The audience clearly enjoyed themselves, the songs sounded great, and everyone agreed: this left them wanting more.
At the De Vroolijke Frans pub, they’ve been hosting cover band nights for years, with great success. Now, I’m not a fan of cover bands, and I certainly wouldn’t drive 80 km for one.
But for a special cover band playing the music of The Red Devils, I’m happy to make an exception.
And if this band also features the crème de la crème of Dutch blues musicians, supplemented by excellent German musicians, then we’re in.
The Red Devils were a legendary American blues-rock band from Los Angeles, primarily active in the early 1990s.
Led by harmonica player Lester Butler, they combined raw Chicago blues with explosive rock. Their album, King King, is considered a milestone in modern blues history.
After The Red Devils, Lester Butler was the band’s leader for 13 years. Butler died of an overdose in 1998, at the age of only 38. The band’s last performance was in the Netherlands at the Moulin Blues festival.
Perhaps that’s why they’re so iconic in the Netherlands. I happened to see the band myself at Pinkpop in 1993.
The organizer of this event was guitarist Harm van Essen, known from La Ratte, among others. He had put together an excellent band consisting of harmonica player Richard Koster (The Hoochies & Cuban Heels), guitarist Kenan Özdemir (The Özdemirs), Nikolas Karolewicz (La Ratte), and Paolo de Stigter (Little Hat).
The band members had done everything they could to make it a success. They even saw flyers. Many members of the blues scene were present.
They had even traveled from North Limburg to De Vroolijke Frans. Many unfamiliar faces were there, too; these evenings are therefore popular in Brummen and the surrounding area.
The evening began with “I’m Ready”: I’m ready for you, hope you are ready for me. Of course we are ready. And of course: We’re going to church.
We heard from family members that the band hadn’t rehearsed together often, but judging by the chord changes, everyone at home had put in a great effort. What class!
After “She’s Dangerous” and “No Fightin’,” “Who Do You Love” arrived, the first song not featured on King King or the 13 album, but played frequently by Butler and his associates, such as in 1993 on Moulin Blues.
“The Hook,” from the lesser-known Blackwater Roll EP, was a crowd favorite, judging by the audience’s reaction. Lots of people started dancing, and the guitarists were in fantastic form, and Koster took over beautifully.
It’s too much to discuss each song individually. Of course, “Automatic” and “So Low Down” came along at the end. It was a fantastic evening, and everyone we spoke to agreed: this shouldn’t be a one-off.
For festivals, book the band, and you’ve got a fantastic act.
