Blues On Stage - Joe Juliano & A Hot Cup Of Rhythm & Blues

Joe Juliano & A Hot Cup Of Rhythm & Blues
@ Famous Dave's BBQ & Blues, April 2, 1998

Joe Juliano
Famous Dave's, 4/2/98
Photo © 1998 by Ray Stiles
All rights reserved

It's funny how some of the best nights out listening to the blues come about by chance. After an early show by Johnnie Bassett at a Cannonball Records party at Bunker's I stopped by Famous Dave's to catch the first set of Joe Juliano. After all it was a week night and I had to get up early the next morning for work. Well after the first two songs I was hooked. I got caught up in the positive energy displayed by these guys on stage, not to mention the music. I mean "really good music" - the kind of R&B I just love. I ended up staying the whole night and didn't regret it at all the next day.

This was R&B, soul, blues and jump with a little bit of rockin' funk thrown in the mix. Watching these guys play was just plain fun. The band has a spark and enthusiasm in their approach to the music that is infectious. Especially keyboard player Toby Marshall and bass man Leon McCormick. They were feeding off of each other's energy. I haven't seen two players having so much fun in some time. Toby was even up dancing a few times just grooving to the music when he wasn't laying down some wicked piano and organ runs. He was having so much fun you couldn't help but like this kid.

Toby Marshall
Famous Dave's, 4/2/98
Photo © 1998 by Ray Stiles
All rights reserved

The two piece horn section of Merlin Brunkow on saxophone and Kevin Nord on trumpet added that great R&B sound to the songs. Craig Gallaso on drums has such a rich and storied drumming history I wish I had more time to hear more of his road stories. He has played with the Coaster, Platters, Drifters, Do Diddley, Rick Nelson, Bobby V, Del Shannon, Tommy Roe and others. This was one very find band. They are all also featured on Joe's new CD "Fightin' The Blues," which was just released in April.

The lead guitar player and vocalist of the band is Joe Juliano. He has been playing R&B guitar for so long that he says the sound is second nature to him. He has a wonderful feel for this type of music and can express himself both vocally and on guitar in a way that really grabs you. Joe said his main influences were people like James Brown, Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, Little Milton and numerous lesser know R&B players. He has assimilated their styles and developed a sound that is both true to the roots of this music while remaining fresh and exciting.

Joe & Leon McCormick
Famous Dave's, 4/2/98
Photo © 1998 by Ray Stiles
All rights reserved

In addition to some of the standards like "If You Love Me like You Do," "Tore Down," and "Cross Cut Saw," Joe and the band also threw in some great variety. Willie Nelson's "Night Life" featured a super guitar introduction and solo. "Mama Talk To Your Daughter" had Toby and Leon mouthing the words to the song along with Joe. One of the crowd favorites, the Sam and Dave song "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby," which is also on the new CD, was worth the price of admission by itself. In fact, as I was writing this review and thinking about the song I had to put the CD on and listen to it again. Such a wonderful voice and a great rendition of that tune.

Joe also has an improvisational approach to his shows. On "The Thrill Is Gone" he was coaxing Toby into a little dueling with him on guitar and Toby on keyboards. On the Guitar Slim classic "The Things I Used to Do," Joe hit it right on the money then switched gears as he launched into a medley of songs from Buddy Guy to Eric Clapton. It was like a stream of "blues" consciousness right there on stage. It Almost sounded like he was pulling lyrics out of memory with no particular regard for what song they came from.

Tom Hunter & Toby
Photo © 1998 by Ray Stiles
All rights reserved

At his point Tom Hunter joined in on piano while Toby played the organ on a funky sounding "Let the Good Times Roll." These two together created some explosive excitement. You never know what is going to happen with these two wild men on the keyboards.

Joe was nominated this year for one of the Minnesota Music Academy awards in the Best Blues Group/Artist category and also for Best Blues Recording for his 1997 "Cup o' Joe." See the review of his new CD in this issue.

E-mail Joe at: joejuliano@earthlink.net

Visit Joe's Web Page at: http://home.earthlink.net/~joejuliano

E-mail Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com

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Copyright © 1998 by Ray M. Stiles
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.