Sierra Nevada Brewing Company – Big Room…
As the GM of the Big Room, located at The Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. , I’ve had the pleasure of presenting over 40 artists that have been nominated for W.C. Handy Awards (the Oscar of da blues). When listening to Rube & The Rhythm Rockers, it quickly becomes apparent that these guys have spent quality time studying at the altar of the masters. Right off, you notice two things. First, they “get it.” They understand the language of the blues. And second, that Rube and his journeyman group of bluesmen understand that it’s tone and taste that makes the blues touch the soul. I highly recommend you give them a listen. And even more, I recommend you see them live. Rube & The Rhythm Rockers live is where it’s at.
Bob Littell General Manager
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Published in the ChicoER 1/1/09
By DEEANN RESK – The Buzz
Paradise blues band Rube and the Rhythm Rockers played to a packed crowd Saturday night during the fifth annual anniversary party for The Canteena sports bar and grill on the Skyway.
Audience member and Chicago native, David Barnard, who hails from the land of famous blues musicians like Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon, said, “They’re a really great blues band &”
As beer flowed and space on the dance floor quickly shrank, it appeared the happy crowd agreed.
The 5-piece band belted a mix of hot N’awlins rhumbas, Chicago boogie and blues, and West Coast jump and swing. The band opened with the lively “Rhythm Rocker Rumble,” an original written by lead vocalist and harmonica player Steve “Rube” Rubenstein. The kicker ran as smoothly as a robust ale featuring a sweet guitar solo by the band’s youngest and newest member, Chico State University student Brian Talbott.
Rube and the Rockers followed that up with an old Howlin’ Wolf classic, “Who’s Been Talking,” with Scott Hike keeping a steady beat on bass. Though the lyrics were fairly indistinguishable, nobody seemed to care, as folks like Cheryl Dawson of Paradise, swiveled and swayed to the sultry blues.
“They’re one of my favorite bands,” Dawson said of Rube and the Rhythm Rockers. “They’re fabulous. I try to make it to wherever they are playing,” adding that she is on the band’s e-mail list.
Rube showed off some slick harmonica skills during John Brim’s song, “Ice Cream Man,” while band members Son Rey Garcia (guitar, vocals) and John Hale (drums) debuted their equally talented skills during the group’s honky tonk and grittier, Lager-like tunes. If you closed your eyes long enough, you could almost smell the smoke rising off the band.
Rube and the Rhythm Rockers, who play regularly at The Canteena, competed last month at the annual “Battle of the Blues Bands” in Monterey. They were among 10 finalists chosen from among hundreds of entries to compete in the event.
The band also will host the Midnight Blues Society monthly jam session on Wednesday at Nash’s in Chico. The jam is for local blues players, especially those who are not in a band, to play together from 7-10:30 p.m. To contact Rube and the Rhythm Rockers regarding this and other upcoming events visit www.ruberhythmrockers.com.
I just Love the Blues
