I was going in completely blind.  I had never heard of the Big Lick Brass Band before and I had never been to Fellini's.  I had no idea what to expect.  After a half an hour of searching for a parking spot, my friend and I strolled in to Fellini's #9 just as the band finished setting up. With a pint of Star Hill's winter brew in hand, I began to survey my surroundings.  If you have been to Fellini's before, you know what a chill place it is.  It has an old school feel to it, almost colonial, with a big wooden bar and brick walls.  Small tables crowd the room with one long, heavy wooden table on one side.  I could almost picture a rowdy crowd of revolutionaries downing large mugs of beer while loudly debating the evils of the crown.

Suddenly, the tuba laid down a slow groove, letting his opinion be heard through the din of the crowd.  I awakened from my thoughts and turned my attention to the band.  Tuba, tenor sax, trumpet, bone, drum set, good arrangements, tight harmonies, funky grooves . . . It was Galactic meets the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

The soloists had some pretty good ideas with some decent plunger work from the bone and the trumpet.  The saxophone was getting a great, solid tone out of his Mark VI, and the tuba and set kept everyone legitimate, laying down solid time.  I couldn't find anything to complain about (except the corny vocals that were inserted here and there), but there was still something lacking.  I was having fun, but I was wondering whether it was worth the trek from my pad in Harrisonburg to see them.

As the first set ended and the crowd began to thin out, I went over to chat with some of the band members.  I found Matt Muller (sax) and Robert Williams (trombone) sipping their drinks at the bar.  I introduced myself and found that the group is from the Roanoke area, but they play around the whole state, making dates at Fellini's throughout the year.  They are all musicians, but Scott Kulick (trumpet) is the only one that makes music his full time profession, giving lessons at his studios in Salem and Christiansburg.  Not surprising.  Unless you are Dave Matthews, music is not a business that really pays, especially in today's economy.  Scott supplies the arrangements for the band; with Andy Postel on tuba and Dave "Hollywood" Brown on set, they make up a pretty good team. 

We chatted for a bit longer about set-ups, skiing, and other random shit, and then the break was over and the band went back to their makeshift stage. Then the Big Lick Brass Band pulled out Monk's "Well You Needn't."  My mouth literally dropped.  This was a totally different band than the one playing before.  Perhaps they just take a long time to warm up, or maybe they kicked it up a notch because they knew a magazine was there, or maybe it was just because they now had a few drinks in them.  Whatever the reason, I was groovin' right along.  The chemistry, the energy, the excitement; it was all there.  The set continued, the intensity not letting off for a second, doing a take on Louis Armstrong's "Zat You Santa Clause" and climaxing in the Dixieland standard "When the Saints."  Yes!  Finally!  This is what I came here for. 

I reluctantly paid my tab around midnight, having to get back to Harrisonburg, but the band continued, playing into the wee hours of the morning.  Any bad first impressions dissipated into the dark night as we drove home.  All said and done, good night, good times, great show.  But of course, don't take my word for it; go see them for yourself.  You won't be disappointed.  But if you go, you might want to arrive fashionably late.

More information on the Big Lick Brass Band is available at www.myspace.com/biglickbrass and at http://biglickbrass.com/

You can find out what's going down at Fellini's at http://fellinis9.com/music/

By Author: Adam Price

Born into a musical family in middle-of-nowhere Pennsylvania, Adam began to actively pursue a career in music after he heard a high school pep band in fourth grade.   He began studying classical clarinet, but quickly discovered his passion for jazz, and adopted the saxophone as his love.  He has been blessed to pursue his art in the cultural hubs of New York City and Florence, Italy.  Currently residing in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Adam continues to play jazz and classical gigs as a freelance musician as well as break out the keyboard for the occasional rock or indie project.  When he is not playing music, Adam enjoys hanging with friends and family, traveling, and exploring good food, drink, and the culinary arts. 

 

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