Thursday, August 24, 2017

Featured Live Music Artist of the Week - The Neverly Brothers


The Neverly Brothers : A Rock & Roll Tribute from Elvis to the Beatles.

No, that's not a great headline I thought up, that's the promo tag line for the 3-piece band, based in Chiagoland, called The Neverly Brothers.  And well, it's a perfect description, but not a complete description.

The Neverly Brothers is more like a musical history lesson - or as they called it - a "Magical History Tour".  I was fortunate enough to see their show at Steger's First Responders Community Event.  The band was the part of the Day 1 festivities, which also included a parade, bouncy-houses, touch-a-trunk, dunk tank, a DJ, and fireworks.

The band's tagline basically explains the musical genre - but the band doesn't just play music or cover music for that era, they literally transport one back in time.  The band itself consists of just 3 band members, and the 3 basic instruments of that time, instruments that gave that era of music its own never-since-duplicated sound.  A bass violin (the band taught us that was the correct term), many know it as the upright bass, standup bass, "the doghouse", and "that giant bass".  A 6-string acoustic guitar.  And, a simple drum kit - one bass drum and one tom, no cymbal.  Basic, but to the point - and pure - just like the sound of that era.  Those three instruments, when played properly can sound like an orchestra.  Less is more, as they say.  The band played everything from Elvis to The Beatles, to Johnny Cash, to Rolling Stones, to The Kinks, to the Big Bopper, and so many bands in between.

The show focused on Early American Rock & Roll, starting at Sun Records, and progressed through the British Invasion, led by The Beatles and ending with the Stones.  The show even included a costume change to go with the different eras.

But, really, a Neverly Brothers show is so much more than the songs and the attire.  It truly is a Magical History Tour.  Throughout the evening, from the opening to the encore, the band transports the audience back in time through narration.  They set the stage with descriptions of venues, recording studios, and events.  Literally, one could close their eyes and be transported.  But it was even more than that - there was even history lessons about the songs or the artists or their influences or the times.  Did you know, for instance, that "Wake Up Little Susie" was so controversial in its time, that radio stations would not play it?  I didn't know that - but I do now - thanks to The Neverly Brothers.

More than a concert, this was a show, more than a show, this was a true TRIBUTE, a heartfelt recreation of an era that was the cornerstone of Rock & Roll.




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