Mississippi native Chainsaw Dupont rolled into town Monday, April 30, and rocked the house at Big Cities, with a wireless mic and wireless Flying V guitar.
Getting deep down into the blues, Dupont's precision and clarity carried over on everything from easy, mellow tunes to rockin', foot-stomping versions of old blues such as "Killing Floor." Chainsaw's drive, momentum and energy testify for his nickname.
The veteran guitarist seems equally comfortable with various tempos and is well-versed in swinging styles as well as jazz effects.
Rocking right on time, every time, he led the band from song to song, often without pause. Skipping the chit chat, Dupont went straight from "Voodoo Child" into "Sweet 16", and from "Johnny B. Good" right into "The Hoodoo Man."
Chainsaw did mention that Junior Wells was his "old boss man" and that he learned a lot from him, just before leading into a tight rendition of Wells' "Messin' With The Kid." There was also a really nice reverb on Dupont's guitar, which really sounded great on classic blues and rock n' roll.
Gene Plascak, a former metal band drummer, and bassist John Baker forged a solid rhythm section. Plascak's military-style drum roll was impressive, and Baker picked like a pro on a blond, solid-body with low end tones. Larry Chalifoux, who has a background in classical piano, was subtle and masterful on keyboards. The amp on the keys could have been just a tad louder, though.
During the first break, selections from Chainsaw's own recordings Lake Street Lullabye and Bourbon Street Breakdown added to the ambience of the evening.
The highlight of the night was the guitar solo on "God Bless America," which Dupont dedicated to the soldiers in Iraq.
All in all, it was a great time, especially for a Monday night. For those who missed the show, Chainsaw will play at Beloit College on September 9. For more information on CDs and shows, visit www.chainsawdupont.com. For bookings, contact Steve Pasek at Big Boss Management/Big Productions, Inc., at 312-437-2583 or 866-LIVEBLUES, Ext. 83.
