If The Felice Brothers most recent self-titled release summons visions of The Band via The Basement Tapes you would certainly not be alone but prepare to have such lovely illustrations shattered if you take in a live show.
Download: The Felice Brothers - "Frankie's Gun!"
If you have ever had a strange inkling as to what a tour bus might smell like after some time on the road, you need only to have entered the back room at Schubas moments after the Felice Brothers took the stage and surely your curiosity was satiated. As self proclaimed "dirtbags," I would be surprised if anyone in the room was willing to challenege the claim and I for one am ready to champion it. Although, once the music began this all became a mere comical foot note and added a little depth to the imagery their music casts forth.
Three of the band's five members are actual Felice brothers. Their bio reads like a journalistic 
marketing ploy. Brothers, Ian, Simone and James, grew up in upstate NY within short range of Woodstock (coincidentally where the basement tapes were recorded.) They recorded their first album in a chicken coop, eventually moving to New York City and upgrading their venue to subway stations around the city. All three brothers try their hand at vocals, although the lions share falls on guitarist Ian with his dusty Dylan-esque drawl. As for the music, it sounds like it crept out from the Appalachian Mountains complete with bottle of moonshine in hand.
Much like Dr. Dog in concert, the music is transfigured live becoming a bit more unrestrained, a bit sloppier, than on the record. While the essence of the music remains many subtleties get lost on stage during the performance. However, we are talking about a band that adds a thrashing washboard to most tracks so subtlety has no real place here but that may be the very reason the show is so entertaining. The band keeps the mood bright and breezy with tracks like "Whiskey in My Whiskey" and "Where'd you get the Liquor" but they are capable of shifting the tone quick, adding some weight with tracks like "The Ballad of Lou the Welterweight" or "Hey Hey Revolver." The most surprising moments came when drummer Simone Felice came out from behind the kit to sing vocals. On drums I would reckon he has had nary a lesson but when singing he is capable of bringing the show to a halt. On "Mercy," a track that falls somewhat flat on record, he elevated it to something that felt downright spiritual. While the band Pauses in between songs just long enough to take pulls from a bottle of rye whiskey the show feels more like a backyard BBQ jam session than anything else and the crowd responded in kind. My one regret is not bringing my own bottle of whiskey to take swigs from.
Justin Townes Earle played just before the Felice brothers in the middle slot. Son of singer-songwriter 
Steve Earle, Justin brought a gentler approach to the stage. In support of his recent release The Good Life out on Bloodshot Records, the performance was a throwback to early country. Consisting of acoustic guitar backed by Cory Younts on mandolin and at times harmonica the performance was reminiscent of something that might have appeared on the grand ole opry some 60 years ago. This is not to say the music was dated but rather rich in a certain tradition of timeless music. The show was boosted by the affable easy going nature of the pair, quick to deliver a one liner to set up a song or to push thru a lull in the set.
Just wanted everyone to know I have made the first Felice Brothers fansite. Check it out and help spread the word about this amazing band!
Hey Hey Revolver.com
Posted by: Ryanhavok | Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 04:35 PM