Phidget - Dukes Alehouse, Crystal Lake 5.8.09

After being freaked out at Porters, I was ready to call it a night and go home but I thought maybe I'd cruise past Dukes Alehouse to see what was happening there. I saw they had a band so I decided to stop in. I'm very glad I did.

Phidget was playing. This is yet another band I'd never heard of and that's a good thing as this makes three I had a chance to see in one night. Phidget is that next level that The Boxx Elders need to get to before rising to the next level ... which is darned near pro level.

Phidget has a slick web site http://www.phidgetband.com/ From what their web site says, they're another band of former players that took some time off to do the family stuff and just couldn't stay away from the scene. Good for them. The old codgers usually have made all the mistakes in the past and have a totally different attitude now .. the attitude you need to have fun in addition to putting on a good show.

Phidget is good. Very good. It's a guitar/bass/keyboard drum lineup. Having a female in the band opens things us a bit and she was a good musician in addition to being a good singer. The rhythm section was very tight and very proficient as was the guitar player who was an excellent player who had a great sound. These are some of the elements that come together to make things happen. I really liked them and I'd go to see them again. Jumping Jack Flash was a little anemic-sounding. Their Led Zep was great as was their U2 choice, their version of Tie Your Mother Down, and one of my favorites, Favorite Mistake was great.

It's too bad Dukes was kind of empty ... yet again. There were few people in the main room and most people seemed to be hanging out in the bar area. Yet another excellent band goes relatively unnoticed in the bowels of Duke's.