40 Watt Flood, That’s Right
All
the cats knew to jump and hop
‘cause he was born and raised in a butcher shop . . .
With no apologies to Carl Perkins, witness a band that was born and raised in a butcher shop. 40 Watt Flood throws a big hunk o’ meat into the long-simmering stew of the Carbondale, Illinois music scene. These hairy thugs play an eclectic hybrid rock ‘n’ roll, saluting blues, country, funk and punk.
In 1996, Jim Foerster was a songwriter and studio owner, producing his own recordings with a rotating cast of musicians. Cutting meat in the famous Arnold’s meat market, he fell in with bassist Bryan Dyson and guitarist Chuck Tabing. Drummer Jared Julius joined them for a weekly jam. The result surprised everyone. It wasn’t a jam any more, it was a band, and they called it 40 Watt Flood. Soon their relentless live show earned them a strong following that crosses genre lines. “Bennied-up truckers,” somebody called them.
During a string of stellar local shows, 40 Watt burned through the tracks for their debut CD, That’s Right at Misunderstudio in Murphysboro, Illinois. Released in Spring, 2000 on Freeze Plug Records, That’s Right is now available in stores, from this site, and at shows.
As drummers go, Jared went. After hours of drummerless anguish, someone dropped the multi-talented Alex Juden at Jim’s door in a big basket, and the incendiary live shows resumed. All right.
Jim writes words as introspective and troubling as a fever dream, and as simple and effective as truck stop coffee. The band knows when to throw its considerable muscle around, and when not to. A typical set will include reworked James Brown, Steve Earle, or Ted Nugent, many originals, and a packed dance floor. Mercy, it’s unctuous.
40 Watt Flood. Like their name, they burn with a brilliant light. Just be sure and stand real close.
Craig Reeves
GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) ACCORDING TO THE SURGEON GENERAL, WOMEN AND MEN SHOULD GET IN FRONT OF THIS BAND AND SHAKE THEIR BOOTIES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FUN DEFECTS. (2) ROCKING THIS HARD IMPAIRS YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE A CAR OR OPERATE MACHINERY AND MAY CAUSE HEARING PROBLEMS.