Their credo is "roots music for the people." And what exactly does that mean?
When it comes to definitions, members of Boss Diablo let the music do the talking. From what I've heard on a six-song demo they're circulating, the band does a great job of channeling the spirits of bluesmen and rockers from Jimmy Reed to Paul Butterfield to Johnny Winter, with an energy level that sounds like it has all the makings of a potent live show. And they show their leanings toward a '60s-type sound (never a bad thing) with a fairly faithful cover of the Animals' "We Gotta Get Out of This Place."
The performances are tight, despite the band being relatively new, as Boss Diablo just started playing gigs in June. But the band must be doing something right. A look at upcoming gigs shows them booked - wow! - every weekend through mid-December, it looks like.
The four members actually got together late last year and worked together considerably before playing live.
"We just took out time, collaborated and came up with a solid set of tunes we all like and could contribute to," said drummer Tom Hohn, who also has played with the Cynics, Pittsburgh's self-professed "garage rock kingpins," since the late '80s.
Looking at a list Tom sent me, Boss Diablo's repertoire looks like it's right up the alley for fans of rock 'n' roll's formative years and the artist that paved the way for it, as they cover blues greats such as Sonny Boy Williamson, John Lee Hooker and Howlin' Wolf, along with '60s-era acts like the Velvet Underground, the Sonics and Ten Years After. Plus, they dip into the country bag a bit, covering the likes of Hanks Sr. & Jr., Johnny Cash, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.
And they do Sleepy John Estes' "Leavin' Trunk," with a smokin' blues riff by way of Taj Mahal, the Keef Hartley Band and, just recently, the Black Keys.
Boss Diablo is working on a number of originals as well, with hopes of putting together a full-fledged CD by early next year.
Along with Tom, Boss Diablo is Chuck Beatty on guitar and vocals, Brian "Too Sweet" Washington on bass and vocals, and Stanley "J" Mikolajek blowing a mean harp.
If you'd like to check 'em out, "We're playing all over the area, everywhere from Butler to East Brady to Washington," Tom reports. The band is at the Baltimore House on Curry Hollow Road in Pleasant Hills on Friday night. Around Washington, they're scheduled for Auggie's Roadhouse on Sept. 9 and again Oct. 21 and Dec. 2; Otto's Pub in Canonsburg on Sept. 24; and at the Holiday Inn - Meadow Lands on Nov. 18.
When it comes to definitions, members of Boss Diablo let the music do the talking. From what I've heard on a six-song demo they're circulating, the band does a great job of channeling the spirits of bluesmen and rockers from Jimmy Reed to Paul Butterfield to Johnny Winter, with an energy level that sounds like it has all the makings of a potent live show. And they show their leanings toward a '60s-type sound (never a bad thing) with a fairly faithful cover of the Animals' "We Gotta Get Out of This Place."
The performances are tight, despite the band being relatively new, as Boss Diablo just started playing gigs in June. But the band must be doing something right. A look at upcoming gigs shows them booked - wow! - every weekend through mid-December, it looks like.
The four members actually got together late last year and worked together considerably before playing live.
"We just took out time, collaborated and came up with a solid set of tunes we all like and could contribute to," said drummer Tom Hohn, who also has played with the Cynics, Pittsburgh's self-professed "garage rock kingpins," since the late '80s.
Looking at a list Tom sent me, Boss Diablo's repertoire looks like it's right up the alley for fans of rock 'n' roll's formative years and the artist that paved the way for it, as they cover blues greats such as Sonny Boy Williamson, John Lee Hooker and Howlin' Wolf, along with '60s-era acts like the Velvet Underground, the Sonics and Ten Years After. Plus, they dip into the country bag a bit, covering the likes of Hanks Sr. & Jr., Johnny Cash, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.
And they do Sleepy John Estes' "Leavin' Trunk," with a smokin' blues riff by way of Taj Mahal, the Keef Hartley Band and, just recently, the Black Keys.
Boss Diablo is working on a number of originals as well, with hopes of putting together a full-fledged CD by early next year.
Along with Tom, Boss Diablo is Chuck Beatty on guitar and vocals, Brian "Too Sweet" Washington on bass and vocals, and Stanley "J" Mikolajek blowing a mean harp.
If you'd like to check 'em out, "We're playing all over the area, everywhere from Butler to East Brady to Washington," Tom reports. The band is at the Baltimore House on Curry Hollow Road in Pleasant Hills on Friday night. Around Washington, they're scheduled for Auggie's Roadhouse on Sept. 9 and again Oct. 21 and Dec. 2; Otto's Pub in Canonsburg on Sept. 24; and at the Holiday Inn - Meadow Lands on Nov. 18.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home