Parallel 44 Presents is proud to welcome Ural Thomas & the Pain with Maxwell Friedman Group on Saturday March 31st to Volcanic Theatre Pub. Doors are at 8:30 for this all ages show. Advance $12 & $15 door. This evening of musical genius is sponsored by Dr. Jolly’s, The Source Weekly, BIGS Hydroponics and Cascade Alchemy.
About Ural Thomas & the Pain:
Ural Thomas is, and forever will be Portland's pillar of soul. He started singing beneath his mother's knee in church at the age of 3. By high school he led the doo-wop group the Mono Rays, breaking hearts and taking names at Jefferson High and Irvington Park along the way. Ural's voice and songwriting soon gained national attention and he found himself sharing the stage with the likes of James Brown, Otis Redding, Johnny Guitar Watson and garage outfits of the 1960's (The Kingsman, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Cavaliers Unlimited) and he never for a moment stopped teaching, singing and loving soul music.
Now Ural is poised to represent Portland on equal ground with contemporaries like Lee Fields, Sharon Jones, and Charles Bradley, all of whom ultimately gained their dues in their golden years. To ensure the legacy he's backed by a 9 piece band comprised of some of the most recognizable session and solo players in town. Band leader/drummer Scott Magee (aka DJ Cooky Parker) has arranged a setlist compiled from the gilded age of soul and R&B and Ural originals, all with a sharp focus on moving the dance floor. The foot stomping days of Jump Town, USA have returned and Ural Thomas & the Pain are here to lead the way.
About Maxwell Friedman Music:
Maxwell Friedman is a rising star in the live music scene. At just 14-years old, the Hammond B3 phenom has shared the stage with Karl Denson (legendary saxophone player of the Rolling Stones and Karl Denson's Tiny Universe), Michael Franti, Tony Monaco, The Werks, ALO, & Tank and the Bangas to name a few. At 12 Maxwell gave a Ted talk about his musical journey to a packed house in his hometown.
He is currently working on his demo EP, recorded at the legendary Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco. Maxwell's command of the stage is well beyond his years, and he hopes to be an inspiration for the next generation of music lovers. Maxwell leans heavily on his incredible rhythm section (Mark Karwan on bass and Connor Streeter on drums) to create a funky, soulful, jazzy sound that he dubs "neo-jazz funk soul fusion."
Ural Thomas & the Pain: uralthomasandthepain.com
Maxwell Friedman Music: www.maxwellfriedmanmusic.com
Dr. Jolly’s: www.jollybend.com
The Source Weekly: www.bendsource.com
BIGS Hydroponics: www.bendsindoor.com
Cascade Alchemy: www.cascadealchemy.com
Parallel 44 Presents: www.parallel44presents.com
Volcanic Theatre Pub: volcanictheatrepub.com