The Melody Trucks Band Heads to the Northeast for the First Time!
So the Northeast is about to discover what we’ve been savoring down South for some time: the deliciousness of the Melody Trucks Band. This is their first venture north, and we predict many new fans in the wake of this brief first tour. It certainly won’t be the last!
Here is our review from their show at Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa on June 23rd. We’ll reiterate: this show was without superb singer/songwriter and guitarist Willis Gore, who had a date with his other fine band Bonnie Blue:
Melody Trucks and company hit the stage promptly at 10 PM, and from the very first minute it was clear there would be nothing reserved about this set as they hurtled headlong into “You Haven’t Done Nothin’,” Trucks’ voice soaring. Also of note: it took slide guitarist West Brook three minutes to break a string — and even less time to get a new string on! [Note: guitarist and singer Willis Gore also plays with Bonnie Blue and had a BB gig this evening.]
They paid homage to fellow Jacksonvillians JJ Grey and Mofro with a great cover of “Ho Cake,” sung by Isaac Corbitt, who is still, in my estimation, THE premier harmonica player on the scene. Brady Clampitt soloed first on guitar, then Brook on slide, followed by Shane Platten on bass. Then Corbitt on harmonica and drummer Shaun Taunton locked horns.
If there was any doubt about the depth and breadth of this band, it dissolved the very instant they slammed into the aforementioned “Little by Little,” the Junior Wells composition so closely associated now with Ms. Susan Tedeschi. This song is driven by the bouncing bass line, and Platten tore this one UP! And Ms. Trucks let it ALL go — again. Solos all around.
Clampitt then sang “It’s a Personal Thing” before Trucks asked us about Frogwings, a band Butch Trucks also played in, then saying, “This one goes up for my dad” as they began “Pattern.” This was one the of the powerful songs of the set, especially when Platten and Taunton kicked out the jams. Next Trucks sang a band original written by Corbitt and Clampitt called “Live Your Life” with the refrain “I’m not here for a long time; I’m just here for a good time.” All the gents except Taunton were singing backup — absolutely perfect.
West Brook sang “Put It on Me.” Then it was Platten’s turn with a killer bass intro to “Jellyfish” and his strong singing. Brook was back to sing “Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with That,” playing more nasty slide guitar. Clampitt took over Allman’s keyboard and played electric piano while singing “Blind, Crippled and Crazy.” Clampitt soloed, then Platten, then Brook (not slide).
Interesting note: most players have some sort of favorite melody or refrain they like to work into solos. Isaac Corbitt’s favorite is “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt suite. He often works it in several times during a set. But he had a bunch of other great solos this night, and it took an hour for that theme to emerge.
“We have to play at least ONE Allman Brothers song,” Trucks said, and they gave us a fine version of “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’,” Clampitt still on electric piano and Brook soloing. The other true highlight of the set occurred next, as Platten gave us a killer bass intro to “Use Me.” He sang this, with Brook and Clampitt (guitar) soloing. And then. Platten did that thing — there must be a technical term — where he was scatting on top of his bass line. It was spectacular.
Things settled down a bit as Trucks told us about another song she wrote for her dad: “Freight Train.” Finally, Trucks called up two members of The Bird Tribe, a Nokomis band that tore it up at OBJ: Garrett Dawson on congas and Matthew Frost on keyboards. And she said that this song was for another great man we lost last year, and “This is why I am weird” with “Yield Not to Temptation” in homage to the late Col. Bruce Hampton (Ret.). Of course Platten blew this one up as well.
THAT is why you need to check out the Melody Trucks Band as they swing through Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey before they head to Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia.
THE FIRE INSIDE TOUR
08/02 Electric Haze | Worcester MA w/ Torus, Jesse Ljunggren
08/03 Bishop’s Lounge | Northampton MA
08/05 Rockwood Music Hall | New York NY
08/10 Bruce Katz Album Release Party | The Heights at Brother Vic’s | South Salem NY
08/11 The Lounge at the Space at Westbury | Westbury NY w/ Brandon ‘Taz’ Niederauer
08/12 Wonder Bar | Asbury Park NJ w/ the Matt O’Ree Band
08/16 Maple Hall | Knoxville TN
08/17 Lazy Hiker Brewing Co. | Franklin NC w/ The Corbitt-Clampitt Duo, Ginger Beard Man
08/18 Salvage Station | Asheville NC
08/19 Moonshadow Tavern | Tucker GA w/ Lamar Williams, Jr., Critter