SFJ Press, Letters, Notes etc...

Press, Letters, Notes etc...

...reprinted from Summit Daily News - 3/31/04...

Soul Food - Stacy Towar

If you’re looking for a good time this weekend, head on down to the Snake, where Sol-Fed-Joe offers up tasty platters reminiscent of Otis Redding, Fats Domino and other R&B greats. In a two-night stand, Joe will have the Snake rockin’ High Country style and keep listeners on their dancin’ feet the whole evening long.

A combined 50 years of musical know-how floods the stage with a trip down memory lane, not in a stale cover-band kind of way, but a revitalized romp through the roots of rock and roll. Joe’s shows are known for the non-stop parade of tunes that keep audiences in a sweaty mass on the dance floor. From soul-drenched covers like Otis Redding’s “Mr. Pitiful,” Earl Hooker’s “Blues in D Natural” and Kim Wilson’s “Walkin’ To My Baby” to their fine selection of originals, the entire evening pays homage to the legends of rock and roll. I guess you could call their sound contagiously classic, party blues-rock.

Anchoring the quintet is Troy Fox. A tremendous vocalist and hell of a harmonica player, he blows the soul-drenched melodies that carry the songs to the next level. After years as a sideman, he’s shared the stage with countless heavy hitters including his recent stint sitting in with Texas great Hamilton Loomis. After years of playing second fiddle (or harmonica, as the case may be) Fox decided to take the reins and lead this bunch of rowdy rockers to new heights. Citing influences like Sonny Terry and Junior Wells, Fox conjures up Texas juke joints past and leads his band through many a beer-soaked evening.

Fox’s partner in guitar and background vocalist is Chicago native Edwin Jeffreys. Citing classic influences like Link Wray and the Ventures, his surf style of playing intensifies the pace of play and ups the evening’s musical ante. Backing the dynamic guitar duo, is Mike “Mac” Murray on bass, another long- time player in the Denver scene, he’s known for his “in the pocket” style of play. Keeping the steady soulful groove in line on the low end, his rhythmic style is complimented by drummer/percussionist, Paul Christophersen. Christophersen is the down-home, pounding rhythm that roots the band. He can lay it all down from the coolest syncopated rhumbas to hard-driving rock to West Coast surf and all points between. A dedicated instrumentalist for over 20 years, he has the chops to anchor the furious five.

With the platform laid down now, you get the subtle textures added by Jack Dupp on keys. His unique style of playing keeps listeners on their toes by throwing in all sorts of snippets from a Styx classic to a polka. You never know what flavor Dupp will add to the mix.

If you’re up for a night of good-old rock and roll, Joe delivers with a big dose of heart. Feed your musical need Friday and Saturday night at the Snake River Saloon in Keystone when Sol-Fed-Joe delivers a house-rockin’ good time. Doors open early for the Snake’s tasty fare and the show gets under way at 10 p.m.

^©SCIDN 03/31/2004

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Email received ---- Subject: Peoples' Fair Performance

Hi,

I was in Denver over the weekend and was fortunate to be in the right place
at the right time. Your band was my favorite among the many I heard play.
Also, I enjoyed talking with a couple of your band members. Please put me
on your mailing list for any CDs, etc. you might have available. Thanks!

Bruce Turner
Charleston, West Virginia

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Rated by Cornerband.com in their weekly top 100 bands nationwide. SFJ currently ranks #4 - up from #37 last week. That's in the top ten bands of any/all genres nationwide!! - And we're the only blues band on Cornerband to make the top 100 bands of any/all genres on Cornerband.com!! Currently, we are ranked as the No. 1 Blues band on their site. Their rankings are for all bands that have their music listed on Cornerband.com and are measured by listener voting. We'll keep an eye out for further rankings.........

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...reprinted from the Colorado Blues Society HOLLER - Feb. - Mar., 2002.

SOL~FED~JOE, Live, 2000.

I had the opportunity to play with Paul Christophersen, Sol~Fed~Joe's drummer, recently. He relayed the story of the recording of this project to me. How it was in celebration of a friendly competition between a local soccer team and a team from South America at the city park of one of Denver's suburbs (at least I think that's what he said - we were in a bar). Anyway, there was some discussion between the two soccer teams concerning the validity of some of the calls made by the American referee's (the local team won the contest) and after some heated debate, the foreigh team stormed the stage for some spirited butt-shaking! I guess they figured, it's just a game, let's dance!

The sound that day was provided by the Northend Sound Company (fortunately enough they were recording that afternoon, resulting in this CD). A basic combo of drums, bass guitar, harmonica and lead/rhythm guitar, these guys deliver a solid set of electric party-blues. This is a fair sampling of what you'll hear when you visit them at their next gig. Troy Fox is handling the harmonica and vocal chores, getting just the right classic distortion for his Chicago harp. The guitar is aptly handled by Edwin Jeffreys with special guest Hubert "Blues" Lawhorn sitting in (Hubert also handled the production of this CD). The rhythm section consists of the aforementioned Mr. Christophersen on the drums joined by Barclay Logan on the bass (and vocals).

Again, the choice of material is classic party-blues tunes by folks such as Willie Dixon, "Magic" Sam Maghett, Earl Hooker, Otis Redding (not "Dock of the Bay" either, but "Mr. Pitiful," not covered as often as it deserves), and Roscoe Gordon. Rocking out on songs like Earl Hooker's "Blues in D Natural" and Kim Wilson's "Walkin' To My Baby" it's no wonder a bunch of high schoolers from another country couldn't help but dance! I'm sure they probably didn't understand the lyrics, but the beat is get-out-yer-chair-and-shake-it contagious.

A solid set by a solid local band, check the listings in the Holler calendar and catch these guys live. Check them out on the WEB at http://solfedjoe.tripod.com. I'm sure you could pick up a copy of this lively CD at one of their gigs.

John Toebbe

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Voted in the top 5 Colorado Blues Bands!

Boulder Daily Camera - May 2, 2001

The results are in on local music fan Steve Pitt's online poll for Best Colorado Blues Band. Nearly 10,000 votes were cast for more than 30 bands. But for better or worse, the people have spoken, and the Top 10 are in order as follows: Rikki Dee Hall & the VooDoo Hawks, Johnny O Blues Band, Built for Comfort, Otis Taylor, Sol-Fed-Joe, Tempa and the Tantrums, Catfish & the Crawlers, Johnny & the Jukes, Hazel Miller and Emilio Emilio.

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...another note from a satisfied fan...

You guys put on a great show on Saturday. It just rocked. I was burning up the dance floor with with a lady friend i met at the (Lincoln's) Roadhouse. Lets just say we were rocking up the sheets that night with SOLFEDJOE pumping from my stereo. You made both our nights, and I credit you for making my ladyfriend feel like putting out. Due to you, i got lucky, and your music is rocking.

GSG -- Denver

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