Review by: James Pappaconstantine
Photograpger: James Pappaconstantine
More show photos: HERE
Boom, Boom, Out Go The Lights! Chris Duarte is a Texas Bluesman, Who infuses his Blues with a bit of Jazz, for a style that is all his own.
The Brickhouse is a small venue, which is actually not a venue at all but the basement of a house in the middle of a wooded lot where hey hold house concerts. To get into the events you have to be invited or know someone. The Brickhouse seats roughly 60 people, has a small stage, a sound system, a few lights, and a greenroom equip with beds for the band. Over the past couple of years Homeowner, Paul Williams, has held some great shows from both national acts as well as many local acts. These have to be “Private Parties” as the town gave him flak for unlawful assembly or something to that affect. Friends attending can leave donations which all go to the band. Fans of the music will often buy allot of merchandise, T-shirts, CD’s and Posters from the bands which also help with the bands expenses.
Chris hit the stage promptly at 6 pm.and along with Dustin Sargent on bass and John McKnight on drums played an hour and a half set of material spanning his 26 years of recorded material. Chris’ style is very unique at times ripping through what seems like thousands of notes within a 30 second time frame, other times slowing it down and getting those deep bends that have been a signature for the blues. Each song was met with huge applause and cheers from the full house.
After the set Chris announced that they would be taking a short break to sell some merchandise. After maybe 10 minutes, the rain outside started picking up and then BOOM! A crack of thunder shook the house and we were in the dark. Candles were lit, flashlights and cell phones alike illuminated the room, as we all sat and waited for the power to come back on. After maybe 15 more minutes in the dark, Chris Announced that he would be continuing the show. A fellow patron and local musician had an acoustic guitar with him and as homeowner Paul started a generator, which provided enough power to run the board, and a light or two, Chris and company hit the stage again. Chris muscled his way through the first two songs of the set on the acoustic. (which along with the bass was plugged directly through the board) Jokes were made about the work it was taken to bend the heavy strings of the acoustic, which are much heavier than the light electric strings. Dustin asked “Are we gonna do the next one?” apparently it was a new one and was very demanding on guitar, and on n acoustic it was going to be a chore. Chris answered, “Shit ya, I’m gonna soldier through this, and he did just that, not missing a beat. Someone brought up the fact that since the acoustic was plugged through the board, that his electric should be able to be plugged in and after a laugh and a headshake, insinuating, why didn’t I think of that? The show continued. Chris smiled and announced, “It like running with leg weights on.” Chris played a second hour and a half to two hour set and then left the stage before being called back for an encore.
This show was great and you could really tell that Chris is just a guy who really likes to play his guitar. Where most bands would have taken the excuse of a power outage to call it a night, especially after already playing for an hour and a half, Chris just wanted to play and was determined to give the audience everything they paid for and more.
After the show Chris and band were treated to Lobster and Steamers, A traditional welcome to Maine.
Set One
Hideaway
Show me that you want it
Ridin’
Big-Legged Woman
Yes, It’s You
I Bucked it Up
Bottle Blues
Crazy
Still I Think of You
I’ll Never Know
Scrawl
Hold Back the Tears
101
Set One
Hideaway
Show me that you want it
Ridin’
Big-Legged Woman
Yes, It’s You
I Bucked it Up
Bottle Blues
Crazy
Still I Think of You
I’ll Never Know
Scrawl
Hold Back the Tears
101
Set Two
The Best I Can Do
Make Me Feel So Right
Outta My Way
Empty Arms Motel
Sweet Little Girl
Leave My Soul Alone
One More Cup Of Coffee (Bob Dylan)
Lets Have A Party
Sundown Blues
My Way Down
Like Eric
People Say
Set Two
The Best I Can Do
Make Me Feel So Right
Outta My Way
Empty Arms Motel
Sweet Little Girl
Leave My Soul Alone
One More Cup Of Coffee (Bob Dylan)
Lets Have A Party
Sundown Blues
My Way Down
Like Eric
People Say