A concert to raise funds for a concert: that's what Chet Cannon's gig is all about Sunday March 10 at the Downtown Café in El Cajon. He calls it the Spring Harp Fest Patio Party Fun raiser, intended to help raise coin toward park permits and so on for Spring Harp Fest March 30. "I am one of the tree original founding fathers," Says Cannon, "along with John Frazer and Budd Willis." Cannon took last year off.

The Sunday lineup includes Karl Cabbage, a blues artist I've long wanted to talk to. I ask if he chose harmonica, or if it chose him.

"I think it was more of the blues that chose me. The harmonica was a means to enter the music."

To my ear, the Red Lotus Review seems less generalists as a band than a group that is tethered to the musical architecture of a very specific era. Yes?

"Most of what we do," says Cabbage, "is rooted in the 40's and 50's and sometimes even the 30's. Those eras are so rich. We started Red Lotus as a Sonny Boy Williamson II (Alec Rice Miller) tribute band, and it grew from there."

How long as a band? "Our first show as a combo was in late February or early March 2010 at the Red Lotus Society in downtown San Diego. So I guess we're going on 3 years now."

Jimmy Zollo, one of the band's guitarists, is an especially interesting player in that he both clings to tradition and yet makes it sound hip and modern. "We have 2 guitar players -- Pete Fazinni, and Jimmy Zollo," Cabbage says. "Pete and I have been playing together since the West of Memphis Blues Band days and is one of the most promising cats playing this music anywhere."

But it was Zollo, he says, who saved his life, at least musically speaking.

"I was in a very low period. I was going through a whole lot of stuff, and Jimmy would travel all the way from Oceanside to La Mesa to play this music with me. Jimmy loves this music and we jokingly refer to him as "Franchise." That's how important he is to us. He brings an edge to RLR that helps us stand out."

What plans does RLR have for Harp Fest? "We are just gonna have fun. We're gonna play a good set and hang out with friends we don't get to see all the time. The set should be typical RLR trad blues with an edge."

It's known that Cabbage personally (and not the band) is a Christian, and I'm wondering how that jibes with the playing of the blues? Cabbage says he in fact draws much inspiration from on high for a variety of reasons. "But most of all, because Jesus knows what it is like to love people who don't love you back."

Downtown Cafe in El Cajon. Sunday, March 10. Music starts at 2:30 pm. With Rachelle Danto, Artie Faxas, Karl Dring, and more. Special showcase set at 5:30 pm by the Little Kings with Mark Jackson on harp. No cover in lieu of donation. Hosted by Chet and the Committee.