E.J. Phillips
Novemer 2001

Live at Club Soda
Green Bean Records
2001

Reviewed By
Glenn Astarita

Born on September 19 1952 in New Orleans, Louisiana E.J. Phillips grew up in the Desire Housing Project. During the time E.J. grew up the culture of New Orleans was still very rich especially in regards to music. At the age of twelve E.J. began listening to the music of artists such as James Brown, Ray Charles, and Roy Orbison. E.J. was twenty-one when for the first time he actually picked up an instrument with the intention of mastering it. The instrument was the electric guitar.

E.J. decided to learn to play guitar, during a time when the Civil Rights Protest were current news, the Black Panthers were active, the Hippie counter culture Psychedelic movement was in full swing, and the Vietnam Veterans were returning home. The impetus behind E.J.’s desire to master the electric guitar was drawn from music he over heard spilling into his home from a neighbor’s apartment. E.J.’s neighbor was playing “Are U Experienced” from Jimi Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced” album. A year later E.J. was playing with bands, in the Desire Housing Projects, putting on concerts in the courtyards. V.O. Brumfield (better known as V.O. Bass), to whom E.J. gives credit, is a dedicated musician who took time out of his schedule to teach E. J. the fundamentals of playing the guitar. Other musicians who guided E.J. in developing his own unique playing style are Carl Le Blanc, a prominent New Orleans Jazz guitarist, and Roy Joseph from the band “Windjammers.”

About 1981, when the Hardcore scene was thriving in New Orleans, E.J. left the two bands he was playing with at the time, “The Sweat Socks” and “The Energy Funky Band.” At this time, while out scouting for a band to play with, E. J. came across members of a band called “Damaged Scum.” E.J. met the members of “Damaged Scum” at a club called the “Beat Exchange” and it just so happened that the band was in need of a lead guitarist. E.J. joined the band, which then reemerged on the scene as “Disappointed Parents.” “Disappointed Parents” went on to become one of New Orleans’ premier hardcore bands. With the help of E.J.’s driving guitar rhythms and screeching solos, the ensemble enjoyed a large following and opened up for a number of local and nationally known groups while touring the South. “Disappointed Parents” played from Texas to Atlanta opening up for bands such as “Bad Brain,” “The Circle Jerks,” “Black Flag,” and “The Dead Kennedy’s”. In 1983, while the hardcore scene was still big in New Orleans, “Disappointed Parents” released and EP. Hence, the EP was well received and that paved the way for their signing to a major record label. Unfortunately, the groups’ bass player, Otto, was involved in a serious car accident and this resulted in the group dissolving.

E.J. picked up from there and one month later, he was playing on Bourbon St. at the “Original Papa Joe’s” with the “Firehouse Station Band.” After three months the frontman Carl, who also happened to be the bass player, left the band and E.J. was offered the lead spot. Upon assuming the lead role “E.J. and the Boys” was born. In the past E.J. had played with a band called Willie Locket’s “Electric Funk Band” and recollection of this band’s name inspired E.J. to change his new band’s name to E.J. and “The Electric Blues Band.” E.J. quickly established a format for the band. As the bands name suggested “The Electric Blue Band” would play mostly blues covers liberally sprinkled with material from E.J.’s primary influence Hendrix. E J. and the “Electric Blues Band” also plays a number of late 60’s to early 70’s rock covers as well as some Bob Marley, and other reggae covers. In no time, the “Electric Blues Band” was receiving offers to play out of town. The band played their first out of town gig at Washington University in St. Louis Missouri. Other out of town gigs followed in Oklahoma, Mexico City, Fort Wayne in Indianapolis, and Lansing, Michigan. In Lansing E.J. had the opportunity to sit in with Larry McCray a big name on that scene. For 16 years now E.J. and “The Electric Blues Band” have played at numerous clubs on Bourbon St. After playing at the “Original Papa Joe’s” E.J. and “The Electric Blues Band” moved across the street to play at a club called “After Hours,” which later became “The R&B Club.” E.J. and “The Electric Blues Band” made “After Hours/The R&B Club” their home for a number of years before making another move further up Bourbon St. to play at the “Krazy Korner.” E.J. and “The Electric Blues Band” have been performing up and down Bourbon St. consistently knocking out great Blues with E. J.’s own unique interpretation and style on a number of classics. E.J. still plays a significant amount of Jimi Hendrix while adding more of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s repertoire and adding a splash of Reggae to the song list. More recently, E.J. has added his own soulful creations to the brew. These days E.J.’s mastery of his instrument has reached to a point that E.J. never plays his solos the same way twice. E.J. finds repetition boring and relies on his own feelings and the energy of the crowd to inspire his playing from moment to moment. Whether holding the guitar in the traditional manner, playing off the mike stand, with his teeth, or behind his back E.J. has proven himself to be the showman extraordinaire.

E.J. and “The Electric Blues Band” have built up quite a following national and internationally with numerous people, often couples, returning to catch a performance of the band annually. There are a number of people who have kept returning to the Big Easy (New Orleans) to see this group since they first saw them perform at the “Original Papa Joe’s” a whopping 16 years ago. As the sounds of E. J. and “The Electric Blues Band” flood Bourbon St., people of varying musical sensibilities, including a number of celebrities, have been enticed to enter the club. The celebrities who have had a sample of E.J.’s guitar magic include: C.C. DeVill, the guitarist for Poison (who sat in for 2 nights), “Cheap Tricks’” lead guitarist, Seal (who sang Red House and Hey Joe), Angelo and a few other members of “Fishbone.” Moreover, Bruce Willis (who blew harp for at least two nights during his Moonlighting days), “Grand Funk Railroad,” Weird Al Yankovich (who sang his parody of Michael Jackson’s Beat It), Bam Bam “Skid Row’”s drummer, and last but not least Wasp’s bass player, have sat in with E.J’s band.

Despite the trappings of success, E.J. and “The Electric Blues Band” are a local obscurity because most of those frequenting Bourbon St. are tourists from around the country. E.J. and “The Electric Blues Band” are currently playing at the “Funky Pirate Blues Barn” every Friday through Sunday. In an effort to build up the bands reputation locally, the members plan to add more gigs to their schedule and are planning to play at other venues around the city. The “Electric Blues Band” in its current manifestation consists of E.J. on lead guitar and vocals backed up by Bambi on bass, and alternating Stu Perry and Barney “The Grounds Keeper” Jones. on drums. E. J. could not have succeeded alone and his band members are no slouches. E.J.’s Electric Bluesmen have been playing just as long as he has and in Stu’s case even longer. Each member brings their own unique style and interpretation to add to the mix that makes E.J. and “The Electric Blues Band” one of the baddest bands in the land. It is no small coincidence that the members of “The Electric Blues Band” are all practically virtuosos on their instrument of choice. The simple fact is that talent to thrive must be supported by talent.

E.J. and “The Electric Blues Band” just recently released a CD of original material with the exception of Red House. The CD has 12 tracks and can be purchased at Tower Records and The Louisiana Music Factory under “E. J. Phillips and the Electric Blues Band.” Another CD is currently being pressed featuring E.J. live at “Club Soda” in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Email: EJandTEBB@hotmail.com

Louisiana Music Factory