Matt Stubbs, Chris Rivelli
Matt Stubbs turned in a usually fine performance at The Common Ground in Arlington, Massachusetts last night. He hosts the weekly Roots & Blues Sunday Sessions with his usual backing band of drummer Chris Rivelli(Roomful Of Blues) and bassist Mark Hickox. Last night, bassist Brad Hallen filled for Hickox while the featured guest was Tim Gearan. It was a potent combination of players, for sure.
Stubbs, Rivelli, Hallen, and Gearan began with a light, jazzy blues instrumental. Stubbs injected a lot of interesting intervals into his phrasing. With a bubbly Hallen-Rivelli groove beneath him, Stubbs continues his classy phrasing. A second instrumental found Gearan pressing out a sharp surf-like line, that, once combined with a palpable groove, felt like summer or Hawaii.
Gearan proved showed that he’s one of those singers born to sing blues. He has true grit, rasp, and a way of layering it all with sorrow that’s steeped in the genre. Meanwhile, Stubbs played one of those heart felt phrases that buttressed the sensitive storyline. When Gearan took over the melody line, he managed to make it feel even more bittersweet, a shift that gave the song a sense of going some place, albeit some place sad.
Stubbs soon took off on a flight of guitar fancy on his six string. This boy from New Hampshire also nailed the groove of “Share That Woman” with his rhythm guitar work. The groove was irresistible and that rhythm guitar made the song nice and jumpy, ending it with fine solo touches from Rivelli and Hallen.
Stubbs, Rivelli, Brad Hallen, Tim Gearan
Gearan sang with a sharp, soulful timbre on “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out,” making the song penetrating. His slow boil guitar work was pretty cool too, making each line exciting with a sharp tone, like his six string was crying out the melody. The boys went into another instrumental that stitched together bits and pieces of other old blues songs. “Crosscut Saw” percolated to the surface at one point.
Both Stubbs and Gearan conjured up a mighty brew of guitar phrases on Johnny Watson’s “Too Tired.” Gearan’s take on the rollicking lyrics, combined with rhythmic might coming from Rivelli and Halle, made the song come to life. It was particularly punchy when the rhythm boys punctuated the chorus, shifting the song quite well during its changes. Gearan’s vocal work here became hyper, ripping through some challenging lyrical pattern like his lips would catch on fire if he didn’t.
The boys also had a lot of fun with Mississippi Fred McDowell’s “I’m Going Over The Hill.” Slow, restless guitar lines and another soulful vocal from Gearan did wonders for this piece of blues history. Echoing guitar lines combined blues and psychedelic idioms into something fine, both guitars pressing out sublime beauty with their mutual melody lines.
The band played a bluesy take on Bill Withers “Grandma’s Hands,” featuring pretty guitar lines and soulful vocals. Stubbs and company commenced their second set with some eloquent guitar phrasing, the kind that makes it feel like the guitar is speaking to the listener in its own beautiful language. Gearan eventually assumed lead guitar duties on it and played a wildly expanded take on the melodic phrase, making the work feel like it was full of life, something that keeps growing through its changes.
SONY DSC
Little Walter’s “Mean Old World” found Gearan expressing more heart and soul with that born to the blues vocal ability of his. This was followed up by some fine Stubbs fret work. Next, a funky jam lead right into Buddy Guy’s “I Got A Strange Feeling,” with funked up, endless bass lines from Hallen, thick rolls of knobby low end notes, another pleasing offering from the bass soul man, his heavy duty, extra duty, well paced runs.
The second half of the second set opened up into a blues jam. Last night’s guests included Pat Faherty on guitar, Ethan Miller on harp, guitarist Sam Re(Detonaterz), and vocalist Nancy Carliss. These fine players, singers took on classics like “For How Long,” “Tiny Winy Bit,” “Little By Little,” and a few others with a lot of confidence. Considering they don’t often play together, they did well.
Matt Stubbs is onto something cool with his Roots & Blues Sunday Sessions at The Common Ground Bar & Grill in Arlington. Opening it up to roots invites in players who might shy away from a strictly blues diet. Speaking of diet, this restaurant, where there is plenty of street parking, makes one of the best Clam Chowders in town. Its comfortable vibe makes it a great room to play and listen. Stubbs, Rivelli, and Hickox cannot fail with all these fine Sunday night ingredients.
https://www.facebook.com/Common-Ground-Arlington-469537123142448/
