and reflective to the light and humorous. Carper’s singing style reflects influences like Bonnie Raitt, Rosanne Cash, and Lucinda Williams. Carper has enjoyed performing with The Alibis, Carper & Peterson, Carolyn Lochert and many others over the years.  Visit www.janiscarper.com for more on her music career.
 
Held every second Saturday, October through May, this monthly showcase of original music is an opportunity for songwriters to present their work to a supportive listening audience, sharing insights with the listeners and camaraderie with their fellow tunesmiths. The show is presented in a round-robin format, with each musician playing a song, then the next taking a turn, creating an interesting and varied performance.