A boogie night

Steve Potter Blues Band works music magic at benefit concert

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff Photos by Gary Smith Dave Griffith, left, Richard ‘‘Richie” Spero and Matt McKinley play in the Steve Potter Blues Band at a Habitat for Humanity benefit concert Saturday. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Blues singer and harmonica player Steve Potter accompanies bassist Matt McKinley, left, and guitarist Dave Griffith in a performance on Saturday.   Hear some blues The Steve Potter Blues Band can be seen at local venues, including events with Grace Brethren Church. To learn more about the band and upcoming performances, go to www.stevepotterband.com.

The five-member band played for an audience of about 40 to 50 on Saturday evening in La Plata to benefit Habitat for Humanity in Charles County. The band members put their hearts, their emotions and their love of the music on display for the crowd.

Steve Potter, chromatic harmonica player and blues singer, describes the band’s style as a mixture of gospel blues, Delta blues and Chicago blues of the 1940s and ’50s.

‘‘That’s when blues was the best, before the rock ‘n’ roll bands,” he said without hesitation. ‘‘To me, rock ‘n’ roll contaminated it — they played it too loud. It was good music back then, not just noise.”

The band’s current ensemble has been together for two years — what many would refer to as a long time for a band. However, Potter said he tries to be a good bandleader, let them shine and encourage everyone.

And letting the members shine was a part of the show that was more than evident. Each member of the band from bass player Matt McKinley to drummer Richard ‘‘Richie” Spero and guitarists Curry Werkheiser and Dave Griffith worked their magic on the crowd.

They proved that while blues can be a bit on the sad and depressing side, it can also be upbeat with plenty of rhythm and soul.

‘‘I had some hit records in rock ‘n’ roll [with other bands], but this is different. It has a lot of soul to it. It came from people working on plantations and farms ... The only thing they had then was the music they created,” Spero said. ‘‘Of course, some of the music is sad, but we play all styles of blues, like the early-days blues.”

As Potter rocked the old classic chrome mic stand, like the ones Elvis would use, his voice soothed over the crowd to prepare them to get down and funky.

‘‘We’re going to boogie in Charles County. It’s a boogie night,” said Potter as he began his next song.

While some of the songs the band plays are originals, others are songs of blues artists such as Muddy Waters and Little Walter.

It’s the band’s way to pay tribute to greats, Potter said.

‘‘What is it that B.B. King said ... Blues is just a feeling,” quoted Griffith.

He said he remembers watching ‘‘The Ed Sullivan Show” featuring groups like The Beatles and wanting to know how he could learn about the music, too. After a bit of investigating, he discovered the music came from blues artists who were maybe 10 years older than the group, he said.

‘‘I don’t see [blues] music as sad songs, but fun music,” Griffith continued.

The youngest member of the band, Matt McKinley, is considered a quadruple threat by some members, because he sings and plays bass, guitar and drums. However, his love is with the upright bass.

‘‘I was getting into the rockabilly — the Elvis or Johnny Cash type of music — when I met Steve,” he said. ‘‘But I noticed with blues, it’s real honest and nothing else. That’s what I like about the music. It’s the joy of playing. And I feel real lucky to play with these guys. They are a real talented group.”

For Werkheiser, who is also the Henry E. Lackey High School principal, blues music ranks high on his list.

‘‘I love three things — working with kids, spending time with family and playing the blues,” he said. ‘‘I’ve been playing blues for 20 years. I grew up listening to classic rock from the ’60s and ’70s, but I went back to the roots and started playing. I would listen to Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard ... I love music. All music, but blues strikes me to my soul. There’s a lot of color in blues music, and a blue note played outside of scale just adds dimension to playing.”

To become the band that they are, Potter said it took a lot of practice.

It’s something he worked toward for five years, listening to nothing but blues music and playing the harmonica for eight hours a day, he said.

‘‘I had to learn the music note for note. Some of my main guys I could listen to every day,” Potter said. ‘‘It’s just the love of playing music. God gave me the gifts of music and the desire.”

Werkheiser added, ‘‘I really love the blues from the ’40s and ’50s. Musicians kept it simple and clean. There was no need for fancy amplifiers or anything. It was melodic with simple chords and phrasing.”

‘‘When our band is really grooving, no matter if no one shows up, it makes me want to keep moving,” Potter continued. ‘‘Our goal is to keep on playing and to maybe get locally recognized. The club scene is not the same as it was 20 years ago. Now you get replaced by a karaoke machine.”

E-mail Stacy Sneedat ssneed@somdnews.com.