Leon's in Denton, Texas was jammin' tonight! I was in the mood for some high energy blues jams this evening, and Brent Rozell and his Soul Mates provided an excellent array of just that! But, first let me comment on the venue. It was a small, personal club off I35 in Denton, Texas. The woman that greeted us at the door was very friendly and seemed glad we were attending the show. I would much rather spend my money at venues that seem to appreciate their patrons, and go to a little effort to make sure everyone is taken care of as this one did. The owner of the club was also very nice and visited our table at one point in the evening to offer a drink on the house. I was impressed. Most bar owners don't go to that trouble. Thanks Leon's! We'll definitely be back again.
I love bands that include brass, and tonight we had two excellent Sax players that joined Brent on stage. Tony Rose and Fred Harvey both added sexy Saxophone riffs to the mix which helped get the small crowd up and onto the dance floor. I believe that both of these guys came to sit in on the jam session as per a request from Brent, but I don't think they are permanent members of the group. But tonight they were just as a part of the band and the full blues mix as basest Donnie Mac and drummer Harold Evans were. In total, this group of music men put on a thumping show that everyone in the quaint venue, including me and my husband Jeff really enjoyed.
Brent and the Soul Mates played 4 sets I believe (we didn't arrive until after 10:30 so I'm not positive if we missed one or two sets), but I know we were in the club to enjoy three. During the course of the evening we heard a good variety of tunes including my most favorite classic blues tune "When A Man Loves A Woman". Drummer Fred did the honors of singing my fav, and he did a great job. I am kind of hesitant to hear that song played live by most bands/singers, unless of course it's Bette Midler, because it's a hard song to sing. I'm often disappointed, but Harold made me proud. Thanks Harold! Bassist Donnie also expressed his vocal talents on several songs. He not only played a mean bass, but added meaningful vocals through out the night. Brent's soulful guitar solos and deep bluesy riffs caught my eye though the camera lens and kept my attention. He plays with the heart of other great blues artists. Brent did the majority of the singing tonight, along with showing off his brilliant guitar expertise. I so enjoyed watching him as he just seemed so into it! You can tell he is playing out his inner feelings for the audience to interpret. He seemed a bit emotional on a few deeper tunes, as he should. The best blues players not only play the blues, but they feel it, breath it, taste it and live it with their hearts and souls. Brent was no different.
As far as a recommendation goes, you have mine. Go see Brent Rozell and the Soul Mates. Be ready to dance, laugh, cry, or otherwise express yourself to this rich mix of blues and rock by a friendly, crowd pleasing band. And if you're in the mood to join in, Brent's welcoming disposition will encourage you to join them on stage and sing the blues! Thanks Brent and all the guys, and also Leon's for a very fun evening and the after thoughts of an uplifting show! You'll see me at the next show!