swear it's not you
smoking in germany
elephant walk
i think i'll pass
THE CONVULSIONS
What do you get when you mix blues, punk, rock and jazz with a touch of r&b? The answer is simple: The Convulsions - Shaken & Disturbed. The most difficult thing I faced while writing this review is to stay away from the obvious clichés: genre breaking, unique and innovative sound? Yeah, yeah... all that, but so much more.
Here is a band that demands to be seen. With a rare mix of energies and anything but subtle flavors, the individual members combine to form a sound that is uniquely "The Convulsions." Ben blows such a mean harp that at least twice I had to duck as a note blew right past me and out the door. I think he hit a guy across the street..... Intense!
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The Convulsions: Ben Ruth - harmonica, Hammond
organ and vocals; Bob Goins - guitar; Dan Mullins - bass;
John Maloney - drums; and Matt Longbohns - trumpet.
The following is an exerpt from my first draft of this review, it was written after I interviewed the Convulsions between sets at Joe Tozer's Lyons' Den 1934 W. Irving Park, Chicago Il.
"There are jam bands, there are bands that jam, but on a Tuesday night half way through the second set, I saw an amazing thing occur: each of the band members transformed, even transfigured, into individual islands of virtuosity. Talk about Zen states... Here were musicians who came to play."
"I saw an
amazing
thing occur as each
of the band members
transformed,
even transfigured,
into individual islands
of virtuosity.
Talk about Zen states.
Here were musicians
who came to play." There was a
point midway into the second song of the last set (I did not
catch the first) where simultaneously, each member of the
Convulsions slipped away into a musical trance.
I was reminded most of a group of jazz musicans so into their music, that they seem as if playing alone. The reality is that they are so in tune with what is going on musically that they are able to concentrate on their individual contribution to the whole.
The Convulsion's performance turned into a natural jam where
music was the common thread. For any of you reading this who
cannot understand the difference between someone who simply
plays an instrument, however adept, and someone who is a true
musician... well, you can leave now; there is no hope.
Those who can truly appreciate the extremely rare
combination of virtuosity and synchronicity, the back room at
Joe Tozer's Lyons Den (1934 W. Irving Park, Chicago) turned
into the center of the musical universe, at least in Chicago
on that Tuesday night. I doubt very much if anyone or any
band was playing with such intensity anywhere else. The room
was not packed, far from it; it was late, it was a work
night; there were only a few listeners left. The members of
the Convulsions were playing for the music; the room could
have been empty, it would not have mattered."
Okay, that was the first draft... I am sticking with it. What becomes difficult is when you try to over analyze a sound that in truth needs to be interpreted by the individual. I have no doubts that anyone who listens to the Convulsion's Shaken & Disturbed CD or comes to one of their performances will begin pulling names from there own list of musical experiences.
My own personal list brought up names such as Joe Cocker, John Mayall, Dave Brubeck, and Black Sabbath... see what I mean? The Convulsions are hard to place in any one genre because in fact, they are creating their own. During my interview with the band, John Maloney [drums] said that he thinks the band most resembles Béla and The Flecktones in scope. I agree.
The Convulsions play intensely but at all times allow the artistic freedom of the individual to add to the band's still maturing sound. Don't misunderstand, Shaken & Disturbed is a finely tuned finished product. It is just the anticipation of future offerings and my own curiousity about what the band will deliver next has me speaking of maturing. There is too much creativity here to stand pat.
I truly hope that Ben Ruth, Bob Goins, Darrin Mullins, John Maloney and Matt Longbohns continue to play together as the Convulsions... and that they continue to perform at Joe Tozer's Lyons' Den: there is magic here.
Ben Ruth, the Convulsion's founding member and resident writer [convulsive therapy] (the Krispy Kreme story is my favorite) corrected me when I referred to the band's sound as British R&B, "It's not really British R&B... its heavy on riffs." Very true! Booker T. & the MG’s to Bill Bruford, it's all here: listen to the Real Audio samples to hear what I mean.
Without a doubt the band broadened in scope when Matt Longbohn [trumpet] was allowed to join. Matt told me that he started bringing out his trumpet for two or three songs and that eventually the band members started feeling sorry for him and quit making him leave. Wise move.
John Maloney [drums] and I began a heated conversation
regarding drummers.
"Bill Bruford... anybody that played with Miles." I
mentioned Billy Cobham and watched as John raised up visibly:
"I'll say one thing about Billy Cobham, there is a cat who
knows how to tune his drums! He get melodies out of his tom
toms."
John must pay close attention while tuning his own drum set: very tight!
Bob Goins [guitar] and Darrin Mullins [bass] are consumate musicians. I can se them sleeping with their instruments. They play as if their instruments are extentions of their physical (and spiritual!) selves.
Ben... Now what more can I say than Ben has more energy than any amount of Ritalin could curtail! Do not stand close! Do not get in the way of his harp! Enter at your own risk! Ben can play... very hot!
Matt Longbohns plays trumpet with a powerful understatement. He obviously knows when to power-up and when to scale back. The result is that Matt brings much more to the band than a mere trumpet. His presence adds dimension.
I thought it fitting of the band when asked for their musical influences to hear names ranging from Jamiroquai to Miles Davis. Their tastes are as eclectic as they are themselves.
In all, I want to close by saying the Convulsions are one of the most exciting bands I have heard around Chicago. They have all the makings to move up and beyond. This fall the band will be playing venues in England; there is talk of bookings in Germany as well. Do not pass up a chance to see them here in Chicago. You will be Shaken & Disturbed! - reviewed by jack "papa" baer
Buy Shaken & Disturbed. Do it now - CD Baby!
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