I rarely can make it out two nights in a row any more, but Larry Reha was celebrating his birthday with a special Eddie Bear and the Cubs gig, so I grabbed an energy drink and headed on downtown!
Got there in time to say hello to the birthday boy and catch a few tunes by Beau Hodges, tonight backed up acoustically by guitarists Jon and Hoz from his band. Beau's voice is hugely powerful and tuneful and the guys added some cool harmonies and really nice guitar interplay behind him - keeping it full while both playing slide, licks and leads. They've got some quality songs that easily translate from electric to acoustic. Always a good time!
I knew nothing about Jason Charles Miller but was told that he was the singer for the industrial band Godhead (Larry Reha is a big industrial fan - though you'd never know from the groups he plays in!) and he has now gone country. He performed playing acoustic guitar along with a lead acoustic player doing more modern country tunes, not unlike Beau.
Then it was time for Eddie Bear, featuring Larry front and center and somewhat toasty from a night of celebrating! Tonight the Bears consisted of acoustic guitarist/co-lead singer Erik, bassist Davis, one of their revolving drummers whose name I can never remember - I am so sorry! - along with Wade on lead guitar and Jeffrey from the Cheats sitting in on harmonica! No steel guitar, which was a pity, but the set did not suffer! Right from the start it was a little looser and wilder than usual with the opener "Bulge in Satan's Pants", but the boys rocked it country style and had the whole crowd diggin' on their antics. After a few tunes from their regular set they let Wade take the lead on Slim Harpo's "Shake Your Hips" which was extended with leads from Wade and Jeffrey, both ripping it up. After their normal closer, "Goin' Down" (a little looser than usual!), the owner of the Triple B, Carlos Adley, took the stage to lead the crowd in serenading Larry in "Happy Birthday" and then proceeding in a C&W take on "Tear It Up"! Good times all around!
<< Home