Joe DeBow Plays America. Literally.

Posted: July 10th, 2011 | Filed under: Culture, Music, Ruminations | 1 Comment »

What I expected from a Saturday evening of music on the river was simple. Some good Q. More than a few Muddy Waters cover songs. Bonhomie.

Little did I expect to hear arguably the most fetching set of R & B cover songs . . . perhaps . . . ever. With a major surprise thrown in.

Joe DeBow is a southpaw.

There was simply no warning that at a blue festival he’d pull out a tune from left field.

The Joe DeBow Experience kicked it off with rousing versions of “Hey Joe” and “Foxy Lady” Danny Henderson plays Hendrix better than most. It’s the lofty height to which all guitar players aspire.

Then came a stirring “People Get Ready.”

Followed by the kicker: A smashing, marvelous, gleeful take on America’s “Horse With No Name.” No, really, that’s what they played. Honest.

Here’s a youtube video of a previous performance of the tune at the Derby Chow Wagon. (It’s part of their repertoire??? Go figure.)

I, and a whole lot of others in the crowd — old, young, black, white — couldn’t stop smiling and grooving to the rendition.

DeBow and his gang (Besides Henderson, Gary Underwood on traps and Donnie Borders on bass) went on to play one breezy, easy, swingin’ cover after another.

“Ain’t No Sunshine.” “You Send Me.” “Daddy’s Home.” “It’s Alright.” “Eleanor Rigby.” (There’s something about this melancholy Beatles tune that’s grabbed the attention of a lot of musicians, regardless of the type of music they play.) “Stormy Monday.” “Papa Was A Rolling Stone.” “Tracks of My Tears.” “”Medley: Stand By Me/ My Girl/ There Goes My Baby/ Cupid/ Ain’t No Way/ Only The Strong Survive/ Chain Gang/ Under The Boardwalk.”

Followed by DeBow Experience does Hendrix Experience doing Dylan: “All Along The Watchtower.”

The ended with a track of empowerment, “Keep Hangin’ Tough.”

A perfect set of music? Maybe.

I love bands that don’t aspire to more than what they are capable of. Who accept their limitations but bring a fresh, personal approach to the songs they play, even if they be iconic and identified with others.

The Joe DeBow Experience sucked the heat right out of July in the Ohio Vally, thank you very much.

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