Cellus & the Loose Grip

Cellus and the Loose Grip, Lubbock's youngest blues band, is hitting the town and said it is striving to create a musical experience for its listeners.

Five young musicians comprise the group, Marcellus Roberts, the lead singer and namesake for the band's title, is joined in musical collaboration by Josh Brandenburg on rhythm guitar and back-up vocals, Joel Smith on bass, Mike Bernal on the drums and Blake Atwell on lead guitar.

The band has been playing together for 18 months; Cellus' shows consist of a mix of blues originals and covers. The band's biggest musical influences stem from Sly and the Family Stone, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, and Johnny and Edgar Winters.

"We are out to change things," Brandenburg said on the groups' musical purpose. "(We want) to take our band as far as society will allow."

The band members Smith and Brandenburg said they believe there is room for improvement in the Lubbock music scene, and the same sound is being emitted in every bar. They said they hope the band's sound is different from any other in the city.

Cellus and the Loose Grip played a free, well-attended show Feb. 2 at Space 1110. The audience did not just sit and listen, but exhibited excellent crowd participation and got up to dance. Brandenburg feels the band's most marketable quality is its energy on stage as the band strives to move its audience mentally and physically. When it comes to being on stage, the band members cannot say enough.

"What we try to create with out live shows is an experience," Roberts said.

"(I love) cutting loose, not pretending, being myself and going nuts," Smith said about his demeanor while performing with Cellus.

Roberts said his favorite part about being on stage is "being the center of attention and getting whatever I need to get done, done."

Don Boles, technical director for the Cactus Theatre and Production Manager for Cadwell Productions, is a Cellus fan who has seen the band live. "(The band is) very high energy. It is most definitely a skillful and soulful group who is rhythmically tight," Boles said. "From a musician's standpoint, I haven't seen better guitarists work together."

Later, he compared the band to the Allman Brothers.

The group is planning to tour in the spring and will begin their tour in Crested Butte, Colo. It is also testing out new tunes on audiences to determine which tracks to record in Arizona later this year.

Excited about their show this Saturday at Texas Bar and Caf� (aka "The Spoon"), the band members shared their newfound luck with "the ladies."

"Women in general wait for you to approach, but after you get off stage - they don't." Smith said.

Cellus had a more professional outlook on women.

"I hope we (the band members) can find women that will be an inspiration to us," Roberts said.

For further information and sound clips about Cellus and the Loose Grip, visit www.myspace.com/cellusandthelossegrip.and watch them perform at 10 p.m. Saturday at the Texas Cafe

Lauren Henckel/Features Writer - The Daily Toredor
- The Daily Toredor - Texas Tech Collegiate Publication

Cellus and the Loose Grip

The best blues act you will EVER find is right here in the Hub City. Lubbock's own CELLUS AND THE LOOSE GRIP is the hottest band on the rise. After gaining a solid following, the band keeps getting better and better. If you like your blues rocking and dirty, this is the band to catch. Appearing at Whiskey Dix almost every Tuesday, Marcellus (vocals), Josh (guitar/vocals), Blake (Lead Guitar/Slide), Joel (Bass) and Mike (drums) will definitely liven up your evening. With songs like "Movin On" and "I've Got News" the band covers a variety of styles that haven't been heard properly in decades. Even Howling Wolf would have to admit that. No band can have influences like this list and be wrong. Not only do they rock so hard but they are incredibly nice and humble to their fans and friends. Hear them once and that would be enough to make you lose control. Make sure you catch this undeniably awesome act at one of the dates below.

INFLUENCES: Allman Bros., Ray Charles, Donny Hathaway, Edgar Winter, Johnny Winter, Booker T and the Mg's, Hendrix, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, The Black Keys, Son House, Gov't Mule, Billy Cobham and George Duke, SRV, Ram Jam, The Three Kings (B.B. Albert and Freddie), Al Green, LEON RUSSELL, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Sly and the Family Stone, Pantera, Teddy P, P Funk, Prince, Jeff Beck, Willie Nelson,Rory Gallagher, Robert Randolph, Ben Harper, Rage, Anthony Hamilton, and The RH Factor

Staff Writer - KCBD 11 Online
- KCBD 11 Online