The Damon Fowler Group, 5 p.m.
Described
as having a "take-no-prisoners" attitude, this Florida-based
blues ensemble generates powerful energy and sizzling stage shows.
Led by the guitarist, singer, and songwriter Damon Fowler, this group
delivers a wide range of original works and blues standards with an
impressive array of talent.
Fowler picked up the guitar at age 11 and by 14 had his first gig at a small club in Tampa. Damon is a master of the six string, with a powerful command of the lap-steel, dobro, and slide guitars. Chuck Riley on electric bass forms the backbone of the three-piece ensemble, and, last but not least, keeping time is drummer Pat Betts.
The group's latest release, Damon Fowler Group Live at Skipper's Smoke House, was recorded nights in the summer of 2003. It features the crowd-favorite rockabilly/blues original "Riverview Drive." Because of the band's versatility, they have been asked to open for such acts as Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, Johnny and Edgar Winter, Robin Trower, Gregg Allman, Jimmie Vaughan, Junior Brown, Little Feat, Chris Duarte, and Delbert McClinton.
- Laura Ernzen
For more information, visit (http://www.damonfowler.com).
Albert Cummings, 7 p.m.
Breaking
every cliché associated with the blues comes as naturally to
Albert Cummings as swinging a hammer, while constructing one of his
award-winning, custom-built homes. The Massachusetts native learned
the requisite three chords on the guitar from his father, then
switched to playing banjo at age 12 and became a fan of bluegrass
music. Like everything he tackles, Cummings threw himself headlong
into the pursuit, going to festivals and winning several picking
contests in high school.
Before graduating, he heard early recordings of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and was floored by the virtuosity. While in college in 1987, he saw Vaughan perform, and he returned to the guitar with a new outlook and resolve. He had another tradition to live up to first, however, as he studied the building trade in order to follow his family into the home-building business. Not until he was 27, an age when other musicians were either already established or had long ago put their dream aside for the realities of life, did Albert finally decide to go for it.
An intense period resulted in Cummings sharing a bill with Double Trouble, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section. So taken with Cummings' fire and passion were bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton that they volunteered to play on and produce his debut recording, From the Heart.
Since then he's played around the country, opened for such headliners as Johnny Winter, Sheryl Crow, and B.B. King, and released three other discs.
His home-construction business continues to flourish, taking Best Custom Vacation Home honors from Custom Builder magazine. The master builder lives in a house he built. And, of course, it comes complete with a music room.
- Dave Rubin
For more information, visit (http://www.albertcummings.com).
Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, 9 p.m.
According
to Chubby Carrier, here's what to expect of his set: "You're
definitely getting some high-energy dance party music. We'll get
your toes tapping, let me tell you! You're gonna be sweaty like you
been eating a pot of hot gumbo!"
Chubby Carrier hails from one of zydeco's most important families. His grandfather was one of zydeco's first musicians. His father, Roy Carrier Sr., has balanced his work on an oil rig with performing in his own band. Several of Chubby's cousins toured and recorded as the Carrier Brothers.
Chubby began his musical career at the age of 12 in his father's band. For most of his teens he played drums, taking over the accordion when his father's work prevented him from making a gig. In 1986 at the age of 17, Chubby accepted an invitation to play frottoir (washboard) for Terrance Simien & the Mallet Playboys, remaining in that band until 1989, when he left to form his own band with his brothers Troy and Kevin.
The original Bayou Swamp Band recorded its first album, Go Zydeco Go, shortly after being formed. Since then, they've released another six albums on various labels, with Dancing All Night receiving a Living Blues critics' award as best zydeco album of 1993. Their latest is Bayou Road.
Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band have been performing at clubs and festivals steadily for the past 18 years, playing from coast to coast and overseas. They performed at the 1991 Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, so they're way past due to again work their party magic on the festival crowd.
- Jimmie Jones
For more information, visit (http://www.chubbycarrier.com).
Robert Randolph & the Family Band, 11 p.m.
You
may not know it, but you've probably already heard Robert Randolph
& the Family Band's single "Ain't Nothing Wrong with That."
In late 2006, the funk stomper was used in promos for NBC's comedy
block of programming and was also featured in nationwide ads for
AT&T.
The group's sound is inspired by '70s funk bands such as Earth, Wind & Fire and Sly & the Family Stone. Their music crosses many musical genres including blues, rock, instrumental, traditional gospel, American funk, and soul. The band consists of Robert Randolph (vocals, guitars), Danyel Morgan (bass, vocals), Marcus Randolph (drums), Jason Crosby (organ, piano), and others.
The band released their studio debut, Unclassified, in 2003. That attracted the attention of Eric Clapton, and they have since toured with him. Clapton is also featured on the new album Colorblind on the track "Jesus Is Just Alright." Robert Randolph & the Family Band are featured prominently on the Eric Clapton's Crossroad Guitar Festival 2004 DVD, and they have opened for the Dave Matthews Band.
Robert Randolph grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, and was trained as a pedal-steel guitarist in the House of God church. The instrument is a derivation of the Hawaiian steel guitar, referred to in many African-American Pentecostal style churches as "sacred steel" and used to complement services that couldn't afford an organ. Robert is the artistic descendent of sacred-steel elders such as Calvin Cooke, Ted Beard, and the Campbell Brothers, who taught him a lot about spiritual songs with a rock-and-roll edge.
Before releasing albums with the Family Band, Randolph was selected by avant-jazz organist John Medeski to join him and the North Mississippi Allstars on their 2001 jam project, The Word. In September of 2003, Randolph was listed on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list.
- Phil Koehlhoeffer
For
more information, visit (http://www.robertrandolph.net).
