That ol’ Theodore’ Blues, Brews and Barbecue on Worthington Street in Springfield… they DO do a good job, do they not?
Just last week they had their annual Customer Appreciation Party, with plenty of free food and Popa Chubby afterward.
Tonight, the Kings are playing a full show, replacing the usual Wednesday Friends’ Day Open Mic Jam (with Jeff King, btw).
They even have Mel fronting- this is always a good thing, but also something of a special surprise this particular time, as she is “with child” … in fact, I think she’s bopping around a bit less than usual, probably for fear of jostling the baby bump…
The band sounds real good tonight… Trying to sum it up for Jeff, what it is I find so pleasant and positive about their sound- kinda like the Van Burens in Boston (and all around New England, really, for now…): it’s uptempo and entirely danceable; it’s all generally under a ‘Party Band’ umbrella, but it’s Rock. Like, this is FM radio’s answer to House. It ain’t whatcha call Funk, not generically anyway, but it sure do have that kinda groove. And it’s fun- this is good-time, radio-ready rock, with plenty of tasetful covers surrounding the dozen or so of the band’s originals (which lack for naught in terms of quality), often including a few nods to tradition (like, say, “Know You Rider”), and a whole bunch of crowd-pleasers (such as “Shakedown Steet” and “Miss You”)- with a bouncy touch of soul in the mix, whether by design in the repertoire, or treatment as a matter of signature or putting their ‘stamp’ on the songs. Mostly, though, what these bands play is CLEAN… and it’s fun. There’s a genre for you: Good, Clean, Fun. Trying to put a finger on it, the words that come to mind, besides ‘clean,’ are things like ‘shiny’ and ‘plasticy’ – how to translate that? Lemme think about it, but you know it’s gotta be good listenin’ – and the punch, soul and groove that make it ‘funky’ are the same elements that make it uplifting as well as danceable. Really, there’s a spiritual component in the groove! This is what I hear in common with a few bands around NY≠ we’ve talked about this before.
Everybody sings, too. How often do ya see that- a full band with a front, a dedicated, center-stage and easy-on-the-eyes singer with style and charisma, who will pick up the acoustic 6-string every here-&-there, just to round out the sound a tad more- but everybody else sings a few numbers, too?!? Melissa takes a break once in a while, or she stays and strums and adds bgv’s; but if it’s ever just the boys,… no sweat, they got it covered. They each have a couple of ‘versions’ under their belts and at the ready for vocalization, and each band member has at least one of those original compositions, as featured on their CD from last year, to his credit; so the “Balance” of lead vocals is fairly evenly distributed and entertainingly executed. Except maybe Ed, the drummer- drummers almost never write, right? but when they sing, it’s because they can- so when the Kings unleash those couple of numbers where Ed sings, well… nobody heads for the door, anyway.
And then there’s the guitar. I know we’ve talked about this before, and we’ve focused on John Cantallini a few times now; and, speaking of good clean fun, check this guy’s sound and style and superior technique. Then, Tom Coburn’s keyboards add a lot too- of course- like, plenty of bands do just fine without keys; ya don’t even think about ’em… but then we hear the Kings, with all the depth and dimension that a competent keyboard player can bring; and we hear the particular parts as added by this particular player and lifelong learner, with an academic interest that informs his playing, and one can’t help but wonder, “how did I ever go this long without…?” See, it’s like sex! Thanks, man!
Finally, there’s that whole dancing thing. Gar-un-dam-tee-ya, there’s never a whole lotta sittin’ goin’ on at a Kings’ show; ir’s an unavoidable and infectious energy that spreads through the place, wherever I seen ’em play, so that there are rarely ever as many audients seated as up and moving.
There are times when only one person ain’t up and dancing- but only when Double-M is in the house… How nice to have a song dedicated to one’s own humble self, too- “White Rabbit,” beautifully sung by Melissa with a tasteful combination of tasty embellishments and admirable restraint as perfect accompaniment from each of the other band members.
Jimm O’D ~ The Dusty Turntable
The Dusty Turntable 