Beachside residents should be no strangers to the infectious sound of G. Love & Special Sauce, a Philadelphia-based trio whose laid-back, sloppy blues also embraces tongue-in-cheek hip hop, soul and vintage R&B. Born Garrett Dutton, G. Love has supplied surfers the world over with the soundtrack to many a memorable session and for even more of their post-session revelries.
The band — comprised of Love on guitar, vocals and harmonica, drummer Jeff Clemens and bassist Jim Prescott — gained rave reviews from their 1994 debut, which featured the ubiquitous “Cold Beverage.” Later releases like Coast to Coast Motel, Yeah, It’s That Easy, Philadelphonic, and Electric Mile, which notably featured elements of funk and psychedelia, gained the trio an even wider audience and slots on the popular H.O.R.D.E. Tour.
But G. Love himself broke into new territory after signing to Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records to release 2004’s solo effort Hustle, widely viewed as a clever and highly creative return to focused form. Johnson, who helped out on 1999’s Philadelphonic, invited G. Love on a 2004 tour with label mate Donavon Frankenreiter, and the three released a live EP before G. Love’s seventh proper album and second solo foray, Lemonade.
G. Love will be in town this month for the Slater Brothers Invitational surf contest before heading off on a brief Australian tour. A new album is in the works, and local fans may get a first taste of G. Love’s fresh material.
Catch G. Love’s performance Friday, November 6 at Coconuts on the Beach (2 Minutemen Cswy.; 784-1422) as part of the Slater Brothers’ Invitational surf contest festivities. The bonfire party/show begins at 7 p.m. and will also feature the music of local bluesman Josh Miller. To learn more about the contest, check this issue’s “Word on the Street” section. And be sure to check out G. Love’s informative and up-to-date website at www.philadelphonic.com.
• Issue 9, Volume 5, November 2009
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