The Note
July 1991
“Live Reviews”
By Steve Wagner
Although the
adjectives “real” and “genuine” are staring to bother me, when it comes to the
Nace Bro’s band, I find myself using these descriptions as they were meant to
be used. I recently caught Warrensburg’s
finest and felt compelled to scream at the Westportains,
“Hey, these guys are the real deal, the genuine article, so to speak!” But, not wanting to be mistaken for just
another
The Nace Bros. have
long been one of the area’s best loved bands, and at the same time, one of the
best kept secrets. How can this be? Well, they’re constantly improving, writing
better songs, stretching musically and vocally.
They’re true to their roots (rockabilly, blues, R&B, early rock ‘n’
roll). They’re not flashy (no spandex
here). They’re funny, personable, and
they make you want to dance. Tired of
being squeegeed , I assume, they book themselves, so there are no agents
telling them where or what to play.
They’ve kept the same line-up for years and can play requests or
originals all night. From wither a club
owner’s or an audience’s perspectives, the Nacers do their job perfectly. That explains it.
The Nace Brothers,
drummer Dave and guitarist Jim, along with brothers in arms Tim Williams on
bass and Bart Colliver on keys, sent me and the rest
of the Blayneys crowd to club music nirvana with
their heartfelt originals and tasty covers.
They debuted some tunes from their upcoming release (due in August), and
the response was wonderful. The covers were
a great mix of classics that kept the floor hopping all night: James Brown, Clapton,
the Band, the Stones, the Doors, ect. Keeping very relaxed, they told jokes and
anecdotes which gave the evening a very friendly feel. Two more things: the Nace vocal presence is always getting
better. Dave and Jim really have a great
two-part attack, and when Time and Bart pitch in, the band get a very full
harmony. Also, Jim’s guitar work is
really flying, very tasty; so if you’re a fan of blues guitar, keep your eyes
and ears on James Nace.
The Nace Bros. is a
band that has paid its dues, and continues to do so on
a nightly basis. They are talented,
dedicated and deserving of a bigger and better things award. Go see them at any of the venues they
frequent and you’ll see that “real” and “genuine” are not just words when the
Nace Bros. hit the stage.