"I produce a monthly acoustic showcase in Washington, DC and recently booked Derek James and his band. The night of the show happened to be one of the rainiest in the history of the nation’s capital (complete with trees toppling on the lawn of the White House). The Metro had stopped running, cars were stalled along Rock Creek Parkway. But amidst all this biblical flooding, a good-sized crowd had come out to the showcase, and they were in the mood to hear some music. Bottles of beer were being passed around and there were vague rumblings about this “Derek James guy” who was driving down from New York in the pounding rain. People were muttering, wondering aloud if Derek would even make it to the gig...
A few minutes before Derek’s set was to begin, he and his band suddenly came staggering in the door, soaking wet, bedraggled, and in a hurry to set up and play. They piled into the room, opened up their guitar cases and began to tune up. The audience sipped their beers, watching and whispering as rain slapped against the windows. Who the heck was this guy wearing a top hat and sandals? What kind of music did he think he was gonna play for them?
The band tuned up quickly, fixed themselves on their stools, and with hardly a word of introduction, launched into their first song (which turned out to be “What’s That Sound”). There was an instant, almost visceral reaction from the pent-up audience. Derek’s music gravitates toward funky ragtime rhythms that, when combined with his bass player’s tight, walking bass lines, get people tapping their feet right away. It was one of the few times in my years of music that I’ve seen a band connect so immediately, and so “rightly,” with an audience. There was this palpable sense of relief-- that this was going to be FUN. Everyone smiled and started clapping along. Derek finished his first song and, without wasting any time in idle stage banter (other than to borrow a capo from his friend Akiva), simply played through a set of immensely catchy songs. Interestingly, we were already running behind schedule for the evening, but in a break with precedent, we asked Derek and company to do an encore-- something we usually reserve for the headliner.
I have to say that Derek and his band played a great set-- and one that left everyone talking about them, checking out their website the next day, downloading their songs, etc. Everyone was really impressed. And me, being a bit older than the audience, and a bit more jaded-- and having already played years of music, dealt with thousands of bands, booked a million forgettable shows-- I have to say that Derek still made a heck of an impression on me. He seems to be one of those rare talents who intuitively understands the need for simple chord loops and old-time, foot-stomping rhythms. Those are the songs that readily connect with people, and that leave a lasting impression."
Derek James at Revolution Records, Washington, DC, June 24, 2006
-Steven Capozzola
