9/12/98

While no one would have mistaken this venue for a traditional Mississippi Delta juke-joint, the High Hat in Athens oozed blues tonight. The playbills plastered on the walls and windows advertised talent like "Mother Truckload" and such. One could easily have imagined Muddy Waters peering behind the smoke to inconspicuously catch a show. This was a perfect CD release party setting for a group that refuses to be pigeonholed, Filet of Soul.

The funkadelic-folksters opened with a blues tune of their own, Sebastian. True to form, this is not a traditional blues theme, lyrically or musically. Guy loses girl and seeks solace with an elixir of Las Vegas, $10,000, and Rick James boogying down. This was followed by the lead bass stylings of Randy Chester, the hard driving rhythms of Cornelius Freeman, and the "wa-wa" of Greg Beadles in the instrumental, Copperpot. Tighten these elements together with the airy, smooth vocals of Adam Beadles and the outcome is Point of View.

Just when you’ve settled into this Confunkshun-esque groove, the band modulates, slows the tempo, and gets even funkier with the help of local legend and Capricorn artist Randall Bramblett on the Hammond organ. The offering is entitled Away, but it certainly drew the audience in. The transformation is complete with the next tune, Gravity. The crowd was definitely caught in the tow of its melodic, intertwining themes. The listeners were brought to a mesmerized hush with the honesty and boldness or Lower Me and Broken Mirror.

When everyone’s focus was tuned in, the final metamorphosis began. The last set highlighted the influence of 70’s rock on the band. First up, was the self-titled and purposefully transparent Filet of Soul. The melodic overtones continued but to this was added an edge absent earlier in the night. This edge was increased and more pronounced in These Times. By this time those at the bar had turned around, those seated had stood, those standing had closed in, and those in the balcony had pressed the banister. The furious crescendo had prepared everyone to board the Freight Train. Cornelius "The Conductor" Freeman had sounded the bell call. Randall Bramblett laid down the track. Randy Chester brought back the groove while Greg and Adam kept the fire hot. All elements heard throughout the night were coalesced in this final number leaving all attendants happy they caught this maiden ride.

--Derek Monjure