Bobble Tiki’s first love, even before booze, broads or breakfast burritos, was the blues. Bobble Tiki’s head is full of fond memories of listening to the classics with the Old Man — and by Old Man Bobble Tiki means Bobble Tiki Sr.  Tiki Sr.’s collection of classic blues was the stuff of legend, enough Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Son House, and Muddy Waters to fill a room — literally. Bobble Tiki spent many a Saturday night in the Old Man’s office, playing with his coconut husk pipe and studying the blues.

Even once Bobble Tiki discovered rock ’n’ roll, hip-hop, reggae and trance, there was still a soft spot in his thumper for good ol’ fashioned blues. As Bobble Tiki has aged, this has remained constant.

As Bobble Tiki got older and older, so did the blues he loves listening to. Unlike other genres of music, where Bobble Tiki often finds new artists he totally digs, the blues is different. There’s really no such thing as breaking new ground in the blues, and for the most part Bobble Tiki has stuck with the staples.

Occasionally, though, Bobble Tiki stumbles across a real, live blues act that he’s never heard of before and can’t get enough of. Such is the case with The Delta Project, who will play Bob’s Java Jive this week on Friday, March 7. The Delta Project is built on the musicianship of two blues loving brothers with enough fire in their veins to breathe life into a genre where no water is uncharted. Together, Matt and Dan Ritchie, along with bassist extraordinaire Bill Nehl, The Delta Project, who pride themselves on a specified breed of “bottleneck” or “delta” blues, will head south on Interstate 5 from their home in Seattle this week to prove once and for all not all blues is dead.

Bobble Tiki was lucky enough to catch up with guitarist and singer Matt Ritchie and bassist Bill Nehl this week to get some insight on all things blues related:  

BOBBLE TIKI: Obviously, you play the blues. But you’re more specific than that. You play “bottleneck blues” or “delta blues.” For layman, what’s the difference?

MATT RITCHIE: Mostly that the material does not fall into a 12-bar three-chord pattern. And of course the “bottleneck” part means you use the slide on guitar during rhythms, and for leads.

TIKI: How’d you come to love delta blues?

BILL NEHL: Watching BB King on PBS when I was 16.

TIKI: Talk about your band. How does the creative process work for you guys and what are the pros and cons of playing with family members?

RITCHIE: First off we are a power trio. Bill Nehl (bass player) who has 25 years experience playing bass and doing one man band performance. My brother Dan and I have been playing together for 12 years. The creative process flows very easily between the two of us. It is like we share the same ideas simultaneously. This gives us a lot of freedom to play and be very expressive in our shows to help match the mood of the crowd. We have been VERY blessed with Bill on bass, who has a great feel for the awkward and unique timing that my brother and I have developed over the years.

TIKI: What are you expecting from your gig at Bob’s Java Jive?

RITCHIE: We are expecting a good crowd, and (to) have a good time. It is always a lot of fun, interacting with the audience, and we usually make a couple new friends. And if we are REALLY lucky some girl might show us her boobies.

TIKI: What is it like being a modern day blues artist? It’s almost impossible to break new ground playing the blues, so explain to people the appeal. Why do you play the blues?

RITCHIE: Yes it is hard to break through playing traditional blues like BB King, Buddy Guy, etc. However, we all have a really strong emotional connection to this music. It runs through our veins.  For all us this is genuine. Anything else would be selling out!

TIKI: How healthy is the blues scene in Seattle and Tacoma?

RITCHIE: It is dying! This is because you’ve had the same 15 bands playing all the A level clubs in the area for the past 10 years. There is very little that’s new and fresh. However, this is really the case in most music cities across the U. S. The nice thing about that is it helps to create separation from what is living breathing blues that we play and the museum nostalgia played by the establishment.

TIKI: What is in the future for the Delta Project?

RITCHIE: We are finishing our debut album to be released on Cosa Nostra Records.

TIKI: If there is one thing people should know, what is it?

RITCHIE: Come see us, and you will see the REAL DEAL. Blues is not about lineage, but about inspiration.

As always, Bobble Tiki doesn’t care what you do this week because he doesn’t even know you. Unless you can explain to Bobble Tiki what’s up with the blogosphere, he probably doesn’t want to meet you. Scratch that. Bobble Tiki just decided he’s done with trying to understand the blogosphere and doesn’t want to think about it anymore. Don’t fret, though, you can still enjoy Breakfast with Bobble Tiki Monday through Saturday at www.weekly volcanospew.com.

[Bob’s Java Jive, The Delta Project, The Tough Times, State of Security, Friday, March 7, 8 p.m., 2102 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253.475.9843].