Every city has its musical gems—performers and bands who are the favorites of the musician community and passionately devoted, in-the-know listeners and fans. Groups who could attract a national audience but in the meantime can still be experienced up close and personal in local clubs. I recently moved to Portland, and one of the Rose City’s true musical jewels is that town’s premier alt-country act, Miller and Sasser. The group has just released its second CD, “Tell It To The Jukebox,” and it’s an effort that fully displays all the unique hallmarks of this great band: Matthew James Sasser's gorgeous voice, Chris G Miller’s world-class guitar chops (he’s a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and is the guy who Dave Alvin, Asleep At The Wheel, and Marcia Ball call when they need a guitar player), the stellar songwriting of both front men (heavily influenced by the hook-laden country hits of the ‘70s and their jazz and r&b backgrounds), and the ear-opening twin-guitar voicings of brothers Chris and Ian Miller. “Tell It To The Jukebox” manages to be just as fulfilling and exciting as the group’s live shows, which is really saying something. If you’re not hip to these guys, or if it’s been a while, please go see them at one of their local shows (see their calendar at millerandsasser.com) and get yourself a copy of “Tell It To The Jukebox” from CDBaby and other outlets. Miller and Sasser—my hot musical tip of 2017. They're killing it.
