Tab Benoit

Live at

S.P.A.C.E.

Evanston, IL

November 13, 2010

photo: Michael Kurgansky

By Liz Mandeville

Every October for the last seven years, Tab Benoit has thrown a three day party he calls Voice of the Wetlands, in his home town of Houma, Louisiana. Not just a wing-ding for personal friends, Tab’s party has purpose and a conscience and everybody’s invited. He’s trying to raise awareness about the plight of the wetlands fast disappearing from along the shores of Louisiana, near what was historically the mouth of the Mississippi River.  Regional musicians (some of whom are world renowned, like classic rock band Southern Cross, Cajun fiddler Waylon Thibodeaux, and the multi-talented Anders Osborne) perform at VOW, while local restaurants cook and ecological groups educate and sign folks up.

I was there for VOW last October and personally witnessed Mr. Benoit doing everything to make that festival a success. He was cooking, trouble shooting, selling tickets, working the back stage and hospitality tent, meeting and greeting. He was also performing with several of the acts including the Voice of the Wetlands Review, an all-star line-up that included some of the aforementioned players, the Mardi Gras King and Cyril Neville from the famous Neville Brothers Band. Through it all, Tab never lost his cool.

After all that hullaballoo, I kind of expected a circus when he came for a rare Chicago appearance at SPACE. What a surprise to see him playing with just a bass player and drummer. Tell you what -- I didn’t miss the circus one bit!

The club was wall-to-wall and back-to-back. The frenzied crowd had their eyes glued to Tab Benoit, who looked like a young Clark Gable with his dark black hair and wicked grin. Dressed in a blue satin shirt and black jeans, he radiated star quality. I’m surprised his agent isn’t shopping Hollywood for this handsome fellow, who played the audience like a master. Everybody was requesting songs from his catalog. Grown women were swooning and hollering “I love you Tab!” like girls do for the Jonas Brothers. But Tab Benoit backs up those good looks with talent to match.

photo: Catherine Hernandez Faber

They started the show with a couple of moderate tempo songs, one that named some of Tab’s influences. He covered Albert Collins’  “Dirty Dishes”, too. Not only does Tab sing with feeling, but he is a solid guitar player as well.  He paused to talk to the crowd and have a sip of liquor, and was completely charming as he set up the next tune with a joke about drinking on the job. Then he launched into Los Lobos’ “I Got Loaded” and the whole place erupted into happy mayhem. He followed it up with Cajun fiddler Doug Kershaw’s seminal “Louisiana Man”; I don’t know how he did it without pedals but he got that dang guitar to sound like a fiddle at one point!

He played a couple of well-worn Fender Telecaster guitars through what looked like Vox amps.  I always like to ask the artist how they get their sound; which amps, effects, strings, etc. they use.  I know that a lot of musicians want to know that stuff. In this case, the security was so tight they wouldn’t let me near Tab after the show to ask him about anything, even though I’d been put on the list by his manager!  As I said, the place was packed and it took me half of the first set to worm my way up to near the front, but I couldn’t see what brands of equipment he and the band were using. Oh well.

Tab's gator stands guard on the stage photo: Catherine Hernandez Faber

The next song was a ballad and he followed that with a heavy groove, simple but effective, which really worked to bring the set to a climax. He introduced the rhythm section: bassist Corey Duplechin (who has been with Tab a little over a year since leaving long time boss Chubby Carrier) and New Orleans native, drummer Doug Gay. Both men took a bow, then took a break, as Tab strapped on a semi-hollow-body guitar and sat down to play some more.

The audience was ready for whatever Tab wanted to do and he never missed a beat. He started out by telling us that his first love had been drums and his first axe had been a banjo which “is like a drum with a neck.” To hear him tell it he played that first banjo to death, “I guess you ain’t supposed to play it with sticks” he said, laughing ruefully, taking a pull off his drink. He then said that a guitar is a “drum with strings” demonstrating what he meant with the most amazing rhythmic picking I’ve ever seen. I was wishing I had a video recorder, because even though I was staring right at this, I couldn’t tell you how he did it. Now, I play the washboard, and I’m not half bad, so I understand rhythm. I also play rhythm guitar and I’m not bad at that, so I understand the mechanics behind the guitar. I’ve seen a lot of people play both washboard and guitar. I even saw a guy play a guitar that had the body of a washboard and he’d strum a few licks and rub a few rubs, but the stuff Tab Benoit  was doing with that guitar was downright revolutionary! He did things with the pick and guitar that sounded like rub board, drums, animal scratching, guitar playing and, just before it got to be too much, he changed gears.

Women all over the room were crooning “I love you Tab” as he sang the song that caused waves of love to roll toward the stage at the VOW.  It had the same effect at SPACE (and probably everywhere else he goes) as he performed “When a Cajun Man Gets the Blues.” photo: Michael Kurgansky

           Just when everybody was taking a deep breath and drying their eyes, Tab got on the drum kit and played an amazing solo that took us from blues shuffle to 2nd line to funk. At that point bassist Corey Duplechin returned to the stage where he and Tab proceeded to get their funk on allowing Corey to demonstrate what a gifted player he is. Before that got too long, Doug Gay returned to the stage and picked up the drum part without a beat dropped, Tab strapped on his trusty Tele and they were into LaRue’s “New Orleans Ladies”. This is one performer who clearly enjoys his work. The only other guy I’ve ever seen play right through while the band took a break was James Brown, and I think James would’ve enjoyed Tab’s show. So much rhythm, so much music, so many different styles -- all of it pure Tab Benoit.

With the audience still requesting, the ladies still drooling and the bartenders still running, Tab announced they’d played their time and had to stop. Although every one stood up and demanded an encore, it didn’t happen; still everyone left in a good mood. If you haven’t seen Tab Benoit, I’m sorry for you!  Catch him next time he’s in town for a guaranteed great time and a true musical feast.

About the Author

Chicago Blues Guide is happy to have Chicago blues artist Liz Mandeville as our columnist.  A true renaissance woman, Liz is a sultry singer, award-winning songwriter, guitarist, journalist, painter, educator and all around bon vivant. She has performed all over the world and has four CDs on the Earwig Music label to her credit.  With each column, Liz takes us behind the scenes of Chicago blues and beyond, to share unique insights from people who have dedicated their lives to the blues.

Photo by: Eric Steiner