Rooster Blues

Rooster Blues - Hattiesburg American

Live at the Grocery, Ocean Springs, MS
New shows nightly.
by Jason Stuart | July 15, 2010

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It's another Saturday night and I'm back at the Grocery in O.S. I'm rolling hard with my best friend and attorney as we stumble into these lesser known guitar heroes. Rooster Blues, they call themselves and I know I've heard the name.

They're an awesome little two-piece act—one on the sticks and one the strings—and they make it work for them in spades. Ten seconds in the door and I'm already sinking in to their low, dirty bluesy sound. They play it just the way I like it. You can almost feel the music flowing down your throat like a shot of good bourbon. You don't even need a chaser for this one.

I match my drink to their sound and fall into the rhythm they're pumping out. Two skinny guys in jumpsuits as dingy as the bar itself. There's no frills here. The dim light features only hints of this and that. People huddle around, barely standing room. There's a creature right out of Tolkien dancing by herself and I see a window to some future thankfully avoided.

As the smoke billows above me into a kind of haze, the whisky doing it's job pretty proper.

All this is the typical weekend (and by weekend, I mean starting Thursday) at the Government Street Grocery, the best place to go to see a live show with your friends. More nights than not, the Grocery offers live bands and not a steep cover. It's a nice change of pace from the headliners out at the casinos (which, by all means, is often worth the cash and hassle). Downtown Ocean Springs offers a much easier atmosphere, and a perfectly bar-hopping scene.

Check it out. - visitsouth.com

When these two brothers go on stage they have a set-list in mind but rarely stick with it. They create songs on-the-spot that will never be heard again.

The duo, Rooster Blues, originated in Tupelo. Fans say they have a touch of the soul Elvis had in his day. The brothers, Judson and Joel Vance, however, have a sound all their own.

Playing for less than two months, one would imagine these brothers had been playing for a decade. The brothers play acoustic versions of Hendrix-inspired guitar riffs.

Judson treats his guitar like candy-he eats it up. He plays behind his head, barefoot and even strings the guitar with his mouth when he is not letting loose singing the soul stored up inside him.

In just two months these brothers have touched the hearts of music lovers.

Judson, a student at the University of Southern Mississippi, has devoted himself to his music, even though he will graduate in May 2004. Joel quit his job at a restaurant in Hattiesburg to make things happen.

And it's happening. Now the duo travels from the heart of the South, making stops in college towns such as "Starkvegas," all the way to Kansas. And no, they are not tapping shiny red shoes to get there. These two college boys are in school and playing night after night in distinct atmospheres.

They do not travel in their new van alone-their dog Trey goes on every journey.

A Reflector reporter caught up with the duo between shows.

Kit: What is your favorite song to play?

Judson: "Roll in my Sweet Baby's Arms."

Joel: "Catfish Blues."

Kit: Favorite musician?

Judson: Jimi Hendrix.

Joel: Bob Marley.

Kit: Favorite place in the entire world?

Judson and Joel: home.

Kit: Will there ever be more members in The Rooster Blues?

Judson and Joel: No, the sound of our music is full enough. We do not need anyone else.

Kit: Favorite show you've ever played?

Judson and Joel: Sept. 17 at The Pub in Starkville.

Kit: Favorite music group in the world?

Judson and Joel: Robert Johnson (Father of the Delta Blues).

Kit: Where do you think the greatest place to play a show is?

Judson and Joel: Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Morrison, Colo.

Kit: If you could play with another musician, who would it be?

Judson: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.

Joel: Neil Young.

Kit: Favorite football team?

Judson and Joel: The Saints.

Kit: Favorite food?

Judson: Mexican.

Joel: any kind of pasta.

Kit: How did you go about getting a name for your band?

Judson and Joel: Our best friend Mac Coleman went to South America and while he was there we kept in touch. The culture in South America brought him down and since his nickname was Rooster we named our band "The Rooster Blues."

Hear "The Rooster Blues on Sept. 27 at the Courthouse Grill. - The Reflector

The Rundown
By Stephen Centanni
Music Editor
On Sept. 20, a multitude of blues fans descended upon The Shed Barbecue and Blues Joint for their annual ShedHed Blues Festival. The Shed has built their reputation upon not only their excellent food but also the notable blues acts that frequent this establishment. Although there were many well-known headliners such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Walter “Wolfman” Washington, some of the more impressive acts were the more obscure ones.

Mobile’s own Lisa Mills made an appearance and poured her soul all over a mesmerized crowd, which listened intently in the rain.

Rooster Blues was probably one of the most electrifying acts at this event. This duo kept it traditional with its driving blues steeped in fuzz. There was not one person present who did not feel the need to move when this band strummed their first riff. It was quite refreshing to see such old school blues styles embraced by these young musicians.

The lovely Rochelle Harper and her band (a Bluegill veteran) set the stage on fire with their set and should not be ignored the next time they hit the Port City.

Jimbo Mathus definitely was the epitome of this festival with his old school juke sound. It was also quite appealing that he set the mood with “Stateline Women” and never let up on his grimy blues sound.



- Lagniappe http://lagniappemobile.com/article/1745