As a fan of the blues, Bobble Tiki often hears it, and sometimes even thinks it himself. Blues is an old man’s music.

For one, Bobble Tiki doesn’t have children, but he sees plenty of the little shits when Mrs. Tiki drags him to the mall. Bobble Tiki may not be hip, but he’s walked by a Hot Topic or two in his time, and none of those kids seem to be at all interested in the blues. And while rock and roll was born from the blues, when MTV or MTV2 through 17 are actually playing music videos, the blues isn’t exactly represented. In fact, it’s nowhere to be found. Bobble Tiki realizes these two observations don’t really equal a scientific study, but still — facts are facts.
There are plenty of things that suggest the blues is an aging genre.

It’s when people start to call the blues dead that Bobble Tiki takes issue.

A band like Portland’s the Insomniacs are one of a handful of young blues acts proving the contrary. Led by 25-year-old guitarist Vyasa Dodson, who’s joined by bassist Dean Mueller and drummer Dave Melyan along with keyboardist Alex Shakeri, the Insomniacs are fresh faced and full of spit and vinegar — but pay equal homage to the history of blues as they do its future. It’s an outlook Bobble Tiki appreciates, especially from mere kids, and an approach that excites Bobble Tiki leading up to the Insomniacs’ performance at Jazzbones Friday, April 11.

It’s hard not to take notice of the Insomniacs old-meets-new way of thinking. The band’s music, a healthy mix of Junior Watson and Hollywood Fats influences cut with roots flavor, carries all the traditional values you expect from the blues. But the Insomniacs also hit your ear fresh, not at all like vibrations coming from a tired and rehashed genre. The band’s energy is anything but elderly.

Then there’s their gear. For all that’s new and exciting about the Insomniacs, the band carries guitars and amplifiers with them on tour that could be considered artifacts. The Insomniacs’ Magnatone and Ampeg tube amps are museum worthy, to say the least. Dodson plays a ’51 Fender that looks like it has more stories than you and Bobble Tiki combined. And Mueller wields a1964 Framus Star Bass, which Bobble Tiki doesn’t know much about other than it’s as old as Ian Zering.

But the music is where it’s at. There’s something about the Insomniacs’ unmistakable forward trajectory coupled with their mastery of the past that makes the band irresistible to Bobble Tiki. And he’s not alone. Plenty of real players in the blues community are singing the praises of the Insomniacs, not just one bobble doll from Tacoma. The Blues Foundation, whose home office is located in Memphis, nominated the Insomniacs for the Best New Artist Debut award in 2008. Last year Bluescritic.com named the Insomniacs’ song “Crime Scene” one of the top 20 contemporary blues songs of 2007. The Insomniacs also won a Muddy Award from Oregon’s Cascade Blues Association for Best New Act of 2006, and took home another trophy in 2007 for Best Contemporary Act. (Bobble Tiki assumes all awards come with trophies.)

Those who are skeptical and might need a little recorded proof before they believe all the nice things Bobble Tiki is saying about the Insomniacs need look no further than 2007’s Left Coast Blues. The band’s debut, released by Delta Groove (see: Tommy Castro, Sean Costello, Anna Popovic, Jason Ricci, and many other notable acts), Left Coast Blues quickly earned the Portland-based Insomniacs a regarded status similar to other Rose City blues staples like Paul Delay and Curtis Salgado. That’s quite an impact for a debut CD to have on blues fans with high standards, but (as they say) the proof’s in the pudding — and Bobble Tiki’s tasted it. Wherever the Insomniacs play they earn new, devoted fans. That’s exactly what Bobble Tiki expects to happen this Friday at Jazzbones.

As usual, Bobble Tiki doesn’t care what you do this week because he doesn’t even know you. In that respect, that makes this week just like the 335 that came before it. While Bobble Tiki appreciates the admiration of his several fans, the idea of you and Bobble Tiki ever becoming soul mates or best chums just ain’t going to happen. Hopefully you can get past this. Check out Breakfast with Bobble Tiki every Monday through Saturday at www.weeklyvolcanospew.com and consider your relationship with this island-themed souvenir as close as it’s going to get.

[Jazzbones, The Insomniacs, James Howlett Band, Friday, April 11, 9 p.m., $10, 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396.9169]