LIVE - THE PRIME
– JOLIET
APRIL 12, 2002
by James Walker and Amy Walker
Did you see that guy out at Rock Creek in Kankakee River State Park catching small mouth bass and having the time of his life? That guy was guitarist and bandleader Felix Reyes, formerly of Dallas and Atlanta, currently of Oak Park. He loves to fish there during the week when there aren’t so many competing anglers. He is too busy to fish on the weekends anyway performing outstanding Texas blues, Kansas City swing, and Zydeco with his band Felix and the Cats.
Felix Reyes is so amazingly well founded; he is like the “six degrees” of actor Kevin Bacon. Within six degrees of Felix, there is hardly a bluesman he doesn’t know or has crossed paths. Remember Jody Williams, “Return of a Legend”, whom I recently reviewed? In the liner notes, there is Reyes’ name - being thanked by both Jody and producer Dick Shurman. Seems when Sean Costello was in Chicago recording for the album, Felix was there, and they had to borrow his amp!
I am a huge fan of Sean Costello, the 23-year-old vocal and guitar phenomenon from Atlanta.
The first I heard of Felix Reyes was in a radio interview with Sean on The KAT 105.5. At the age of 12 his dad took him to an Atlanta blues club to meet Felix Reyes. There began a tutoring which flowered Costello into an artist that “can play circles around me now,” says Reyes.
I first met Reyes by surprise on February 12, when he was playing bass for Armando Cortez’s Chicago Blues Angels. I had no idea he had moved to Chicago and had also formed his own band. I saw the Cats recently at a steakhouse on Joliet’s west side, The Prime. It was like the old Wrigley’s Doublemint commercial: double your pleasure. The Prime is a swank, upscale eatery with beautiful appointments and clean, smoke-free air. The sautéed oysters on a bed of spinach and bacon were worth the drive! The music was worth the wait!
The music was even better than I imagined because, in addition to top-notch guitar work by Reyes, their lead singer from Kansas City, Elmo Bliss, belted out deep vocals reminiscent of Big Joe Turner. The keyboardist Phil Balsano also played accordion, for a nice variety of danceable music. The Bass Player Eddie Sullivan is an excellent team player and a great musician. He recently retired from the Army where his gig was playing with the Army band! He played all over the world - what a duty! He’s going to break out the upright bass on gigs soon. Also he’s been working hard at getting the Cats’ web site going and the email list updated. The Cats are using a few different drummers until they can get a steady guy. They are Marty Bender (Dave Spector & Deborah Coleman) Gregg Campbell ( Nick Moss & Chicago Blue Angels) and George Beauman. Some bands are serious about music, some are serious about fun, and a few, like the Cats, do both really well.
Texas Guitarist Felix Reyes was born in Dallas in 1955. His earliest influence was his mother playing all the great R&B music. "I grew up on Ray Charles and Sunny and the Sunliners "(a great 60s Tex Mex orchestra), says Felix. "Plus Jimmy Reed was big time in Dallas in those days".
It was his grandfather who had the biggest influence. "My grandfather had a western swing band in the 40s in Waco. He was pretty wild, coming out on stage on a live horse, wearing an Indian headdress, and playing the violin. They played Bob Wills tunes, Mexican, and country. He gave me my first guitar lesson at 12. He taught me ‘Floyd’s Guitar Boogie’ which I thought was very corny. (I wanted to learn Jimi Hendrix stuff !)”. “Learn this tune, and you’ll know a million songs,” he told Felix. “Little did I know that this would be the basis for everything I do today.”
The band is working on a studio album. Currently available is a disc recorded live at Fitzgerald’s last November. “300 Pounds” is witty, up-tempo, and has spectacular singing by Elmo Bliss. This song reminds me of the Blues Brothers with its organ riffs, funky beat, and Bliss’ Big Joe-style vocals. “This is it, this is it! That’s what you get,” he says of his “300 pounds of heavenly joy”! “Pounds” is certainly meaty, sure to satisfy any fan’s appetite with its hilarious lyrics and Reyes’ sizzling guitar!
Knockin’, has great piano by Phil Balsano which really steals the show. Felix also rips it up with his guitar solo. Knockin’s loud, in-your-face style sets it far apart from maudlin tones. “All your callin’s in vain,” sings Bliss with a vengeance!
“Summertime” is truly riveting! This song’s unusual ending-crescendo intro gave me thrills. It might be played during the midnight climax of a dark cop-and-gangster movie. I loved this track from beginning to end!
“Oh, Cherie” is a Reyes’ original, noteworthy as a superb Zydeco song. Expect more soon from this national treasure moved to Chicago and his hip band!
The band will be returning to Joliet at The Prime on 2755 Black Road in the Campus Center. Their website is www.geocities.com/felixandthecats