The Vernon Jazz Club will be letting loose as Brickhouse holds down the stage this Saturday night.
The band will be performing their own tunes as well as covering favourites from Al Green, John Lee Hooker, and Kings of Leon.
Brickhouse is Rob Bracken (lead vocals and harmonica), Ray Keesh (bass), Ed Johnson (drums and percussion), Oldrich (Oz) Zitek (saxophone and backing vocals), Todd Taylor (guitar and backing vocals), and Darryl Havers (Hammond organ, keyboards and backing vocals).
Brickhouse has been around for the past 12 years and has been coined as Vancouver’s busiest band by Stormin’ Norman, of Rock 101’s Sunday Blues show, as well as 2004’s best Canadian live band – all genres – by Real Blues Magazine.
When asked how he would describe the band’s music, leader Bracken said, “I would say that blues/funk best describes our music, but we’ve been known to let the reigns go now and again and rock it out.”
Bracken, originally from King City, Ont., grew up in the church which is where he learned to sing. In 1991 he bought a one-way ticket to Vancouver to find a more vibrant music scene and never looked back.
Although he took things in a slightly different direction than what he grew up with, Bracken says he is still spreading the “word.”
“It’s still singing to the people and it’s still bringing that thing, that fellowship of man,” he said.
The audience is so important to Brickhouse that they are always an integral part of each and every show.
“It’s a riot, and it’s very hands-on and interactive; like a big kitchen party, everyone is involved,” said Bracken.
In fact, most times it is the mood of the audience that dictates what songs will be played that night, making for a very exciting evening for both the crowd and the band.
Past audience members have not been disappointed.
“If you saw them at last year’s Jazz and Blues festival you probably haven’t forgotten the funky Brickhouse band and the great impression they made on the dancing cheering crowd,” reads a review in The Times.
Brickhouse takes the stage at the Vernon Jazz Club (3000-31st St.) Saturday at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are almost sold out. Any left can be bought for $20 at the Bean Scene or Bean to Cup. More information is available at www.vernonjazz.ca.
