KGNU’s DJ Steve Cser sits down with longtime Boulder blues musician Paul Soderman for an in-depth conversation about his decades-long journey through music, community, and the Colorado blues scene. Soderman reflects on arriving in Boulder in 1988, the open stages and blues jams that shaped his career, and formative experiences working with the Monterey Jazz and Blues Festivals, where he learned directly from legends like B.B. King, Etta James, John Lee Hooker, and Charlie Musselwhite. The interview weaves together personal stories, reflections on the healing power of blues music, and memories of Boulder’s organic music spaces—including the influential Outlook Hotel era. Soderman also shares music from past projects, discusses his ongoing work at Roots Music Project, and highlights the importance of supporting local musicians and community-driven spaces (November 28, 2025).
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DJ Steve Cser: Pleased and honored to introduce Paul Soderman on the air here. Paul has been in the area for a long time. I remember seeing you back in the nineties playing, and you’ve got a lot of things to say. Why don’t you introduce yourself to the listeners?
Paul Soderman: I just want to say thanks so much for inviting me down here Friday night to KGNU, the hallowed halls here in Boulder, Colorado. Long live KGNU. I really appreciate coming down here and reminiscing a little bit.
I came to Boulder in 1988. Rolled in here straight out of Austin, Texas, and Monterey, California, via Princeton, New Jersey, which was my home. It was a crazy ride. I ended up here one summer and started meeting musicians. I sang a song and somebody handed me a $20 bill, and I said, “Well, I better stick around here.”
It was going good. The venue was the Hi-Lo — Peggy’s Hi-Lo. Then they asked if I wanted to open for Gatemouth Brown. I didn’t even know who that was. They asked if I had a band and I said yes, which was a little far from the truth. I ran down to Rob’s Music on Pearl Street and said I needed a band to play for Gatemouth Brown. That was an amazing experience and I learned a lot that night.
Some of the guys who played that gig are still around. I don’t even remember if we got paid. Then we started an open stage at JJ McCabe’s, and that’s how my whole thing started in Boulder. Monday nights, musicians from Rob’s Music — a lot of music got made on that stage.
Then more blues jams with Lionel, Mark Diamond, and those guys. Today I try to stay in touch with them and jump up and sing a song when I can.
DJ Steve Cser: I’ve seen you play fairly recently over at Roots Music Project. That’s where we started chatting about this.
Paul Soderman: That was an event with a bunch of friends. My wife Kathy was there. Roots Music Project is the greatest thing to come along in a long time. I love what Dave Kennedy and the crew are doing there — breathing life into the music scene.
I host a monthly open stage there. I love working there. We all spend time there and it’s a cool thing.
DJ Steve Cser: We do cabaret programs there once a quarter. Thanks to Dave and the crew for making that happen.
You brought me a CD. You said cut number one.
Paul Soderman: Let me give some background. This was a band I was in about ten years ago called Blues House. These guys were doctors and lawyers who loved the blues. We recorded at Cooper Studio, did a bunch of shows, and had a great time. Paul Zeiss on guitar, his brother on drums, and a horn section of professionals. Cooper Studio did a great job, so I brought some of that old music down.
DJ Steve Cser: When was it recorded?
Paul Soderman: A long time ago.
DJ Steve Cser: Alright folks.
Song plays
Paul Soderman: There it is. I haven’t heard that in a minute. That bass player played fretless bass like a madman. Jack Zli was the drummer. That was a fun band.
DJ Steve Cser: Sounded great in the headphones.
Paul Soderman: Blues House was a good band.
DJ Steve Cser: What’s a standout memory from playing in bands since 1988?
Paul Soderman: The human beings — the musicians. They’re my favorite people. My dad was a musician from Stockholm, Sweden. I grew up in a musical household.
We forged camaraderie playing ski towns, six nights in a row, Little Bear in Evergreen, seven shows in seven days. You build something real doing that.
I’m not a fan of the music business. Hunter S. Thompson said it’s a shallow plastic trench, and I added my own thoughts to that. But the blues answers the call in hard times. It’s medicine.
I fell backwards into the Monterey Jazz Festival stage crew and spent winters in Big Sur listening to cassette tapes — that was my college. I met Etta James, B.B. King, Dizzy Gillespie, John Lee Hooker, Charlie Musselwhite. I had a two-hour coffee with Charlie. Those guys schooled me.
DJ Steve Cser: You mentioned a John Lee Hooker story.
Paul Soderman: I was in the wings when Hooker drove up in a 1952 Cadillac. The band went to the four chord too early and Hooker turned around and said, “Hooker go to the four when Hooker want to go to the four.” Those guys got scolded.
DJ Steve Cser: Tell folks about the Outlook Hotel.
Paul Soderman: After Hurricane Katrina, Dan King opened the doors to musicians from New Orleans. They lived there and played in the lobby. It created an organic blues scene in Boulder. Artists like Tommy Castro, Candy Kane, Chris Cain — one of the greatest living guitar players. I got to sing with Chris Cain one night. One of the greatest nights of my life.
DJ Steve Cser: I remember Alvin Youngblood Hart there.
Paul Soderman: It was organic, like roots music. Let’s keep it going.
DJ Steve Cser: Track four?
Paul Soderman: This is a reworking of the first song I ever wrote, living in my Toyota Corolla in Austin, Texas. It’s called “Last Dollar Blues.”
DJ Steve Cser: Alright folks, KGNU FM 88.5 Boulder, 1390 Denver.
Song plays
Paul Soderman: That’s a true story. I want to shout out my buddies still doing it — Al Ches, Lionel Young, Darryl Smith. Support those guys.
DJ Steve Cser: You’ve got a gig at Roots coming up?
Paul Soderman: This Tuesday, 6:30 to 8:30. It’s called Sober Night Live. Everyone is in recovery. Songwriters, spoken word, comedians. I’ve been clean and sober a long time. Someone asked if I could still sing the blues. I said I live in Boulder, do yoga, and have a golden retriever — it’s hard.
DJ Steve Cser: What’s queued next?
Paul Soderman: A song called “I Died That Day,” written with my songwriting partner Stephen Allen Davis, who passed from liver cancer. This song is about recovery.
DJ Steve Cser: Thanks for coming by, Paul.
Paul Soderman: Long live KGNU. Support KGNU and Roots Music.
Song plays
DJ Steve Cser: Time is 8:34. Thanks for joining us. Big thanks to Paul Soderman for coming in and sharing stories of the Boulder blues scene.
