writing songs for new CD

Thinking about original tunes for our next CD. I have three or four songs in the well, and am cool with any collaboration and all suggestions about music and lyrics. I’m changing gospel tunes I’ve written-- what has always been at the heart of soul music-- and I’m not committed to these songs as personal expressions of my genius. D: I am a genius and I know you are jealous. I have a lot of ballads, and I know we need only one or two ballads total for the CD. I have some rave-ups, too. I’m gonna have fun hearing my tunes get funked (not a typo) up. Hooks, ear candy, break downs, bridges—all that is gonna be a lot of fun for me. See you Thursday at the Cantab. Curtis

Slacks in the Boston Herald

The following article appeared September 21, 2007 in the Boston Herald.

Chicken Slacks at the Cantab
by Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald

Maybe it was inspired by Little Joe Cook’s marathon man mentality, but the Cantab has always been a bastion for musical streaks. Geoff Bartley has been running a Monday open mike night for more than a decade. The Tuesday bluesgrass sessions are another long-standing tradition. But the natural successor to Cook’s legacy is Chicken Slacks.

Last week, the band - named after a misheard Sam Cooke lyric (“He’s dancing with the chick in slacks”) - celebrated two years of Thursday gigs. For their 104th show, the r & b revivalists celebrated with 200 fans crowding between belly dancers, jugglers, balloon artists and one dude in a chicken suit. Oh, and foot-stomping Stax soul music.

“When we first started at the Cantab they were having different bands,” said drummer Justin Berthiaume. “It took a little salesmanship to turn it into a month of Thursdays. After that month we thought, ‘Hey, we just could keep this thing going.’ Now it’s been two years.”

With a seven-piece band, the streak is even more impressive. Members have come and gone, the lead singer’s been replaced, but they’ve never missed a Thursday.

“The key is that the band and the Cantab are unpretentious,” Berthiaume said. “Old, young, black, white, they’re all here.”

A few Circus photos!

Thanks for the photos Elise!
The 2 Year Anniversary Circus was a rousing success! Thank you to all our fans for making it such a special night for us! Look for an online photo gallery of the night coming soon at our homepage.

Truly a Circus!

Alicia the belly dancer, Miss Adventure, a man in a Chicken suit ... it was truly a circus last night for the Slacks 2nd year Anniversary Party at the Cantab.

I saw at least two (2) party-goers almost overcome with emotion (and, perhaps, alchohol?) tumbling towards the band.

And I saw Steve tearing it up on the dancefloor!

Holly Harris digs the Slacks!

Just got an email from my friend Holly Harris, the celebrated radio host of Boston's long-time "Blues On Sunday" program on WBOS 92.9 FM. Seems that Diamond D put a Slacks CD in her hands recently and she let me know that she loves it and has been announcing it on her show! This gal is the real deal, she really knows her stuff and that makes her praise even more meaningful. I'm not just schmoozin' here, either. Give Holly a jingle any Sunday night between 7PM and 11PM - she just might reward you with a Slacks track on the airwaves!

Ballroom dancing with the Slacks!

Some serious dancers have been showing up the past few Thursdays down at the Cantab, dominating the floor for the first set, and causing this sax player to stare, slack-jawed, as I sheepishly shuffle from right to left in between horn lines.

You gotta see these guys!

Alec.

Anniversary Circus plans well underway

About ten days left until our Two-Year Anniversary Circus at the Cantab! The party favors arrived this week and they looks smashing (free with paid admission)! I've got most of our circus performers wrapped up, with a few surprises still to be confirmed (or simply figured out). Mighty Slim will again be MCing the festivities with his center-ring top hat. I'm still trying to get PETA to sign off on the live chickens, but it's not looking good. This is Cambridge, after all.