Live Review
Curtis and the Kicks
Blues West
July 7, 2000
by Rebecca West
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1999 KBA Award Winner
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by the Blues Foundation
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Curtis and his Kicks get my vote for the Twin Cities’ most under-rated
blues band. Despite recurring gigs at Famous Dave’s and a good reputation among blues
musicians, this band has yet to develop the following it deserves. This Kentucky
via California transplant has been off of the scene for several months and will
hopefully now develop a more consistent presence. Curtis is a great guitarist who includes some fine slide work. This band explores the wide range of blues. If you close your eyes, you might almost think you were in the room with Stevie Ray Vaughn and Curtis’ bag of tricks ranges from great Clapton and B.B. King classics to Dylan - a band can’t go wrong with a little Dylan. Curtis proves he has more depth with some fine Ripley Johnson. The drummer has few local rivals - his onstage persona seems to be liberated with the use of shades, and on this night, guest guitarist Rick Figuerea and Curtis kicked out some nice Santana. The only flaw in the evening was the inevitable, but well-played ‘Mustang Sally.’ I wish someone would declare a worldwide year-long moratorium on what has to be the most tedious and worn-out song on the planet. Anyway, I’m glad Curtis and the Kicks are back - this was a thoroughly satisfying evening of blues.
This review is copyright © 2000 by Rebecca West, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.
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E-mail Ray Stiles at: 
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