Artist: Chris Fitz Band
Where: Dodge Street Grill, Historic Salem, MA
When: 24-Mar-05
I was browsing through the Juke Joint Video web site where I just linked in an Anthony Gomes video and came across some other blues links. I went into Chris’s web site and noticed that they would be playing about two miles from my house in a few days. Well, I don’t have to work the second job, so perhaps I will down to Dodge Street and check it out.
I think I was sold on the notion of going to the show when I saw a rave review on his site from Carter Alan, music director and blues DJ for the biggest and only classic rock station in Boston, WZLX 100.7!
They opened with an instrumental, rhythmic jazzy-blues jam. The second song was also an instrumental. Lively tune, a Brian Setzer, rockabilly style blues. And just to make sure they were warmed up, the third instrumental jam was “Chitlins con Carne.”
The fourth song was the title track from CFB’s first album, Just Getting Started. Awesome tune; I have not heard the studio release, but this would sound great accompanied with some added harp. The next tune was “Hug You Squeeze You” from his second album, This is my Church.
"That’ll Never Do” is an upbeat delta style blues song. The last song before the break, “Custer’s Last Stand” with a blues/funk sound can be found on the second album. There was no slide present, but it certainly had the sound of one being used.
To start off the second set, “Jammin’ for Jimi” was a CFB tribute to Jimi Hendrix. Greg got in a bit of a bass solo and Chris had some slick pedal action going on. Great jam having a 60’s hypnotic feel to it. Covering a blues classic, “Commit a Crime” has a bit of bad relationship humor to its dialogue.
Found on the This is My Church album, delta style blues tune, “Your Home is a Prison” had Chris wandering off from stage and playing for the patrons. Richard grabbed his snare and made his way down to jam with Chris. “Never Been to Memphis” is from CFB’s third album, Journey of Hope. This was a recent feature on Boston’s channel 4, Liz Walker special.
Having the Fender slung over his shoulder, “Let Me Love You Baby” is a gutsy Buddy Guy cover. Swapping for the Gibson, “It’s Gonna Be Alright” has a gritty blues style with a deep groove. “Fanny Brown” had an energetic beat with a rousing drum solo.
To close the show, CFB covered a Bo Diddley version of “Who Do You Love.” Chris finally did use a slide; there were a few other songs earlier in the night that did have the sound of slide being used. There was huge bass on this one, especially when a snippet of “Give It Away Now” from the RHCP was one of the verses.
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