Pages

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Bluesin' In Wisconsin: Howard & The White Boys 2 Big Milwaukee Area Shows!

Howard Logo

"Chicago's Hardest-Working Blues Band...For Over Two Decades!"

Howard and the White Boys

"In these days when it seems that most every CD I receive to consider for review is produced by the hands of yet another non-shaving aged guitar prodigy with visions of Stevie Ray dancing in his head complete with hired gun session players, it is indeed a pleasure when I get one from a real genuine band (yes they do exist even now). It is a double pleasure when the recording comes from one of the many great region bands from here in the US. The popular Chicago based band Howard and the White Boys are among my personal favorites of these bands, and are also high upon my "hope to see live soon" list.
" Tom Branson/BLUESROCKERS


Howard & The White Boys Performing@Blues Cafe - Special Event Sponsored By Great Northern Blues Society - Saturday, March 31 At Rothschild Pavilion

(ROTHSCHILD, WI) - Howard and the White Boys, known as "Chicago's Hardest-Working Blues Band" for their over two decades of non-stop performing and touring, are part of a strong lineup called The Blues Cafe being sponsored by the Great Northern Blues Society and taking place at Rothschild Pavilion, 211 Grand Ave., Rothschild, Saturday, March 31. Doors open 12 noon, music starts at 1 p.m. (H&TWB's on at 5 p.m.). $15 advance, $20 at the door. Ticket info: http://www.gnbs.org/gnbs/ or contact Village of Rothschild at (715) 359-3660. Also on the bill: guitarists Chris Duarte and Albert Castiglia; Jumpship Blues Band; Donnie Pick & the Road Band; and Bryan Anderson.
On Friday, March 30, Howard And The White Boys play 6 Points Pub & Grill, 6200 W. Greenfield Ave., Milwaukee. 9:30 p.m. $10. Info: (414) 773-4980.
The veteran quartet are recently back from their yearly Southern tour and continue to perform through out the U.S., bringing audiences to their feet and out onto the dance floor - much as they have done for over twenty years - while getting ready to record the follow up to their critically-acclaimed most recent recording, MADE IN CHICAGO (Evidence Records).
Most recently, band member Rocco Calipari has branched out with his side project Head Honchos', who have released a well-received debut CD.

MADE IN CHICAGO represents the zenith of the group's recorded output, and it's certainly the disc that Howard & the White Boys are most proud of. While the band hadn't recorded in six years, they've been gigging continuously throughout the U.S. and Europe; this, in turn, has lent their trademark brand of contemporary blues an indomitable tightness brimming with raw power. All of this comes through on the new disc, proving that the wait was well worth it.

"Fans of the group will definitely want MADE IN CHICAGO, and those unfamiliar with this fun-loving group will find the disc a good place to start," writes BLUES REVUE. "The group digs deep into their vast repertoire to record some favorite covers in their idiosyncratic, high-energy style...McCullum is a sturdy, versatile vocalist...the band's vastly, varied catalog has forged McCullum and Christopulos into one of the best rhythm sections on the scene today. ""Whether it's an original or a cover tune, Howard & the White Boys are making the Windy City proud on their latest album!," says Dave Johnson, host of the nationally-syndicated BLUES DELUXE radio program.

Between 1994 and 1997, the group made two highly acclaimed recordings, STRUNG OUT ON THE BLUES and GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER?, for Mighty Tiger Records. They began traveling extensively across the United States and their growing popularity captured the attention of Philadelphia-based Evidence Records. THE BIG $CORE was the first of two successful discs released by Evidence, and the band wasted no time in promoting it via the first of many trips to European countries such as Belgium, France, Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, Luxembourg, and England. Riding the ever-growing wave of popularity both at home and abroad, the group then released a well-received live CD for Evidence entitled LIVE AT CHORD ON BLUES in 2000.
Watch Howard and The White Boys performing their funky interpretation of the Robert Cray tune "Phone Booth" at the Blues Nights Festival in Lithuania below:




The members of Howard And the White Boys first met at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb in 1988 and began jamming together just for fun, but their fast-growing popularity soon convinced them they could make a career of it. After only a few months, they got their first big break by opening for Blues legend, B.B. King. The band soon made the move to Chicago and began performing with the biggest names in Blues: Koko Taylor, Albert King, Junior Wells, Lonnie Brooks, Luther Allison, Bo Diddley, and Chuck Berry (the latter whom they were the backing band for in a headlining capacity at the 2002 Long Beach Blues Festival in Long Beach, Calif.).


Like my Facebook Page, Post your video on my wall or post great blues photos or events! Share your favorite postings and get more exposure for your favorite band! - ”LIKE”

No comments:

Post a Comment