The year 2016 proved to be an outstanding one for contemporary blues, marked by a series of strong album releases from notable artists across the genre. Among the standout musicians who dropped new records that year were Albert Castiglia, Bobby Rush, Buddy Guy, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Joe Bonamassa, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Tinsley Ellis, and Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, to name just a few. Their collective contributions made 2016 a particularly memorable year for blues enthusiasts.
When the 2017 Grammy Awards recognized music released during the previous year, the competition for Best Contemporary Blues Album was especially fierce. The award ultimately went to Fantastic Negrito for his acclaimed album, The Last Days Of Oakland. Notably, the nominees in this category also included Give It Back To You, the debut album from The Record Company – a then-emerging band out of Los Angeles. Their nomination signaled a significant arrival on the blues scene and placed them among the leading voices of contemporary blues.
Released in February of 2016, Give It Back To You introduced listeners to an earthy, roots-inspired sound that was embedded firmly in blues yet extended beyond its boundaries. The Record Company managed to capture a raw energy that felt simultaneously vintage and modern – blending elements of blues, rock, country, and roots music, and even weaving in hints of rockabilly and rap.
The Record Company consists of Chris Vos (guitars, harmonica, and lead vocals), Alex Stiff (bass, guitar, and backing vocals), and Marc Cazorla (drums and backing vocals). To mark the 10th anniversary of Give It Back To You, the band launched a three-month, 25-date tour starting January 8 in Park City, Utah. From February 12 to 14, they played Colorado’s Front Range, with concerts at the Aggie in Fort Collins, the Boulder Theater in Boulder, and the Gothic in Englewood. Although I couldn’t make it to FOCO this time, I was able to attend the shows in Boulder and Englewood. The following review and accompanying photos will focus on those two performances.
A quick shoutout to Jontavious Willis, who opened both shows (and is traveling with the band for most of the stops on the current tour). Willis, who is also a Grammy-nominated artist, warmed up each night’s crowds with a lively 40 minute set (nine songs on Friday, ten on Saturday), blending classic Delta Blues with comedic flair. I don’t often comment on opening acts, but Willis’ set deserves recognition. Performing solo on dobro, he had the crowd dancing, singing, and laughing. He’s got enormous charisma, a thoroughly engaging stage presence, and is one terrific singer and player. If you’re not familiar with him, check him out on his website… https://jontaviouswillis.com/.
Following up such an outstanding opening act can be a bit dangerous, but The Record Company was more than up to the task. On both nights they opened their sets with frontman Chris Vos shouting out that they were there to play some rock and roll. And that they did. A blues band they might be, but when they take the stage, their performance is pure, energetic rock and roll.
The setlists for both nights were more similar than different. The first eight songs were the same, including five from the Give It Back To You album, and a “new” song called “Stay Up High” that the band recently debuted on Boulder’s KBCO radio station. In the intro to the song, Vos explained that it was actually written during the Give It Back To You recording sessions, but didn’t make the album. Ten years later it was casually released as a single. The song offers a refreshing change of tempo, featuring Vos seated and playing acoustic guitar.
On Friday night, the ninth song of the set was “Talk To Me,” which was performed with both Vos and Stiff seated, playing acoustic-electric guitars. Yes, the bass man plays guitar, and he’s damned good at it. His solo towards the end of “Talk To Me” was one of my favorite moments of both night’s performances. On Saturday “Talk To Me” was replaced by “Gotta Be Movin’”, with both Stiff (on guitar) and Vos (on harmonica) seated.
Songs ten through fifteen were again the same on both nights, and included four of the final five songs from Give It Back To You. “Last Lonely Winter,” which is another new song, was again performed with both Stiff and Voss seated, playing guitars. This was followed by “Life To Fix,” which included one of the best mid-song extended guitar jams of the evening.
The remaining songs in the sets (four on Friday, three on Saturday) were where the biggest differences between the two nights showed up. On Friday, the band delivered an energetic rendition of “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” then finished the main set with “Off The Ground,” the last track from Give It Back To You. On Saturday, they went straight to “Off The Ground” to close out the regular set.
On both nights they returned for two song encores that were completely different. I won’t note them here, but will point you to the photo gallery below, where you can find the setlists for both nights, side by side and in order. In total, the band played a whopping nineteen songs, with a running time of one hour and forty five minutes on Friday night, and eighteen songs, with a running time of one hour and forty minutes, on Saturday night.
Both nights featured outstanding performances. The Record Company enjoys playing for Colorado audiences… on both nights Vos praised the live music crowds in Colorado as having something “special.” If you’ve read my reviews over the years, you know I wholeheartedly agree. Colorado’s live music scene thrives largely thanks to the enthusiastic crowds who bring tremendous energy. This energy inspires artists to deliver their all on stage, which is exactly what happened at both shows – the crowds radiated electric excitement, and the band responded with powerful, passionate performances.
One of the things that makes The Record Company unique is that the rhythm section of Stiff and Cazorla are not there to simply be the glue that holds everything together. Given the band’s heavy emphasis on bass and drums, there are plenty of opportunities for Stiff and Cazorla to show their stuff. Stiff is pretty chill on stage, but overall he’s far more animated than the average bass player. Several of the band’s songs begin with a solo bass line, with Stiff stepping out front to kick them off. And even though he is captive behind his kit, drummer Cazorla is anything but the guy stranded in the background. Both Vos and Stiff engage with Cazorla, individually and together, many times over the course of a set, which draws both him, and the crowd, into the middle of the fray.
Vos’ remarkable talent defies description. As a front man, he brings an almost frenetic energy to the stage, rarely staying still, even when seated and playing lap steel during certain songs. His liveliest moments come when he plays harmonica, moving energetically to every corner of the stage. Vos stands out as an accomplished musician, singer, and entertainer. What truly distinguishes him, however, is his evident passion; his performances make it clear that he has found his true calling. Near the close of Saturday’s set, Vos expressed heartfelt gratitude to the audience, acknowledging that their support enables him and his bandmates to pursue their dreams.
Everything about these two nights with The Record Company was perfect… perhaps even the thing of dreams. Outstanding music, inspired performances, iconic venues, and electrified crowds. Even the weather was fabulous, especially when you compare these two nights to the last time The Record Company played in Boulder…
If you missed any of The Record Company’s phenomenal shows this past week, you have one more opportunity before they head to the east coast. But you’re going to have to act fast… their final show in Colorado is tomorrow night, February 16, at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek. As of this writing, tickets were still available at Vilar Performing Art Center Tickets.
Story and photos by Rick Witt www.rickwittphotography.com
