Nightflying: The Entertainment Guide

Unknown Legends presents IBC Winner JP Soars & The Red Hots

Unknown Legends Artists presents 2009 International Blues Challenge Winner JP Soars and the Red Hots on Friday, March 26, at Odie’s House of Blues in Hot Springs.

    This trio of talented musicians each bring something unique to the collective that makes up this top notch blues band. The band consists of JP Soars on guitar and vocals, Don Gottleib on bass and Chris Peet on drums.
     Soars, who was ‘born in California, raised in Arkansas’ according to his song by the same title, leads the way. Raised in the northern western Arkansas town of Cedarville, Soars still makes a trip or two back home each year.
    Soars is a monster on the guitar whether playing traditional or slide. At some point in the band’s set he will pull out his hand made cigar box guitar and proceed to peel the paint off the walls.
    Soars is a musical melting pot in terms of experience. He has toured the world playing guitar in a heavy metal band and draws influences from rock, jazz, swing, and of course, the blues. His versatility and talent earned him the Albert King Award, given to the best guitarist in the International Blues Challenge finals, during the 2009 competition. His influences include Wes Montgomery, Django Reinhardt and Louis Jordan.
    Gottlieb was born in New York and grew up in Westbury Long Island. With over 35 years of experience playing music, Gottlieb brings a down home, meat and potatoes feel to the grooves he lays down. He is also an accomplished guitar player. A huge fan of blues and roots music, Gottlieb brings an enthusiasm and energy to the band that is obvious when he takes the stage.
    Gottlieb played bass with drummer Chris Peet for a number of years before joining up with Peet in the Red Hots. The combo has an obvious chemistry when they play and creates a solid foundation for the band’s music.
    Peet rounds out the band on drums. Coming from a family chocked full of musicians, Peet developed his own style early on in his music life. Peet has a reputation as one of the hardest working and most requested drummers in the south Florida area.
    The band’s new CD, Back of My Mind has gotten the attention of the blues world. Filled with solid guitar work and gravelly vocals, Back of My Mind is a remarkable first release. The disc is varied with scorching guitar work, smooth slide playing and a few surprises that obviously channel Soars’ influences.

    The band co-headlined the Hot Spring Blues Festival in 2009 with Shemekia Copeland and wowed the crowd with their showmanship and talent. As always JP Soars and company are going to be Red Hot. Show time is 8:00 pm and there is no cover charge.

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