Coco Montoya at Jimmy Mak's on Oct. 23, 2014

Coco Montoya hit Portland's Jimmy Mak's on October 23 to celebrate the release of his new live album, Songs From The Road, recorded at The Triple Door in Seattle. Alongside his band (Nathan Brown on bass, Brant Leeper on keys and background vocals, and Rena Beavers on drums and background vocals), the group filled one of the great rooms in town with a soulful and uplifting night of live music. Montoya—who was inspired by Albert King, mentored by Albert Collins, and spent eight years with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers before breaking out on his own in the mid '90s—has a heart as big as the world and a backstory second to none. Last night's show was filled with great songs, stories and, of course, Montoya's masterful guitar playing.