One year ago, Smoking Joe’s, a hip bar-be-que joint in St. Louis, Missouri, caught the eye of Jakarta businessman Sammy Bulong, who has arranged to bring the franchise to Asia. The first Asian branch has recently opened, and Gugun Blues Shelter will be performing there on May 12, which, we think, is part of the [...]
Continue reading US-Based Smoking Joe’s Opens In Jakarta
The blues scene in Phnom Penh is driven by a handful of expat musicians. Fortunately, among them, they cover all the essential instruments, and they are out energetically performing the blues several times a month. Recently, I caught up with blues vocalist Kristen Rasmussen, who has been in Cambodia since 2004 working as a development [...]
Continue reading CAMBODIA: The Blues Scene Is Small But Vibrant
We’ve covered a lot over the past couple of weeks, but it shows up in the right sidebar of the website, where posts to our Facebook Page appear. But my major project right now is preparing a ASIA-PACIFIC BLUES DIRECTORY, which is turning into a much bigger project than I imagined. I hope to be [...]
Continue reading Blues Round Up: April 21
Our Blues Asia Network Facebook Page has been very busy the past two weeks, with many brief announcements. A few days ago, we added our Facebook Page stream to our website sidebar so that visitors can catch breaking news there. With this post, we hope to bring the most important news into our email newsletter, [...]
Continue reading Blues News Roundup: April 6
Philippine musicians from various music genres pulled together last Friday night for a rapidly organized 6-hour fund-raising concert appropriately entitled “Jam for Japan.” The blues sector was ably represented by Nino Mendoza and the Blue Jean Junkies. And blues harp player Thomas “Tomcat” Colvin jammed on Johnnie B. Goode with “Coach” Mel Orosa, a multi-genre [...]
Continue reading Philippine Musicians Raise $400,000 at Jam for Japan
Adrian Adioetomo is a genuine blues legend in Indonesia, and his fame has spread well beyond the country’s borders. He is a master at blues finger-style guitar; his abilities are truly world-class. He has announced that he will be playing Monday night at Largo, Benda Raya 7a, Kemang, in Jakarta. The event is billed as [...]
Continue reading Adrian Adioetomo: Magic Fingers
Please log into the site.
Joey Huerta, 
Thomas Gregoire are discussing. 
This article, the restaurant and owner, Joel Rozelle, are a joke. How can Smoking Joe’s be a “sensation” when it subsisted the entire time it existed in St. Louis? The staff actively ran blocker for the owner, Joel Rozelle, to avoid paying vendors. The restaurant didn’t pay its bills and left other small business vendors on the hook for start-up costs and then closed its doors in its home town only to transplant across the globe to avoid collections efforts. This is the image of success we laud. Sad.
As administrator of Blues Asia Network, it pains me to approve Thomas Gregoire’s comment. But in fairness, I do so. Maybe someone will add a comment clarifying Thomas’s comment.
As I understand it is correct that my previous employer owes investors all over the vity of St. Louis. and upon closing at 1901 Washington Ave. None of the employees myself included were paid our last check. In fact we were having trouble with his checks bouncing. It makes no sense, just run a business that works and get involved and get active employees involved and this will probably work or at least be competetive. Fenrixarena@gmail.com