Last Saturday night I was reminded of how freakin’ awesome live blues can be. I attended the type of show that doesn’t come around very often; the no-cover-blow-you-away- by-surprise type.
The band NiteRail played for nearly four and a half hours at one of my favorite watering holes, The L-Cove (Minnesota City, Minnesota). This band left a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. The mood was ultra-chipper and there wasn’t the slightest hint of a frown in the bar.
NiteRail could be described as a Progressive Blues band with a dash or two of Americana and Rockabilly mixed in for good measure. Along with some solid originals Clapton, Robert Johnson and Hendrix were just a few of the artists covered.
The guitarist Korey Hicks is a product of the Berklee School of Music and can easily be considered a great guitar player. Not only did he effortlessly dance around any melody and shine with every solo effort but he was getting some new sounds out of his guitar without disturbing the classic blues vibe. There was one lick that sticks out in my mind. He did something with harmonics and the volume knob ala Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine. In fact my buddy thought he heard keyboards until I told him it was the guitar. Add to that the fact that I’m not sure I’ve ever seen fingers move that fast on the neck of a Fender Telecaster. If you’re a huge fan of great guitar playing like I am, he is a treat to watch. Good stuff!
Frontman Mike Fugazzi provided solid vocals but it was his harmonica that breathed fire into many of the jams. I am by no means a harmonica aficionado but some of the runs Fugazzi went on commanded your attention and it is pretty easy to tell he has above average skills. He was even able to harmonize with the guitar on a few runs which was very cool.
The rhythm section more than earned their keep. Everything including the long, entrancing guitar/harmonica solo runs were held together tightly by a groove served with complete precision. No groove too fast or too slow for these guys.
My favorite of the night had to be be their cover of the Allman Brothers tune “Whipping Post.” I had just the right amount of Newcastle in me to really feel it (more on the benefits of Newcastle here). Fugazzi did the keyboard parts with the harmonica. This song also featured some of the guitar/harmonica harmonization I spoke of earlier.
They even played a Stevie Wonder cover “Sir Duke.” It was by far not one of their best songs of the night, but being the goat that I am, I gotta give them props. Nice touch!
If there is one criticism I have of these guys, it is that the original songs on their website just don’t give you a full appreciation for what these guys are capable of. With that said, it will not stop me from picking up a copy of their CD to throw on the iPod.
Overall, NiteRail is well-oiled machine with each part being exceptional at what they do. Their passion for performing and for the music is obvious, this added to the over-whelming good feel of the show. In a nutshell, these dudes are pros.
You can be sure that I will be telling everyone know about these guys and I’m sure I can say the same for the large majority of the crowd that was still wanting more at closing time. I almost feel guilty not paying to see these guys.
If you live anywhere near Minnesota or Wisconsin, check NiteRail’s playing dates and get your ass to a show. If not, visit their website, check out their cd and give them a call, maybe they’ll come to you. You will be doing yourself a big favor.
