Last night in Echo Park a mellow, eager crowd awaited a bearded Reverend and his Big Damn Band. After an admirable performance from The Donkeys, the Reverend Peyton, Washboard Breezy and Aaron 'Cuz' Persinger lit up the stage with their unique, soulful twang. The Rev's slide was in full force, and his fingers were absolutely flying about the strings. There is no other way to say it - that man plays the shit out of the guitar. The Rev then picked up his Dobro and brought fucking Son House back from the grave. It is hard to believe that their robust sound comes from an acoustic guitar/Dobro, washboard and snare drum. This isn't your mother's blues - as the Rev said: 'We're going to do some Brown County pickin' and a-grinnin'.' The Big Damn Band delivered a fresh mix of new material from their forthcoming album on SideOneDummy Records due out May 26.
The Reverend fearlessly lulls us into a blues induced coma, his big damn music gets inside of the crowd and comes bursting forth - foot stomping, whooping, beating chests - The Rev, Breezy and Cuz jammed their hands down every throat in the room pulling out our hearts, lungs and livers - throwing our organs on the floor for us to stomp all over. It all culminated with Breezy setting her washboard ablaze during an energetic rendition of 'Two Bottles of Wine' with big damn friend, Jason Webley.
Seeing the Rev is just as good as going home for Sunday Dinner. You get the entire gamut - soul, spirit and joy.
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