Nobody can argue the massive influence that one particular four-piece band had on the Memphis soul sound of the 1960s. Booker T. and the M.G.’s began as the house band for Stax Records, but have become known for so much more, fueling a generation of soulful rockers with their smooth instrumental sound.
Today on the Central Coast, four experienced musicians have turned their talents into a true tribute to the iconic group, calling themselves The Booker Tease. Representing the simple, stripped down rock ensemble that made up the original group—organ, electric guitar, bass, and drums—Booker Tease performs cuts from the band’s original album as well as more recent rehashes by the surviving members of Booker T and the M.G.’s.
“My dad was a musician and he had Booker T. records,” said Booker Tease drummer Miles Brown. “They are one of those really influential bands; they backed Otis Redding, Sammy Davis Jr., a lot of people on the Stax label.”
Booker T. and the M.G.’s are immediately recognizable by the distinct organ style of Booker T. Jones, the funky Fender electric rhythm and lead of Steve Cropper, smooth bass lines by Lewie Steinberg, and the no-frills drumming of Al Jackson Jr. The quartet of musicians that make up The Booker Tease do everything they can to emulate that sound.
“Our guitarist Keith Kurczewski, he bought all the same equipment that Steve Cropper has,” Brown said. “He has a Fender Strat, and he got a Fender Champ tube amp so he could sound exactly like Steve Cropper.”
With Brown on guitar and Kurczewski on drums, the rest of the band is filled out by bassist Tim Farrell and keyboardist Arnold Feher. Both Farrell and Feher are classically trained; Farrell also plays bass with the San Luis Obispo Symphony. Feher, Brown explained, has turned replicating the iconic Hammond organ style of Booker T. Jones into a study.
“He [Feher] didn’t come to this kind of stuff until he came to this band, but he is so adept and is such a student of the instrument that he has got all the licks and runs down,” Brown said. “We have a Hammond at the studio, but that is too heavy to lug around, so he uses a Nord, which gives us the right sound, and he has a Leslie speaker that twirls around.”
The Booker Tease is going to be the opening band for an upcoming concert at O’Sullivan’s Pub in Santa Maria, with Santa Cruz band The Inciters closing out the show. The Inciters are returning to do what they’ve done before—rock the small bar with their own brand of Memphis-soul-style music.
“The Inciters, they are a really fun band,” Brown said. “They have three horns, two guitar players, bass, drums, and four singers. They are just a really fun, tight band.”
The Booker Tease has also enjoyed an especially exciting encounter with the artist that is their namesake. At a recent Booker T. Jones show, Brown explained, Kurczewski and Feher waited in line to meet the famous keyboardist.
“They got up to him and told him, ‘Hey, we play your music and we are called The Booker Tease’” Brown said. “He said, ‘Hey, I know you guys, I have a sticker of yours and I’ve heard you on YouTube.’ They ended up talking with him for like 15 minutes.”
Receiving a blessing from Booker T. Jones has only fueled The Booker Tease’s drive to capture the crisp rock sound that made the original four-piece instrumental group famous.
“A lot of people get scared by no vocals, but I think once you give it a chance, it makes sense,” Brown said. “We thought it was a great way to support the music and encourage people to go out and buy Booker’s albums.”
Chumash jams
The Chumash Casino Resort offers a live concert featuring Latin legend Ramon Ayala performing on Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. Engelbert Humperdinck performs Sept. 18 at 8 p.m. at the Chumash Casino Resort, 3400 East Highway 246, Santa Ynez. More information is available at 1-800-CHUMASH or chumashcasino.com.
Beginning anew
The Lompoc Pops Orchestra presents its 2014-2015 season, titled New Beginnings, with a concert including guest conductor Olivia Tsui and guest musicians on Sept. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 925 N. F St., Lompoc. More information is available at 735-6463 or connieatthepops@aol.com.
Troubadour tales
Tales from the Tavern presents Catie Curtis and Eliza Gilkyson in concert on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Maverick Saloon. 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More information is available at talesfromthetavern.com.
Always open
Lucia’s Wine Co. offers an open mic event for musicians and poets on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Lucia’s Wine Co. Tasting Room, 126 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. More information is available at 332-3080 or lucias-wine-co.com.
Live in the bar
Shaw’s Steakhouse hosts live music on Saturdays with DJs on Thursdays and Fridays in the evening at the steakhouse, 714 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. More information is available at 925-5862.
Spinners and singers
Rooney’s Irish Pub offers This Bangs! with DJs Mr. Butter, DJ Flashback, DJ Sol, and Hurricane Worldwide on Fridays at 10 p.m. DJs and bands perform on Saturday nights. Karaoke night is Thursdays at Rooney’s Irish Pub, 241 S. Broadway St., Orcutt. More information is available at 934-3777 or rooneysirishpub.net.
Boys will be bands
The Creative Juices Lounge features regular live music on the weekends, including The AJM Band performing Sept. 12 and The Sign Benders performing Sept. 13 at the Creative Juices Lounge, 874 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. No cover. More information is available at 219-0518 or creativejuiceslounge.com.
Pasta, pizza, and music
Ca’ Del GreVino Café and Wine Bar presents live music on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. at the café and wine bar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Santa Maria. More info: 937-6400, dcp@grevino.com, and grevino.com.
Maverick country
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment each weekend including a performance by the Jimi Nelson Band on Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. Concert on the Deck with Jimi and Friends is Sept. 13 at 3 p.m. Jimi Nelson performs live on Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Sep 11-18, 2014.