The years and depth of experience give The Smokin’ Polecats their sound. Attend one of our shows, listen and you will hear the Post-World War 2 ensemble sound of the Chicago Masters like Jimmy Rogers, Little Walter, and Hubert Sumlin; the West Coast Jump/Swing sound of Tiny Grimes, Pee Wee Crayton, and T-Bone Walker; the Rock'a'Billy sound of Carl Perkins and Johnny Burnette; or the Louisiana swamp blues of Slim Harpo. Listen again and you will hear that these are not songs they simply learned from records -- this is the way they play and write music. The Smokin' Polecat's original tunes can be heard on their "21st Century Blues" CD , as well as in venues all over the DC/Balt area.
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Saturday |
Zoo Bar
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With special guest Marianna Previti |
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Saturday |
Zoo Bar
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With special guest Jamie Lynch |
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Saturday |
Zoo Bar
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With special guest Marianna Previti |
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Wednesday |
Swing Dance, featuring Marianna Previti
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Hamburgers and cheeseburgers are half-price 4-8pm on Wednesday nights! Also, be sure to check out Gotta Swing website, where area hepcats go for the best in swing dance instruction and dancing events. |
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Saturday |
Zoo Bar
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With special guest Jamie Lynch |
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Friday |
Swing Dance, featuring Marianna Previti
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Come join us with Gary and Sue at this outstanding venue. Be sure to check out Gotta Swing website, where area hepcats go for the best in swing dance instruction and dancing events. |
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Saturday |
Zoo Bar
|
With special guest Marianna Previti |
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Saturday |
Zoo Bar
|
With special guest Jamie Lynch |
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Tuesday |
Swing Dance, featuring Marianna Previti
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Tuesday nights in Clarendon are always rockin' with Tom and Debra! Be sure to check out Gotta Swing website, where area hepcats go for the best in swing dance instruction and dancing events. |
Check back often to see our future shows.
Dave Sherman: Vocals and guitar. Dave has a 27-year history of playing the blues. He was instrumental in starting The Rhythm Masters, The Smokin' Presstones, Little Jr. & The Hitmen, and Dave Sherman & The Nightcrawlers. He also held down the lead guitar slot in The Uptown Rhythm Kings. Dave learned his craft from the masters by backing up blues greats Earl King, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Rogers, Otis Rush, Nappy Brown, and James Cotton. This depth of experience gives Dave his sound, and prompted William Tripplett, of Washingtonian magazine, to call him a 'virtuoso of electric blues'.
Roger 'Pork Chop' Edsall: Harp, Guitar and Vocals. Roger is one of the top blues harpists in the mid-Atlantic region. He combines a mix of styles from classic pioneers Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson, as well as contemporary gurus Kim Wilson, Gary Primich and Doug Jay. Roger started the popular DC area groups Bad Influence and Pork Chop & The Top Dogs, plus had the good fortune to work with some of Washington's best, including The Nightcrawlers, David Earl, Big Joe and the Dynaflows, James Mabry, and Jimmy Thackery. Ron Weinstock of Living Blues magazine says, 'Roger Edsall is always top harp player.'.
Fred Hillyard: Bass. A Washington DC native, Fred is an accomplished freelance, recording, and session musician who is an equally competent drummer. His uncluttered, traditional bass playing approach keeps the groove going strong. Fred has performed with many top regional blues acts including Tough Luck, Bad Influence, Johnny & the Headhunters, Little Ronnie & The Grand Dukes, and Pork Chop & The Top Dogs.
Kevin Whisman: Drums. Kevin is one of a very few drummers in the area who knows how to truly play a shuffle groove. Guaranteed to get your foot tapping every time. Kevin and Fred combine in forming one of the east coast's tightest rhythm sections. (In fact, these guys still have the first bucks they made on a gig!) Kevin has also played with a wide variety of top groups in the DC area.
Check out these great sites! Gotta Swing: Tom Koerner and Debra Sternberg keeping the DC area jumpin' & jivin'! Baltimore Blues Society: The best of blues, R & B, and jazz hitting the streets and radios stations in Baltimore.
Right On Rhythm: Check out all the best in local D.C. blues and jazz venues and recordings.
More cool stuff to follow soon, folks...
"Among the virtuosos of electric blues is Dave Sherman..."
-- William Tripplet of Washingtonian magazine
"Roger Edsall is always top harp player..."
-- Ron Weinstock of Living Blues magazine says in the D.C. Blues Society newsletter
"The Smokin' Polecats know how to play the blues in all styles and for all tastes."
-- Bill Wax, blues radio programmer
"Jumping shuffles, wailing harp, and stinging guitar set against a backdrop of Blues that ranges from West Coast Swing, Louisiana Swamp, and everything in between."
-- Andy Allu, Silkcity Records
Some Hot Web Sites