Are you in the mood for some really good classic rock that doesn't require paying thirteen dollars to park or driving 30 miles north, sitting in traffic for 2 hours while trying to exit the parking lot? Look no further, my KGON classic rock fans!

Tim Ellis and Jim Walker have been in the Portland area since 1994 and have a bigger fan base than anyone in the local area. (That is, of course, my humble opinion.) They are also known as JVA. It's kind of a long story but here is the abridged version: Tim Ellis has played guitar since he was in the womb, is married with six children, has played with the likes of Tom Petty and owns his own recording studio in Southeast PDX called Kung Fu Bakery. He plays guitar like a man who sold his soul to the devil as a child in exchange for a charmed life as the greatest guitar player ever. Jim Walker is vegetarian, married with no kids, and runs his own recording studio out of the dark basement in his home. He is the lyrical, musical genious behind all of the JVA original songs that these two guys crank out.

I first met Tim and Jim when they played at a bar I used to work at in Tualatin, Hayden's Lakefront Grill (OK, I did leave Hayden's under a cloak of alcohol-soaked infractions, many of which included doing shots with Tim and Jim in the walk-in cooler, but I bear no ill will. Obviously, I am pimping their bar on my site, although it's not nearly as much fun without me there over-pouring, dancing and singing and throwing my panties....uh, never mind.) They have played there nearly every weekend for years and I encourage you, no, I demand, that you make the trip to white-bred, middle-class suburbia--the stuff nightmares are made of-- and check these two out. If it's not worth your trip, I will call you a liar and possibly hit you. 

In addtion to Jim's original masterpieces, they do these incredible classic rock medleys, featuring Pink Floyd, Tom Petty, a little Zeppelin, Warren Zevon and Elvis Costello to name only a few. In four hours of playing, they take only ONE break and then they continue to crank until they are both sweaty and spent. They just keep playing and playing and playing. Really good stuff! And they are funny too. They usually end the show with a little ditty called Spandex, about how "spandex are a priviledge, not a right." "How we shouldn't wear the bike pants if they fit too tight." How they are a "priviledge for the lucky few"....Trust me people, I have seen them more than 100 times and have never been disappointed. I'm actually surprised I havent been added to the stalker list yet. 

I could go on and on about these guys but if it's effing amazing local classic rock you desire, look no further than Tim and Jim. If you email Jim, he will add you to his mailing list which lets you know where T and J will be playing each week.  Jim also writes little stories about growing up in LA and being the fat kid everyone picked on. If you are one of those MySpace devotees who bases your entire happiness on how many friends you have, check them out there too, http://www.myspace.com/jvamusic.  By the way, they have 5535 friends at last count. That's alot. Because they rock. Go and see them NOW!

They also play at this new fancy-pants restaurant down on Second street called Chayote Grill. Expensive entrees, cheap happy hour and wonderful acoustics. I think it might be an old fire station, based on the large brick bays and the firehouse bell hanging on the wall. But I could be wrong. But if you don't want to make the trip to suburbia hell, check them out at Chayote. But first, get on the damn mailing list so you know where they're playing! No cover at Chayote or Hayden's. That's where I will be this Friday night at 7pm. They will also be at Hayden's this Saturday from 7:30 til 11. See ya there!


PS- Lisa and Chris, if their are any gramattical erors or typos you wish me to fix, please email you're corrections imediateley, alinford@entercom.com. Love you guys!