One of the greatest treasures we have on the island is the Bill Blue Band. If you love blues you're not going to find any better, anywhere. Bill is a veteran player/singer with more than a dozen albums to his credit. He's toured the world with the big boys. He's one of them. You only have to hear his definitive blues voice or his lead guitar to know you're experiencing one of the greats. His latest band may well be his best.
Bill has left us to live in New Smyrna Beach, but comes back to play every other week, usually for a three day run. His bass player is Francois Gen from Paris, France. Francois plays a seven string Conklin, a gorgeous instrument. Bobby Ranch from New Smyrna plays guitar, and he is good enough to trade leads with Bill. Local boy Dale Jacobs is the drummer. I had only heard him with Lenore Troia in a pop bag, so I was delighted to hear him in this incarnation, dropping those punches right where they belong with power to spare.
With Mr. Blue you will hear both classic blues tunes and Bill's originals, which are also classics. "Where You Been Gone So Long" gave us some hair raising lead trade offs. Bill's fat toned lead is second nature to him, and is what you've always wanted to hear. The gang got seriously funky with "Little Sister". Bill played a single string rhythm pattern under Bobby's smoking lead, and it was time to ride the slides. Both players used them. This is not what you're used to hearing. It's like you've found yourself in blues Heaven and are finding out how it can be done. This is intelligent, emotional blues guitar. You'll be thrilled.
While you're grooving to the twin slides, Dale is dropping those punches right in the pocket. Francois plays like he's channelling from another universe. It doesn't get better than this. The funk continues with a Bill Blue tune from one of his records. He explains 'records' as that round flat thing with the hole in the middle, grinning at me. I'm old enough to remember records. This one sells some tapes. You just have to hear this sound again.
Francois solos on his gigantic instrument. He's all over the neck and using all seven strings artistically and powerfully. What a great sound. On a cooking Blue tune about playing from Key West to Mexico, which I believe he wrote in New Orleans Mr. Blue plays lead that sets fire to the strings. On a basically one chord tune the slides come out. The rhythm is hypnotic. It drives so hard you could power a spaceship with it. Patterns abound, entertwining and captivating. While this brilliant crew play effortlessly, you'll be hanging onto your seats. G force is very heavy here.
We hear a boogie flavored paen to too many marriages, "Who Do You Think You Are", and a wild tempoed song about living in Cayo Hueso that says "hanging around this town playing the blues too long". If this one doesn't get you, you may be 'Ready For Freddy". Anybody out there old enough to remember that? Bill Blue sings "Unchain My Heart" like no one else with a ZZ Topp kind of energy. Francois harmonizes "We got to get out ofthis place". The thing I really dig is that we're able to hear this in a club setting, rather than a giant stadium. Since Bill can do either, I suspect it's by choice. Catch Bill this week or wait till September. Your choice. Stay cool