May 31, 2008Club show: Jason Ricci and New BloodThis review should be in the paper, but it can't be, and here's why: It was a club show, which means that I'm sitting here just past 1 a.m., so I've missed any deadline. The only day it makes sense to go in the paper is Sunday, but Sunday's Extra section went to press a couple of days ago, so we can't get any news in it. At least I can be looser here than I would for print. That said, let's talk about an amazing bunch of performers, Jason Ricci and New Blood, who just finished up at Blue 5 Restaurant. Whenever Ricci took a break Friday night and early Saturday morning, he was outside smoking Parliaments, so I have no idea how he can play harmonica the way he does. His harmonicas are gonna wind up with lung cancer. Several times during his two-set show, he took lengthy solos -- no band, just him, taking listeners on a tour through every possible harmonica style. Blue 5 co-owner Kerry Hurley, a true blues aficianado, said that Ricci has "made the harmonica his b----." (I guess this is a family blog, as The Roanoke Times is a family paper, so I'll censor content here, but you get what he said.) Guitarist Shawn Starski is fierce. He was listed in the latest issue of Guitar Player magazine's readers poll among the best new blues guitarists. He deserves that love. He's a young guy -- 28 -- but he doesn't hit all the usual notes. His rhythmic phrasing, though, is pretty familiar, which helps in a blues context. There were plenty of good songs, many of which you can hear on the band's record, "Rocket No. 9," from Eclecto/Groove Records. Go buy it. Ricci called up Tom "The Hit Man" Hearne to play a song. Hearne, drummer for Little Rodger and the Cheap Thrills, is a fantastic groove master, and he played a long, fast swing with the band. He killed it. When it was over, Ricci told the audience what he thought of Hearne: "You don't know what a treasure you have in Roanoke. This guy is f------ great!" The crowd was not huge -- maybe 55 or 60 people. But by the end of the night, the smallish dance area at stage front was packed with people moving. Great show. |
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Comments
[May 31, 2008 5:09 PM]
jeff gatRe: Ricci & New Blood ~ Nice job, great article. I've been following these guys for five years. The most astounding thing: Without fail, EVERY show I've seen them play, (whether for 2 people in a dive bar, or 200, or 2000 people at an outdoor festival) they have consistently even better than the last time I saw them. Always hot, always energized, humble, friendly, and committed to besting themselves every time out. Thanks for the article, Jeff Gat Denver CO