SWAMP WATCH a publication of the Black Swamp Blues Society – summer issue 2005

A Review by; Rolly Hough

CHEF CHRIS & THE BLUE PLATE SPECIALS AT NORTHFIELD ROADHOUSE

My wife Sue and I decided to take a weekend road trip for our 30^th anniversary (which was on Monday June 20^th) After checking into a hotel in nearby Ann Arbor, we made our way to the club.  I’m sure those of you who have been to Whitmore Lake have seen, or been to “the Roadhouse” because this is about it for food and spirits.

The band had not yet started when we arrived so we gave our undivided attention to studying the menu.  There were several tables filled with some of the locals who were just there to eat and we found out why.

Not only was the food great but for those of you that know me, the prices were reasonable too.  I had a half chicken dinner with two sides (I chose cole slaw and greens) the price was $9.95.  This was listed as Beale Street BBQ Chicken.  Although this meal was delicious, I’ll be getting the ribs on my next visit.

I seldom order ribs at a restaurant because many times you wind up with flavored bones.  I won’t even mention a popular Memphis famous ribs place that I will not return to for just that reason.  Several people at the next table ordered the ribs, they were meaty as hell and with the rib dinners at $12.95 for ½ or $17.95 for whole slab (again with 2 sides) a bargain too.  Great staff, in fact Chef Chris IS the chef here.

Well the music was our true purpose for being here and the band saw to it that we were not going to let our pallets have the only good memory of our visit.  Many of you may remember that Chef Chris & His Nairobi Trio won the International Blues Challenge in 2002.  Is this band any less dynamic than that band, hell no.  Plus, this band just plain loves to play.  While the race at M.I.S. and Pistons play-off game took most the crowd away on the Sunday, the band played as if the place was wall-to-wall standing room only. 

I’ve only seen Chef Chris once since the Memphis gig, but was kind of toasted that day, so I forgot just how gifted of an entertainer he was.  I like when any band can redo covers and make them unique and they did that.  Even a song that I’ve grown VERY TIRED of was given a new lease on life.  When I heard the band start off “I Got My Mojo Working” I thought ‘here we go again’, but my fears were unfounded.  Not only did Chris give the vocals a new treatment, but when it came time for a guitar solo it was like W.W.C.D. (What would Chet “Atkins” Do). One of the highlights of that set.  I did ask guitarist, Brett Lucas, during the break if he thought of Atkins as one of his inspirations while already knowing the answer.

 I became a fan of drummer Julian, as he did what many blues drummers either can’t or will not do, play many of the night’s songs concentrating on just playing the snare.  Your timing has to be a little sharper and the beats have to be interesting to get away with it.  This is how drummers played in the early days of blues.  And playing the bass guitar is Brother Bill Lewis, who is also from the Nairobi Trio.

I don’t think that we were treated with the many ways Chef Chris can use his voice down in Memphis, but we were on this night however.  As for his harp playing, if you want to see someone play 3000 notes per minute, that’s not his style go listen to John Popper.  But, if you want to listen to some soulful, make the notes mean something, this man will do it.  He also does not play the harp on every song, so it means more when he does bring it to the mic.

We were treated to every kind of blues that has been a part of the music and even a few tasteful country tunes.  I’m not a country fan but enjoyed the few cuts they played.  My favorite original that they played that night was “Average Girl”; hope they play it and some other of their originals when you see them.

I will be making another road trip very soon.  Better yet, I hope everyone can see them here in t-Town soon, but until then you can check out their regular Sunday gig at the Northfield Roadhouse (about an hour drive) from 6-10:00 p.m.  Still time to get home at a decent hour.