Page 78 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2016

YOUng gUnS BLAzIng

By John Porter
Don’t tell the likes of Cole (age 18) and Logan Layman video. It was like someone flipped a switch and I knew this
(15), Jake Kulak (16), August Domanchuk (17), Joe Tellmann was the kind of music that excited me. I started looking at his
(16) and Jamiah Rogers (20) that the blues are disappearing, influences and that took me deeper and deeper into the blues.
because these talented performers are among the next I ended up taking the entire family in with me.”
generation of blues artists working hard to keep the blues The whole family, making up their band In Layman Terms,
thriving. In a world driven by singers manufactured by shows includes his younger sister Logan, who plays bass and
like The Voice and American Idol, it’s encouraging that they handles the vocals, as well as their mother Sandy, manager
found their way despite the lack of the blues on most radio and occasional drummer. Father Doug heads up their road
stations. These young guns face the same daily routines and
challenges as most youth, but at night they jump on stage and crew, and their dog Capo is the head of security.
Jake Kulak took a similar route to the blues, discovering
bring down the house playing the blues – which may bring
criticism and misunderstanding from their peers, but makes the music via YouTube while researching the roots of musician
them inspiringly unique. In a way, they are like heroes of the Jack White. “A lot of his songs were covers of older blues
blues, since their passion and commitment to blues culture and songs,” says Kulak. “My parents bought me a guitar when
music is what will keep the blues alive. I was 11 and I quickly taught myself how to play blues songs.
“I discovered the blues on YouTube,” says Cole Layman, They arranged for me to take guitar lessons, and my guitar
“when I found Riviera Paradise, the Stevie Ray Vaughan teacher had me performing with him in a few months. From

Cole and Logan Layman of In Layman Terms Jake Kulak plays blues and jazz guitar, as well as classical piano
Photo by Wendy Podmenik Darugar Photo by Exclusive Image

76 Blues Festival Guide 2016