MUSIC: NRBQ Coming to Town - GoLocal Interviews Terry Adams
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Monday, December 22, 2014
Ken Abrams, GoLocalWorcester Music Critic
NRBQ Plays New Years Eve
If you're ready to “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” and burn off some of those holiday calories, there's a legendary band out there ready to do its part.
The New Rhythm and Blues Quartet, better known as NRBQ, is bringing a "Holiday Hoedown" to two area venues next week, Fall River's Narrows Center on December 30th and the Bull Run in Shirley on New Years Eve. Its a great way to ring in the new year and the band's longtime leader Terry Adams couldn’t be happier.
GoLocal interviewed the veteran keyboardist, a mainstay in the band for over 45 years and the only original member still touring. Longtime fans known it’s not an understatement when Adams points out “We like to try different things, shake things up.”
Iconic Band
It could easily be argued that NRBQ was the original indie band, or at least the one with the greatest longevity. In 45+ years, they’ve built their audience show after outrageous show, surprising concert-goers at every turn.
The Quartet has played hundreds of shows over the years, no two the same. They're known for a varied set list, eclectic song selection, and their sense of humor – they’ve also been anointed the “house” band on The Simpsons.
Adams attributes that longevity to the band’s high energy level. “I’m as excited about playing now as I was when the band started,” he explained.
Keyboard Ace
In a way, Terry Adams has always been the “Q” in NRBQ. That’s “Q” for quirky - in his lyrics and his arrangements, incorporating Jazz, Rock, Barrelhouse Blues, Country, and other musical genres.
To say Adams can’t sit still on keyboards is no surprise to longtime fans ... he’s possibly the most active pianist since Jerry Lee Lewis. His mood on a particular night, in a particular place, might affect what the band plays.
“Every stage we take is different, there’s a different feel playing in California than playing in DC and the east coast. Depends where you play.”
He's looking forward to the band's return to the area. "I love the room, they get really great sound. It's a great athmosphere.," Adams said of the Narrows Center.
New Album – Brass Tacks
NRBQ released a new record this summer, Brass Tacks, and it's won praise throughout the music world. “It was recorded live in the studio,” noted Adams. “We were reacting to each other. Everyone in the band writes songs… there are a lot of fresh songs.”
One track however, “Places Far Away,” is not so fresh. It was an unfinished tune that Adams started in the 1960’s when he was 15 years old.
The album is vintage “Q” and sounds so fresh it's almost like hearing a brand new band -albeit one heavily influenced by NRBQ … and Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Dr. John and just about every Pop band from the 60s to the present. It’s got some great songs and is a lot of fun to listen to.
Don’t expect to hear it on pop radio though. They’ve never had a Top 40 hit, although the She and Him version of “Riding in My Car” was a YouTube sensation a couple of years ago. “I knew that song was going to be a hit record, just wasn’t sure when,” chimed Adams. You can credit the performance with introducing the hip band of the 1970s to the hipster crowd of the 2000s.
Future plans
It should come as no surprise that Adams is working on an offbeat new project, a piano album based on the compositions of Jazz great Thelonius Monk. “It’s not really Jazz,” Adams says of the album, “its different arrangements that are coming out of me.” Adams, who has been known to exhibit a streak of free jazz in performances, shared that the album should be out in the Spring of 2015.
Two Area Shows
NRBQ appears at the Narrows Center for a special holiday show on Tuesday December 30th. They’ll be joined by longtime friends, The Whole Wheat Horns. Tickets are available here. Tickets for the NYE show at the Bull Run can be found here.
Ken Abrams reviews Roots, Rock and Blues for GoLocal. E-mail him here.
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