| AMUSING ANECDOTES of Lips & The Trips' band members Click to reach William Jack Turner's snapshot of our show at the Last Concert Cafe, Houston, in "The Night ZZ Top Ate My Enchiladas" EXCERPTS OF REVIEWS of Lips & The Trips' Performances At Checkpoint Charlie's, 501 Esplanade Ave. by Scott Emerson, Festival Studios Lips and the Trips. Well, what can you say? Veteran rockers of New Orleans, D. Lips Shus is teamed up with Johnny J. of Johnny J. and the Hitmen to bring to the stage a show full of energy, hyjinx and a little mayhem. But don't let that fool you. These folks are serious musicians with one thing in mind: keeping the fun and music coming. Lips' Review of Scott's review: This man is brilliant, insightful, and probably very good-looking. He is wrong about only one thing--we're not at all serious !!! At the Tricou House by David Ashworth At the other end of Bourbon Street, humid and hustling, Lips, so called because of them, belts out Johnny Lee Hooker with a mouth like Julia Roberts and a voice like Bessie Smith... Lips' Review of David's review: David is truly a genius. EXCERPTS OF REVIEWS of Lips & The Trips' CD, DANCE BABYS DANCE Scott Jordan, The Gambit Vocalist and bassist Lips has been a fixture at Check Point Charlie and on the Bourbon Street scene since moving here from Houston in the mid-90s, and her debut album showcases her recent musical partnership with guitarist Johnny J. and drummer Jesse Hall. She shows she has extended vocal range on DANCE BABYS DANCE, hitting smooth upper-register notes on Little Willie John's "I Need Your Love so Bad," and using a throaty growl on a barnburning version of Otis Blackwell's "Rip it Up." Her blues-mama roadhouse delivery also pairs well with Johnny J.'s crooning for a duet on Dale Hawkins' "The Thing." The album's a feel-good romp through the rockabilly and blues canon, and guitarist Johnny J.'s playing, as usual, is a model of tone and taste, providing a rock-solid foundation of Sun Records-gleaned licks and intuitively placed grace notes. Lips' Review of Scott Jordan's Review: This man is smart, discriminating and has great taste in music. He's probably handsome as well, but I have yet to meet him. Dan Gilbert, Where Y'At Magazine Having been on the scene locally for quite some time, bass player and vocalist Lips is known for her mode of transportation, the gigantic, hand painted junker with Lips emblazoned all over its surface which brings to mind a rockabilly favorite called "This Bomb of Mine". Though not present in this program would be the perfect compliment to the fourteen well-chosen rockabilly and R&B covers she reinterprets here. Recorded in just two days, you've gotta give the band credit for doing things the old-fashioned way, as well as approaching the music with a certain weight and respect that is sadly missing in a lot of bands that use the past as a refernce point. The big influence here is Wanda Jackson and things start out promisingly with her ingenious "Funnel of Love". Little Willie Johns' "I Need Your Love So Bad" gets a quiet, late night treatment which is successful. Otis Rush's "Homework" also fares well, and Johnny J.'s guitar work is prominent throughout. If you enjoy the albums he's made with the Hitmen and on his own, chances are you'll like this. Johnny does a good version of Jimmy Lloyd's "Rocket in My Pocket," and they close things out with a nice duet in "Let's Rock Awhile." Lips' Review of Dan Gilbert's review: a Junker???!!!!! Hmm, oh, you mean that in a good way. Well, thank you kindly! Jeff Hammish, Offbeat This one looked promising what with the likes of Ronnie Self, Otis Rush and Big Joe Turner favorites being covered. The group was trying to attain a 1950's vintage sound and takes some interesting approaches to the material. Lips has a promising voice and Johnny J.'s Telecaster is in the pocket. Lips' Review of Jeff's review: Since Jeff is a promising bass player around town, we hope he gets as good of a review from his fellow journalists when he records. AND REMEMBER DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ EXCEPT THIS: WE LOVE YOU!!! |