Lee Hawkins started his Backs Against The Wall Blues Jam a year ago, and in that time it has grown exponentially in popularity and in quality. Held every Thursday evening at Capone’s in Peabody, Massachusetts, the jam never ceases to amaze attendees with the high caliber guests who appear to strut their stuff at the microphone and on their instruments. It was no surprise that last night’s first anniversary jam was a lively event with numerous, exciting musicians showing up to perform.
Arriving in time to hear Lee Hawkins and the house band having a field day with Santana’s “Evil Ways,” it was hard not to be impressed with Hawkins manic guitar phrasing and the band’s abundant groove. Hawkins continued his furious riffing on “Southbound Mama,” a number that also benefited from the house band’s hefty puffs of bass, tasteful percussion, and blaring sax. Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish” let Hawkins showcase his finesse at the microphone when he rocked it up.
Up next were guitarist Frank Hawks and vocalist Regina LaCascia. They warmed up their act playing “Shakey Ground,” originally by The Temptations and covered by every bar band in the world. Yet, Hawks and LaCascia truly found their stride with “Sign, Sealed, Delivered.” LaCascia and her line up were much more lively and clearly having fun. LaCascia was a veritable powerhouse in one of the closing numbers later in the evening. Singing “Some Day After A While,” by Eric Clapton, she stood out with her rangy, emotive, bluesy torch vocal, threatening to bring the roof down with her soaring chops.
Blues man Johnny Fatello, formerly of Nor’ Easter, introduced the audience to some real blues drenched guitar phrasing and whiskey soaked vocals. Young blood guitarist, Michael Thomas Doyle, offered up a lot of supportive guitar licks, sharp chords, as the veteran Fatello showcased his grand phrasing style, thick, straight forward, fire in the belly. It was the first time I’ve ever seen Mr. Fatello play, and he’s already one of my favorite blues men. Some fine harmonica work from New Hampshire’s Alan Doyle fit right into this brew.
The New Hampshire blues Mafia, “Slutty” Pete Zona on harmonica, guitarist Scot Gibbs, bassist Angelo Mullen, and drummer Rick King were at the first anniversary of BATW representing its sister jam Wantu Blues Jams from Goffstown, New Hampshire. The two jams have had a close affiliation since discovering they were sisters from another mother, and Zona, who hosts the Wantu Blues Jams, brought his gang to the mean streets of Peabody, Massachusetts to show how its down northern style. Mullen sang a mighty fine, strong vocal on some Keb Mo material while his northern Mafia cohorts added plenty of groove and spark behind him. Gibbs played a weave of blues textures while singing a Bob Dylan song real down and dirty roots style. These boys from the land of squirrels, maple syrup, Mount Washington, Live Free Or Die, and the first in the nation Presidential primary evened out their set with a heaping dose of southern rock, “Dreams,” by Molly Hatchet. Drummer Rick King put the granite in the song’s backbone as the boys offered inspiring fuzzy guitar tones and solid, thumping bass.
The beautiful Terri O’Soro took to the stage with her wiry charisma to dazzle the crowd singing Aretha’s “Chain Of Fools.” O’Soro’s rangy, assertive vocals were well matched to the New Hampshire Mafia. Later on, guitarist Dave Hynes came up and nailed the fiery guitar phrase to The Moody Blues classic “The Story In Your Eyes” before going into one of the best songs ever written in any genre, Bob Segar’s “Turn The Page.” The house band’s saxophonist Karl Bryan captured some the magic from the original. The Hynes line up, with Bill Lawnsby on drums and Tim Ryan on bass, had fun with a blast from the past, Greg Kihn’s “The Break Up Song.”
Special guest, 23 year old Los Angeles guitarist-vocalist Kevin Alexander Herrera proved an exciting showman performing “Bad To The Bone” and “Pride And Joy.” He’s an exceptional musician and singer and he knows how to dress the part and entertain. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him on television or hear him on the radio at some time in the not too distant future. His numbers got great support from organist Rob Liani whose swirls of organ chords made the night even better for huge fans of his Hammond sound.
Another line up took to the stage to bring home Free’s “All Right Now,” capturing the classic rock vibe with rangy vocals, guitar phrasing and hefty doses of bass and drums. Singer-bassist Mike Morrison also kicked serious butt on “Ain’t No Sunshine,” showing that he meant business on these emotive R&B catharsis numbers. He managed the twists and turns in the vocals while the guitarists, Tim Donald and Matt DiCroce, pressed out the tender, meaningful melodic phrase. It certainly helped that drummer Cliff Goodman easily switched from classic rock to R&B style skin smacking.
Another treat for the audience came when Bob Wolfman went up to unleash his seriously disciplined guitar phrasing. Wolfman played a soaring guitar phrase during “All Along The Watchtower” while bassist Kevin Lillis sang the lead vocal while as drummer Michael Mazola, from Lee Hawkins Band, kept it mean, lean, and in forward motion.
Near the end of the night, Eric Savoie, of the popular ThrowDown Blues Band went up on stage to showcase his aggressive, over the top vocal belting abilities. After Savoie, LaCascia belted powerfully, and, coming after Savoie, and Wolfman, and the all of previous people with big talent, she made it feel like the night could last forever. Energy was still abounding in the room. People were still talking excitedly about the jam and its year of success.
Lee Hawkins has obviously come up with a winning formula. Hawkins draws in major talent from various genres and music scenes within a 90 minute drive of Capone’s. Keeping his jam bursting at the scenes with over the top players and singers who each have a draw of their own guarantees the Backs Against The Wall Blues Jam will likely be celebrating many more yearly anniversaries. Especially if he keeps bringing business into Capone’s every Thursday night.
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