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WHAT'S HOT - John Solinski & Reddawg - July 7th, 2007 By Valerie Ridenour John Solinski knocked me out the first time I heard him. It was in the same venue, Irish Kevin’s, but in a different musical space. It was a quiet time of day. John played ballads and rockers and was wonderful, especially with his use of a relatively new piece of equipment at that time, a looper. This machine allows the player to play through a song, push a button that plays it back, and play over it with the same or another instrument. John could play bass or lead over his original guitar track. Unlike a sequencer, this is a totally live performance. John is the best I ever heard using one. One other performer was using a looper at the time, Jeff Clark. This performance was totally different. Duval Street was relatively quiet, except for Irish Kevin’s. John was playing and was inciting the crowd (and there was a crowd) almost to riot. There was a line of folks outside. Every few minutes John would exhort the inside crowd to yell in unison 1-2-3, "come on in!" They did. It was an atmosphere of crazed fans having a fabulous time. John had a partner, his brother David, also known as Reddawg. They did ‘an Irish tune’, "What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor" complete with shot breaks. Next came Charlie Daniels’ "The Devil Went Down To Georgia". Reddawg plays a strange instrument that appears to be a drum you you play by tapping buttons with your fingers. This sound enhances John’s excellent guitar. Both Solinski brothers have marvelous voices, and consequently, great harmony. Reddawg calls AA on a cell phone, claims they don’t answer. Next we heard "I Just Called To Say I LoveYou". John says, "sing along", and they do! The boys let go with an occasional "Ye haw". Now we hear the looper as John sings "On the Dark Side" with magical guitar. Ask! Now Reddawg sings "Folsom Prison Blues" followed by "Ring Of Fire" with dirty words. Excellent! John is sponsored by Jagermeister. He indulges in one. John does "Shaking All Night Long", "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Johnny Be Good" in a Southern rock tribute. The brothers Solinski don’t forget David Allen Coe. They do "The Perfect Country Song". Reddawg borrows a phone a guy is talking on and says, "we’re having fun at the gay bar!". Now it’s "red neck songs", "Rawhide" and "Hungry Like the Wolf" (?). The huge audience is having a ball. So am I! Go hear John Solinski and Reddawg. Tell them I sent you. Stay cool. |