| Summary: | Guitarist Popa Chubby delivers hard-core electric blues charged with rock so robust that it has earned him what he estimates to be more than 200 club dates a year. Not bad for a white man from the Bronx in New York who managed to break through the social and racial barriers in the blues world. He has soundly spent two decades erupting into his lightning guitar dazzle and sting in what he calls "a mighty hard road." In a trio setting--bassist Francesco Beccaro, drummer Stefano Giudici -- Popa wins over the crowd as a headliner at Le Festival Blues Sur Seine in February 2019. He pleases the audience from the beginning, starting with a 12-minute run through Hey, Joe, put on the map by one of his heroes: Jimi Hendrix. He opens with power chords, sings the theme with his gritty voice, and then launches into an impressive display of his hefty six-sting power. Largely this show plays as a showcase for Popa's guitar prowess as he plays a few of his originals, including the shuffling Beast From the East and some choice covers, including a charge through Muddy Waters' Rollin and Tumblin. But the surprise treat comes at the close when after the fire Popa ushers in the calm with a fine rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. It gets rocked up, but still reflective enough to make it a fitting conclusion. Dan Ouellette.
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