BEAT DADDYS `ROCK THE HOUSE' WITH NEW ALBUM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. Try to imagine most rhythm-and-blues bands. Then listen to The Beat Daddys. The experience will likely will readjust your perceptions of that genre of music.

An area favorite, The Beat Daddys are based in Evansville, Ind. They like to call themselves "a group of soul-rockin', funky white boys" who play house-rocking R & B.

Though the band recently released their first album, they are perhaps best-known in Cape Girardeau by those who frequent Broussard's restaurant.

While the band has played several area nightclubs, they've gained national attention as the opening act for Edgar Winter, Cub Koda, Leon Russell, Johnny Van Zant and Jr. Wells.

The quartet's lead singer and rhythm guitarist, Larry Grisham, was in Memphis earlier this week promoting the band. The band released it's debut album, "The Beat Daddys, Houserocking Rhythm & Blues," in December.

Via telephone from Memphis, Grisham said most rhythm-and-blues bands have one musician who "fronts" for the band, while other musicians are less prominent.

But with The Beat Daddys much like the late Stevie Ray Vaughn or the Fabulous Thunderbirds the act comes with up-front performances by everyone.

"We're really intense players a lot of energy and I think that's the difference," Grisham said. "I think in our live shows we really shine.

"We try to keep the intensity level going through the night" and build it to a pop. "Like any good entertainer should we feed off the energy of the crowd."

Though their debut album was released only recently (the compact disc came out about two weeks ago), the Beat Daddys has been performing since 1986. They have played previously at nightclubs in Cape Girardeau and Illinois.

This Friday and Saturday The Beat Daddys, will play at the Purple Crackle in East Cape Girardeau, Ill.

Band members recently returned from a 45-day tour of South Korea, where the band played 27 dates, some at U.S. Air Force bases, as well as before Republic of Korean soldiers and nationals.

The band consists of Grisham, 37; guitarist Tommy Stillwell, 35; drummer Kenny Vogelsang, 30; and bassist, Mark Mitchell, 22. All are west Kentucky natives.

Grisham and Stillwell have played music together intermittently for the past 20 years.

"He's an excellent guitarist. He's phenomenal," Grisham said, referring to Stillwell. "People who have seen us live have really gone off on his showmanship. But his playing ability is really remarkable."

Stillwell plays in the vein of Texas rhythm-and-blues, as did Vaughn. "Although he can play all styles, that's his forte," said Grisham.

The Beat Daddys' new album has a variety of songs, he said, and is starting to get some air play in some radio markets.

"In Love With the Blues," which has a concert-type blues sound not unlike Eric Clapton, and the song "Train in the Distance" both are band originals that are getting a lot of air play along with the up-tempo "She Knocks Me Out," he said.

A fourth song, the harmonica-laden "Rock Me Baby," is getting some play on rhythm-and-blues stations, he said. "We even have a really nice ballad on there, called `I'll Always Love You,'" Grisham said.

When most people hear of a rhythm-and-blues band, Grisham said, they either picture an all black band that dances a lot, or a bunch of laid-back guys who play "crying in your beer" songs.

"And they all seem to wake up in the morning," he said, going on to mimic the tiresome lyrics: "`I woke up this morning...,' I wish I had a dollar for every song I've heard like that."

The Beat Daddys are neither type of band, said Grisham.

"That's why we like to label it as a rocking rhythm-and-blues, or house-rocking rhythm-and-blues."