Jim Suhler made a name for himself in the State of Texas as one of a number of fine young Texas guitar slingers coming out of the Dallas area. In recent times, Suhler has stepped into the national spotlight as the second guitarist for George Thorogood and the Destroyers. On Friday night, Jim Suhler brought his own band, Monkeybeat, out to Famous Dave’s, performing in more of the Texas style that Suhler developed as a Texas regional star.
Following an opening instrumental that showcased Suhler’s guitar talents and featured a clearly Texas, guitar-based style, the band broke into a fine version of ”Black Cat Bone,” including Suhler’s fine guitar and vocals, along with and excellent keyboard solo by Sean Phares, a fine player who has worked with another Texas guitar notable, Andrew “Jr. Boy” Jones.
Backed by the rhythm section of Carlton Powell on bass and Jimmy Morgan on drums, Suhler played some good, old-fashioned Texas boogie in the form of “Leave My Blues Behind.” The song featured more solo work by Suhler and Phases, playing both in unison and dueling each other during the song. On “Beggin’ You Please,” Suhler again demonstrated is fine vocals and stellar guitar. On “Every Dog Has His Day.” Suhler played an extended and very soulful, edgy solo.
Playing with a cigarette burning from between the fingers on his pick hand, Suhler’ sound took on a spacey, Hendrix-like sound that turned out to be a premonition of what would occur later in the evening. The first set ended with a song called “Shake,” that included more heavy, guitar filled Texas boogie, coupled with another excellent keyboard solo by Phares. With snippets of the Yardbirds classic, “Over Under Sideways Down,” this was a nice ending to the first set of the evening and Suhler’s first time ever at Famous Dave’s.
If the first set was filled with consistency, the second set was filled with variety. Suhler’s second set opened with Suhler and bassist Carlton Powell on acoustic guitars, sitting down and performing two songs, “Shake Hands With The Blues” and “Texas Easy Street” a song written in the 1920’s by Henry Thomas.
When the full band returned to the stage, Suhler shifted to an electrified Dobro for A Robert Lockwood song entitled “Little Boy Blue,” that included a nice keyboard solo by Sean Phares, along with some excellent slide guitar by Suhler. After another slide filled tune entitled, “Shotgun Shack,” the band performed an exceptional version of a Jimi Hendrix tune (“Are You Experienced”) that Suhler introduced by saying, “Imagine Robert Johnson on mushrooms!”
The mood and instrumentation switched several times during the set as Suhler plated more classic Texas blues for “Out of the Darkness” and tribute to Johnny Cash entitled “Bad Stretch of Road.”
Jim Suhler and company put on a great show, one that should hopefully have them making a return visit sometime in the near future. Suhler is a very talented guitarist and his band was tight and well-rehearsed. To find out more about Jim Suhler and is travels with George Thorogood or his own band, visit his website at www.jimsuhler.com.
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