July 2008 © 2008 ChicagoBluesBeat.com
07/08/08: Lubriphonic at B.L.U.E.S.B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted features two bands on Tuesday evenings. On this night, Big Rob Blaine aptly filled the early slot. The second band was a lesson in prejudice for me. Much of the information posted about Lubriphonic tags them as a jam band. I don't like jam bands. I know drummer Rick King and guitarist and singer Giles Corey pretty well. They play good blues. They play damn good blues, as do several of Lubriphonic's alumni. After all, they did a residency as house band in the Southside's famous Checkerboard Lounge. I had heard some songs from their new recording effort Soul Solution and would agree with the tag they use on their MySpace, "Horny Rock & Roll, Hard Soul". I hasten to add that, yes, it's blues. Joewaun Scott was on bass duty this evening. The smile he flashed all night long seem to indicate that he likes getting to stretch out on Lubriphonic's material. Johnny Cotton on trombone and Ron Haynes on trumpet found some room on the dance floor, off to the side, in front of the stage. On his lowest notes Cotton's trumbone seemed to reach more than halfway across the stage. Ron plays a different looking custom made trumpet and mouthpiece. The mouthpiece was almost invisable in his mouth and his cheeks were puffed out enough to make a trumpet teacher cringe. As a horn section, their dynamics always added to the songs tastefully. Some songs ended with the horns resolving beautifully after some sustained dissonant tension. Rick King is co-founder and drummer. Rick has graced our pages most recently with Marty Sammon. Marty is a Lubriphonic alumnus currently presiding over Buddy Guy's keys. King moves from soul to funk and back with interesting fills and Rolex timing. Out in front is co-founder Giles Corey. You may remember him from our recent Mississippi Heat feature. Corey sings and plays with a contagious passion. This guy could be a breakout talent in his own right. If you're a cd kind of person, let me suggest Soul Solution or their prior effort Supermoncho. Of course these recordings are also online. My true mission here however, is to get you to see this band live. As I write this, they are in Colorado on tour, but you can look for them to play frequently at AliveOne on North Halsted. Please take a minute to see the rest of the pictures of Lubriphonic.
The Pictures
07/05/08: Carlos Johnson at B.L.U.E.S.
I got to B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted before the band started to insure my seat.
There it was at the corner of the bar closest to the stage. The chrome legs didn’t meet the floor at the same time, and what little stuffing was left in the black cushion was being contained with silver duct tape. It was perfect. The keyboardist, Roosevelt “Hatt” Purifoy and his two keyboards decided not to try to compete for the very limited real estate on the stage riser. I’ve seen many creative ways to fit musicians on this stage, but the one common appointment is the drummer on a higher riser in the back. Pookie Styx, a very popular member of Chicago’s fine blues drummer fraternity, is tonight’s drummer. His rhythm partner is the young Rob Bell. The star of tonight’s show is Carlos Johnson. Carlos plays his right-handed Gibson upside down, having to reach back up under his left arm to adjust his volume and tone knobs. There is no pick involved and the well traveled guitar has a worn but warm finish that reflects the master’s posture.
Carlos starts by advising us that we can let or hair down, or take it off for that matter. Feel free to take the band to the bar or the car. Carlos sits against a stool, much like mine, but leans down to reach his microphone. His voice is warm and engaging. His rousing version or “Ain’t Nobody’s Business” featured every player in turn and caused more than a few party goers to re-open their tabs.
Carlos sometimes takes off in a jazzier direction with complete trust that Hatt will stay the song with the keys. They have been playing together literally since childhood. “I’ll Play the Blues for You” made famous by another lefty upside down player, featured a wonderful saxophone solo. I know synthesizers can sometimes give a convincing horn blast, and some six stringers can conjure up a B-3 sound, but Hatt Purifoy had the sax nailed with his keyboard. The attack, the envelope, timbre, sustain, and phrasing.
Carlos Johnson plays like Carlos Johnson. He is a good showman and a very good singer. I look forward to the next time our paths cross.
It was standing room only so maybe I just didn’t see you there. Don’t worry you can catch him soon in Lithuania and Italy (both Eastern suburbs of Chicago). If you’re on a short leash be sure to see Carlos at Buddy Guy’s Legends on July 31.