By Michael Yanko and Michelle Wilson
Some bands are so good that you just cannot get enough of them, and for us, the Bruce Katz Band is definitely one of them! With keys master Bruce Katz tickling the ivories, Chris Vitarello playing ultra clean guitar licks and belting out strong, smooth vocals, and Ray Hangen banging out precise drum beats, this power blues/rock/jazz trio thrilled the crowds everywhere we went. Katz (Blues Hall of Fame Inductee 2013) has performed with the likes of the Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman, John Hammond, Ronnie Earl and The Broadcasters and Delbert McClinton, to name a few. In addition to playing with Katz, Vitarello (Blues Hall of Fame Inductee 2013) also has collaborated with the late Jimmy McGriff, Tad Robinson and Floyd Miles, in addition to many others, and is a member of the Chris O’Leary Band. Hangen (2010 Buffalo Music Award for Best Blues Drummer) has played with The Blues Hounds and Brandon Santini.
Our weekend tour with the band began at 1pm on Saturday afternoon at Stuart, Florida’s Terra Fermata, a hidden gem that is one of our favorites. Owner Jonathan Mark always ensures that the sound is exceptional at this cozy outdoor venue. Even though attendance was a bit thin (this was a last-minute, rescheduled show from Wednesday’s rained-out performance), the seasoned performers still played a fantastic 2-hour set with loud, consistent appreciation from the small audience. It was a perfect mixture of original songs from their charted new release, “Out From The Center” as well as songs from previous albums, and some classic covers from Billy Preston, the Allman Brothers Band and Ray Charles. The band was joined for a few songs by special guest guitarist Alex Ivanov, a 21-year-old musician with a bright future ahead of him.
Part 2 of our adventure started at 9pm, 170 miles away at Phil Stevens’
Music Ranch in Lakeland, Florida, about 10 minutes off I-4. The homey vibe
of the large, rustic cabin, complete with music memorabilia in every room, offers
a welcome feeling to all who cross the threshold. While there are no alcohol or
food sales, you can bring your own, and that is exactly what the locals do.
They bring the party inside with them and make a night of it. Katz delightedly commented
on the rarity of an on-site Hammond B3 and Leslie, which is certainly a dream
for any keyboardist. The set varied somewhat from the previous show but every
song held the attention of the listeners. The band again provided a
potpourri of tunes, old and new, and the fans were quite enthusiastic
throughout the evening, dancing and enjoying each moment.
The 3rd and final leg of our adventure wrapped up
on Sunday afternoon for a 2pm performance at another one of our favorite outdoor
venues, Earl’s Hideaway in Sebastian, Florida. We arrived an hour
before the show and were pleasantly surprised to see several hundred people
there already. The Bruce Katz Band did not disappoint them in any way, bringing
an electric energy to the stage that only intensified as the day progressed.
Check out our photos from all three shows at our website as well
as our live video interviews with Chris Vitarello (including live song footage)
and Bruce Katz (from one year ago).
3 comments:
If you are not a Bruce Katz Band fan yet be sure and check out some video, you will be amazed~
This is a great write-up and coverage of the weekend of events and times with The Bruce Katz Band. I enjoyed it quite a bit. I am good friends with Bruce and the guys and you nailed it on this article! Great musicians and also great guys too and that is what makes them so pleasurable. John Martin
Nice gallery
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