When I checked the Roots Music Blues Chart on Wednesday a name that I had seen for several weeks stood at number 20 Popa Chubby and his current release The Fight is On. So I went to Rhapsody and downloaded the album onto the mp3 player and gave the album a listen. The first thing that I realized was that this is not a traditional blues album but a rock album with blues roots like Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton! Since I knew nothing about Popa Cubby (aka Ted Horowitz) I’ve read a few reviews and here’s a quote from a review on Gibson.com
“I was trying to create an album of classic rock-blues heavy riffs,” explains New York City-based bluesman Popa Chubby, “and for that you need the balls of a Gibson.”
“When you get into classic rock and blues like Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath, or even like Eric Clapton with the Bluesbreakers, that kind of heavy riffing is usually done on a Les Paul or an SG,” Chubby relates. “That’s where I wanted to go for this album.”
Well I for one think that he accomplished his mission and created an album that has that classic rock feel! From the opening riffs of “The Fight Is On” to the closing cover of Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” this album rocks. Which is kinda the the title of the second track “We Got Some Rockin’ To Do”. Track three “Another Ten Years” takes the listen through the decades of Popa’s life and the deaths from Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Stevie Ray and Willie Dixon. “The Right Time” has more of a traditional R&B – blues sound. But that quickly changes with the next track “Rock and Roll is My Religion” The next track “The Company of Thieves” is one of my favorite tracks like most tracks the guitars soar and the vocals are strong. The mood changes to the calypso sounding “Switchblade, Combs and Candy Cigarettes”. But the mood turns hard and the charging guitar returns on “Noisemaking Love Machine”, “Steelhorse Serenade” to me has a Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, ZZ Top 70s feel to it! The album ends on an up note with “Wicked Wanda” and the aforementioned “Ace of Spades”.
From a review in The Rockpit:
Popa reckons he pulled out some of his best guitar work on “The Fight Is On” and I’d have to agree – this could be the album that finally elevates him above cult status.
So in the end the questions is asked. Is Popa Chubby a blues musician or a rock musician? I say who cares his music rocks and is based in the blues and is great. So just sit back and enjoy!
Here’s “Ace of Spades”