Saturday, December 20, 2008

Can You Dig It? New CD Available Jan. 27


CAN YOU DIG IT? THE CHICKEN SLACKS FIND THEIR OWN FUNKY SOUND

The new 13-track album from Boston's hardest-working funk and soul band hits stores on January 27th


BOSTON, Mass. - December 16, 2008. A year in the making, Can You Dig It? is the culmination of the latest chapter of the now seven-year 'Slacks saga, closing a year that could be considered one of their best. With the 3rd anniversary of their Thursday night residency at The Cantab Lounge in Cambridge, The Chicken Slacks also starred in a short "rockumentary" (available on their website), and will appear as the wedding band in the upcoming Hollywood film Bride Wars starring Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway.

"We worked very hard to make this record sound like us - with all the energy, humor, and groove that our fans have come to appreciate," says Justin Berthiaume, the band's drummer and manager (and only remaining founding member). "We've gone through a lot of personnel changes over the years, but this current lineup has a chemistry and comraderie that really shines. That's unusual in a band, and you can hear this on the CD."

Can You Dig It? mixes original songs penned by the band with their own take on several obscure covers, some of which you may not think of as classic soul or funk. The CD opens with a surprisingly soulful Captain Beefheart tune "Too Much Time", and track 9 has singer Diamond D crooning Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Long As I Can See The Light". Throughout the CD the band stays true to the classic themes of the soul and funk genre: love and heartbreak (Diamond D's "I'm In Love" and trumpeter and vocalist John Moriconi's "Only A Fool Gets To Heaven"), tongue-in-cheek sexual innuendo ("Going To The Shack" and Berthiaume's "I Wanna Take A Shower With You"), and social justice (Diamond D's "Tragedy") all get their due.

Even the CD artwork alludes to The Chicken Slacks long story. Inside, the 3-panel fold-out features a collage of 'Slacks fans boogying down against a backdrop silhouette of the Boston skyline. "It's a nod to our fans and to our city," explained Berthiaume. "We love them and we wanted them to feel a part of this CD."

Can You Dig It?
is now on sale at The Chicken Slacks shows, and will be available in stores and online January 27.

Friday, December 12, 2008

A HUGE Thank You to Scott Couper and Lenny Bradford. Oh yeah... Thank YOU, too!!!

If it weren't for these guys, we may have not had a night!

Last night at the Cantab you may have been wonderin', "Just, where in the heck are Rick "The Dapper" and Mike "The Hammer"?

As, Rick was in a far, off distant land and Mike was... well, "hammerin'" away with other obligations, we decided to call upon the talented efforts of Mr. Lenny Bradford and Mr. Scott Couper. Bass and guitar respectively.

Not only did these guys step up to the proverbial "musical plate", but boy could these cats sing, as well!

"Back In The USSR" is now one of my new favorites! Thanks, Scott. And, Lenny's "The Way You Do The Things You Do" was outta sight! Thanks for "passing it around". (That's Muso Slang for: Givin' each one of us a solo, for y'all hep cats)

If you'd like to hear more of these cats, visit:
Couperbrothers.com to check out Scott and his brother, Jay
and visit: Entrain.com to hear a little more of Lenny and Entrain.

Let's do this again sometime! I know I had a blast. I hope y'all did, too!

See ya next week when we'll be at the Cantab with OUR NEW ALBUM!!! Can You Dig It?

Peace Y'all
-J