Words and pictures by Duane Clawson
Every
now and then I am introduced to music that is truly unique. Robert Randolph
redefines the term unique. When first
introduced to his music some years ago, I was surprised to find out his
specialty was the pedal steel guitar.
Not the normal instrument you would expect a band leader to be sitting
behind. Robert masters the pedal steel
like a man possessed. Being raised
around country music, I was familiar with the pedal steel but didn’t know it
could produce much more than a weepy twang.
Robert's backing band consists of actual family members, hence the
Family Band moniker. Robert throws in
dashes of funk, rock, gospel, and blues, all of which he cites as musical
influences. Robert played two, hour long
shows at the Lumiere. I caught the first show.
As I entered the theater, I soon found
out quite a few others knew of Robert Randolph as there were very few vacant
seats. The band slowly eased their way
into an all out assault of the Lumiere audience. By the second song of the set,
audience members were being invited on stage by Robert, to show off their dance
moves. The band covered classic
material from their 2002 release, Live at the Wetlands. Songs such as “Ted’s Jam”, “The March”, “Pressing
my Way” had the aisles packed with dancing bodies. During the band's version of “Shake Your Hips”, Robert invited the ladies of St. Louis onstage to show off their hip shaking
abilities. At this point, I realized that
for a few moments we were all part of the Family Band. Robert’s
pedal steel talent’s reigned supreme during a cover of Michael Jackson’s
“Billie Jean.” “I Don’t Know What You
Came to Do” had the room moving like a congregation from a southern Baptist
church with no air conditioning. Robert
and company left the stage all too quickly but gave it their all for one hour
and five minutes. Thanks to Robert
Randolph and the Family Band’s management for allowing me to cover the show. Pictures of the show are below:
Robert Randolph and the Family Band @ Lumiere Casino Theater, St. Louis, MO
Reviewed by Scott Rowe, Editor
on
May 11, 2012
Rating:
Reviewed by Scott Rowe, Editor
on
May 11, 2012
Rating:
