Josh Fix and the Furious Force
The Knitting Factory- Hollywood, CA
Tuesday, September 17, 2002
It’s soooo Hollywood. If this scenario were pitched to a studio big
wig, it would be laughed right into the parking lot. In one of those show
biz fairy tales, soon to be a legend, Josh Fix and the Furious Force,
originally set for the side stage, got drafted to open for The Who in
Irvine Sunday night when Adam Duritz blew out his throat and Counting
Crows had to cancel. Shades of Ruby Keeler.
“It was pretty incredible, I guess, playing before all those people,
but deep down I’m still a ‘smokey-room’ kinda guy!”
Breathless form a steaming set, Tuesday night in the tiny Alterknit Lounge,
San Francisco rocker Josh Fix wrapped up a short stint to SoCal with a
sold out show at the Knitting Factory. Blending funk, soul, gospel, folk
and rock, dressed up with back up singers and Josh’s whiskey-smooth
voice, some Industryites have a hard time pigeon-holing this artist in
an increasingly boring “McMusic” world.
Boring till you hear Josh.
“I’m so pissed! I was playing with Pete Townsend’s picks
[apparently swiped from the stage during soundcheck] and now I can’t
find any of ‘em!” Having more fun than anyone else the in room,
Josh rocked from piano to guitar with a ballad here and again. Standout
number, “Humankind” brings back that old time religion of a
good old-fashioned protest song. Back soon? “God yes, I love this
town!”
He’s ready for his close up.
-Victoria Joyce, Hollywood
The Voodoo Lounge
S.F. Herald
Friday, June 23rd
reprinted from: http://www.sfherald.com/columnists/joyce/victoria03.html
A lot of Ess-Effers look at Cesar Chavez (Army Street) the same way some New Yorkers look at the East River. Anything on the other side is "Jersey." And despite the recent relief in rents, a clear trend developing. The hip (meaning the economically challenged) are moving south and so are the live music clubs.
There has always been a wealth of small, mom and pop, affordable eateries along main drag, Mission Street and funky fun neighborhood bars abound. But venues for live music are sparse. Everybody's favorite Salsa place, El Rio has been around for a while and Chicken John is working on the Odeon. Then there's this new metal/glam thing called The Pound out near the old Navy yard, past Evans.
But the jewel of the emerging So-Arm area is just inside the line at Mission and 25th, The Voodoo Lounge. That's capital V, small D and no space. Offering some great local music and the coolest neon sign this side of Vegas, a skull in a top hat encircled in flame. And get this, they also have Sushi. And it's not bad at all and affordable. I don't know why Rock N' Sushi go so well together, but they do.
A recent visit, Friday, June 23rd brought Josh Fix and the Furious Force to a stage in the back room that's about the size of an average cubicle. They barely fit every one up there. Heavy on the harmonies with a raunchy-gospel twist, sounding like early Doobie Bros.
Band leader Josh bearing an uncanny resemblance to, I swear to God, Bobby Darin, the Force was a nice complement to the Edamame and the House Roll. The big finale was 'Sun, I love You," love and solar power. Boy, do we need both now.
The evening's second band was The Jethro Jerimiah Band who advertises roots rock and reggae. Double-decker keyboards by Ryan are a standout ending the first set with a swirling and huge gospel-ska number. Second midnight set started with crowd pleaser Kinky Reggae and Rolling Stone cover, Miss You. Closing the second set with the call "Live with Love" and leader Jethro Jerimiah called for a heartfelt goodbye to John Lee Hooker.
Both bands had a lot of fans show up and stay for the other guys and both bands thanked each other from the stage. Very nice manners.
The Voodoo Lounge is one long room with a beautiful bar with old-fashioned brass rails. Nice acoustics too. Unfortunately, the stage manager winced and tweaked the PA a lot throughout the evening. There are some improvements needed and they seem to know it. The cover charge for this show was $6 and the sushi dinner was $15. Even a working stiff could afford that.
Victoria
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