Uh ... yeah ... that's why we're here! (lol)
Such was the sentiment of the packed house at Q Bar in Glendale Heights Saturday Night (October 12th) as Brooklyn Charmers took the stage and dazzled their audience with a selection of Steely Dan tunes (both classic and obscure) for two sets.
I can't decide which is more impressive ... the fact that kids this young have embraced the music of The Dan the way they have ... or the fact that they execute it so precisely. The result is a true tribute to Steely Dan's catalog ... as well as an absolute testament to the musicianship of the band members up on stage performing it.
Perhaps most dazzling are the dual lead guitarists, Sean Briskey and Frank "Lightning" Minella, who trade off licks all night long, each more impressive than the one before. The two act as the perfect compliment to one another, displaying an excellence that truly nails the Steely Dan sound. And bassist Kevin Campbell (who also helps out on vocals) is no slouch either. Campbell fills in all the gaps (and even takes the occasional spotlight solo along the way) while Drummer Alex Zeravica provides the solid backbeat that holds it all together. As mentioned earlier, lead vocalist, keyboardist and band leader Colin Peterik (son of Jim) round out the quintet. Together, they have created the perfect combination of magic and musicianship to execute music with this degree of intricacy and put on a show that was nothing short of stunning. (Both sets flew by.)
Watch for these guys ... they are definitely worth checking out ... and, after just a couple of gigs, are already taking their show out on the road ... hopefully to a theater near you!
https://www.facebook.com/pg/brooklyncharmers/events/?ref=page_internal
Upcoming dates include stops in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York and Illinois ... check out the link above for these and any new dates to be added.
SIDE NOTES:
This was our first trip to Q Bar - the place is absolutely HUGE!!! Probably best defined as a sports bar, it houses an array of pool tables, gaming machines and even an off-track betting parlor!
A large area has been designated for entertainment that can easily be expanded to accommodate more patrons as they start to book bigger and bigger names. (Their booker seems to have a genuine affection for the music of our era ... and even booked acts like The New Colony Six and The Buckinghams for this year's Addisionfest. Look for more big names to be appearing on the Q Bar stage in the not-too-distant future.)
The music Steely Dan is some pretty sophisticated and complicated stuff ... their blend of jazz and rock earned them 27 spots in our TOP 3333 MOST ESSENTIAL CLASSIC ROCK SONGS Countdown! This includes eleven tracks that made The Top 1000.
Be sure to check back daily for the latest reveal as we count 'em down here:
https://classicrockessentials.blogspot.com/
