BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

Energetic- Electric Blues that begs you to react!! Energized audiences, moving and shouting along with the newly rediscovered voice from the Chicago Blues scene.

In a time when musical groups come and go as quickly as the rapid-fire images on MTV, three Chicago area men have stayed true to their blues roots for over 38 years. While Blue Plate Special has consistently brought new contemporary blues songs to the worldwide blues community, what hasn’t changed is their friendship, collaboration and passion for the Blues. This Chicago based trio’s sheer enjoyment in performing together shines through each and every night!!

Since the release of their 3 most recent CD’s 1998′s “No Place To Fade” 2000′s The Blues Ain’t Pretty and 2007′s Can You Dig It !”, Blue Plate Special has had 24 songs hit the #1 chart position (see Discography) on Blues Radio stations around the world !!

Although some acts from other areas like to hang the name “Chicago” on their billing, this group truly has played almost every major and minor club throughout Chicagoland. Blue Plate Special was there at The Cellar in Arlington Heights, Illinois in ’69-’72 opening for Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon’s Chicago Blues Allstars, Zephyr w/Tommy Bolin on guitar and The Bob Seger System. They were among the artists that played at the Otis Spann Memorial Benefit where Willie Dixon and Buddy Guy introduced the Blues community to Koko Taylor singing Wang Dang Doodle. Blue Plate Special (with former member Studebaker John on Harp) was one of the first bands to lead the famous Blue Monday Jam session at Chicago’s Kingston Mines ! They also were the house band for two years at John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd’s Blues Brothers Bar on Wells Street.

Other than headlining, Blue Plate Special has opened at concerts by Charlie Musselwhite, Paul Butterfield, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Siegal-Schwall Blues Band, Heartsfield, Leon Russell, Edgar Winter, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials, Mitch Ryder, The Kinsey Report, Larry McCray and Wayne Baker Brooks.

They have also performed at the Chicago Bears Fan Convention and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Convention and Sears Corporate shows.

MUSIC SAMPLES

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Can You Dig It!

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I Like It Like That

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Hard Enuff

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Unchain My Heart

UNABLE TO USE THE AUDIO PLAYERS ABOVE? HERE ARE LINKS TO THE SONGS:
Can You Dig It! – I Like It Like That – Hard Enuff – Unchain My Heart

BAND MEMEBERS

R.P. Michaels – Vocal, Bass, Keyboards
Harry Binford – Guitarist
Robert Pasenko – Percussion

SONG LIST

Crank It Up – Blue Plate Special
Tell The Truth – Blue Plate Special
The Phone Call – Blue Plate Special
Quicksand – Blue Plate Special
Real Fast Life – Blue Plate Special
Chains – Blue Plate Special
Not In The Mood – Blue Plate Special
Get Some Fun Out Of Life
Disneyland – Blue Plate Special
Ready To Play – Blue Plate Special
Bad Drugs And Alcohol – Blue Plate Special
No Escape From The Blues – Blue Plate Special
Reachin’ – Blue Plate Special
Knock Knock – Blue Plate Special
Stand – Blue Plate Special
Fire Alarm – Blue Plate Special
Millionaire – Blue Plate Special
Homework – Blue Plate Special
No Place To Fade – Blue Plate Special
Your Heart Ain’t In It – Blue Plate Special
Somebody Play The Blues For Me – Blue Plate Special
Dippin’ In – Blue Plate Special
World of Trouble – Blue Plate Special
One More Thing – Blue Plate Special
Hard Enuff – Blue Plate Special
Can You Dig It – Blue Plate Special
Workin’ On Love – Blue Plate Special
Rocket In Your Pocket – Blue Plate Special
She’s Got My Number – Blue Plate Special
I Like It Like That – Blue Plate Special
Right Now – Blue Plate Special
Feel So Good – Blue Plate Special
Luck Runs Out – Blue Plate Special
Yer’ Bad Behind – Blue Plate Special
Baby’s Been On My Mind – Blue Plate Special
Don’t Lose The Spirit – Blue Plate Special
Have A Little Faith – Blue Plate Special
Unchain My Heart – Blue Plate Special
Unchain My Heart – Ray Charles
Let’s go get stoned – Ray Charles
I Believe – Ray Charles
Right Place Wrong Time – Dr. John
Many Various Songs By – Muddy Waters/Willie Dixon
Pride and Joy – Stevie Ray Vaughan
I’ll Play The Blues For You – Albert King
After Midnight – JJ Cale

VENUES PLAYED

Catchers Inn – Chicago, IL
Fontana Blu – West Chicago, IL
Green Olive Martini Bar – Chicago, IL
Iron Horse Ranch Bar and Grill – Villa Park, IL
Koz’s On The River – Lyons, IL
PIECE Brewery and Pizza – Chicago, IL
Niko’s Lodge – Wasco, IL
The Green Olive Restaurant and Martini Bar – Chicago, IL

FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Around The Coyote Art and Music Fest – Chicago, IL
Blue Plate Special’s Holiday Party – Wheaton, IL
King James BBQ Festival – West Chicago, IL
NACA Midwest Convention – St. Charles, IL
Rebel Knights MC Spring Blowout – Chicago, IL
Rebel Knights MC Benefit for Childrens Memorial Hospital – Chicago, IL

REVIEWS

“This is a romping stomping blues rock output with strong gutbucket vocals a powerhouse rhythm section and lead guitar that invokes comparison to the three kings (Freddy, Albert & B.B) plus at times having flavours of Hendrix…a strong mix for sure..!!”
–Mike Butler, Producer & Host of “Blues for Hippies” on The Studio Fm

“I listened to your CD last night with total focus and I was BLOWN AWAY!! You guys are a DREAM BAND!!! Many attempt to fuse Blues and Rock but almost all fail…you guys have such an honest, urgent, raw, powerhouse sound that it literally lifted me off my chair and had me yelling “YEAH!! That’s it!! They’ve got it!!” There are Good, Excellent and Hall of Fame levels…you guys are right in the top 10%, we’re putting it on our Influential Top 100 CD’s Chart!”
–Andy Grigg, Music Editor at Real Blues Magazine

“This is guitar driven blues served up just right! Had our phone lines tied up for hours when we played tracks off this LP. Ron Michaels snarling vocals rips into each track and tells you how it is… and Harry Binford’s smokin’ guitar work treats you right throughout the disc. All this and these boys come from Chicagoland. All I can say is “Can You Dig It!” …HELL YEAH!!! …and I’ll do it again too!
–John Bowles, WGVE 88.7FM, blueswebradio.com

DOWNLOADS

Can You Dig It! on iTunes
The Blues Ain’t Pretty on iTunes
No Place To Fade on iTunes