This band you really got to take serious.

With all the musical acts today performing in NYC what really sparked my attention and caught my eye was a musical act/ band review in Elmore Magazine on the Resurrection of Screamin' Jay Hawkins Band. The band performed at the famous Bowery Electric a few years ago. The band review was written by the famous music photographer Arnie Goodman himself. I also purchased a book online "I Put A Spell On You, The Bizarre Life of Screamin' Jay Hawkins". The author is Steve Bergsman. The book really was a great read. I myself am so busy these days I do not have much time to read books anymore. The book also sparked my interest in this band. I learned a lot about this arty-crafty wild causative artist Screamin' Jay Hawkins from reading this book so I decided to see what this band had to offer. The show was in NYC at a venue called Heaven Can Wait. I know from the past this band performed up and down the east coast but since I was in town for the holidays I decided to go see this show myself once and for all. It was a cold rainy night in NYC and when I walked into Heaven Can Wait a small club on the lower eastside the band was already in the middle of their opening tune, Alligator Wine. This tune I heard on recordings by Screamin' Jay Hawkins himself back in the day. I was really impressed and amazed by the sound of this band and felt I was leaving the present time and going back into a musical era of melodious music from the days of Screamin Jay Hawkins. Another famous legendary tune of Screamin' Jay Hawkins the band performed was Constipation Blues. Shakar was sitting on a toilet bowl singing and this is something you do not see today. You have to see this to believe it. It is hilarious, hysterical and funny and the listening audience made that clear. The band has five members. The singer Shakar when I looked up his full name on the bands website his name is Shakar "TheRealShakar" Brumfield. Shakar is a great powerful singer performer. He really plays the part well. His vocals will penetrate your soul and is a force in this band. The guitarist Mike Armando was Screamin' Jay Hawkins guitarist back in the 1970's. A friend of mine seen Mike when he was in Hawkins band at the Virginia Theater when Screamin' Jay blew himself up with a stage prop. Mike was standing next to him. Mike is still at it again with his band he created. Mike Armando's playing days being in Hawkins band can be read about in the book I read. It was really shocking at some of the bizarre crazy stories. Mike is a really fine tasty guitarist, bluesy and jazzy. The saxophonist Arno Hecht is well known for his days with the Uptown Horns and played and recorded for many of the greats is a soulful sax man bluesy and a perfect fit for this group. His solos will knock you for a loop. Arno really tops off the groups sound. On bass is Andrew Golba a solid bass player with Michael Fox on drums they are in the pocket duo bass/drummer musical force. I really enjoyed this band they are a great band make no mistake about that. They have so much talent. If the Resurrection of Screamin' Jay Hawkins band is back in town again you should go see them at their next show. It is not just a musical band but a show you will remember. Their website is Resurrection of Screamin' Jay Hawkins Band

Review by John Appleton freelance music writer.