Thu 9/16 @ 8PM
Pianist Johnny Iguana, who founded Chicago-based band the Claudettes, has deep roots in the city’s blues scene. He’s performed with legends like Buddy Guy, Junior Wells and James Cotton; meanwhile, the Claudettes polished their purposefully unpolished style playing in funky suburban bars.
It’s led to a sound that gleefully mixes eras and genres: rockabilly, punk, classic soul, vintage burlesque house jazz and piano-driven jump blues all bubble up in their cauldron of sound produced by Iguana, vocalist Berit Ulseth, bassist/vocalist Zach Verdoorn and drummer Michael Caskey.
The band has made frequent stops in this area to promote their equally frequent album releases, such as 2018’s Dance Scandal at the Gymnasium!, made with Black Keys producer Mark Neill. They recorded their follow-up, called High Times in the Dark, in 2019, planning to release it with a tour in early 2020 but … you know. So instead of touring, they worked on yet another album, due next yet.
High Times came out last April but the band is only hitting the road to promote it now. They’ll be at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron, performing two hot sets for the low low price of $10 admission. Get your tickets here.