04/13, Sat 8:30 ~ POPA CHUBBY Band ~ $30 +$2 processing
POPA CHUBBY
Popa Chubby, born Ted Horowitz in 1960, is a native son of The Big Apple. His parents owned a candy store in the Bronx. The young Chubby would play the jukebox endlessly listening to the hits of the day. Motown, Stax Volt, Chess and Atlantic records spun endlessly through the young boy's head. "The defining moment came when my Dad took me to see Chuck Berry when I was 6. There's Chuck, onstage, larger than life. I see a bulge in his pocket and ask my dad what it is. 'That's Chuck's money,' my dad said. I was sold on the spot."
Fueled by Chuck Berry and soul music Chubby took up the drums but was discouraged from making noise. At 14 he got his first guitar and never looked back. The 70s were fertile ground with blues rock ruling the Arenas. Chubby, fueled by Led Zepplin, Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix, Foghat, Cream and the Rolling Stones would put in long hours with his record player learning the licks that would become his signature.
In the late '70s Popa answered an ad for a guitarist in the Village Voice and became a mainstay of the early CBGB's Punk scene. He played, recorded, and toured with Punk godfather Richard Hell becoming an in demand session player on the New York scene.
"I kept seeing the name Willie Dixon on records," says Chubby in an interview. And indeed the spirit of Willie Dixon would be a guiding force in Chubby's music.
In 1990 The Popa Chubby band was born after a jam session with P Funk's Bernie Worrell. Popa began playing east coast clubs and in a short time became the house band at the legendary Manny's Car Wash in NYC where he worked with notable artists from Albert King to Odetta. In 1993, after winning first place in the KLON National Blues Talent Search (runner up was Keb Mo),he signed a deal with the Sony's O-KEH label and made the record "Booty And The Beast" with legendary Atlantic Records producer Tom Dowd at the helm. The record yielded a Billboard top 100 hit with "Sweet Goddess Of Love And Beer." Chubby was on his way. After the birth of his twin daughters, Theodora and Tipitina, he began to tour the world. Popa Chubby became a mainstay on the European festival scene where he has headlined such notable festivals as The Nice Jazz Festival, Freewheels Festival, Bos Pop Festival, The Kolne Rhythm and Blues Festival, The Montreal Jazz Festival, The New York State Blues Festival, and many more. In the interim Chubby made and produced a stream of work for Blind Pig and the French Dixiefrog Records including the groundbreaking "How'd A White Boy Get The Blues" for which the New York Times review referred to Chubby as a post modern Muddy Waters. Chubby continued to tour relentlessly and Garnered a W. C. Handy award for his 9/11 inspired "Somebody Let The Devil Out," a tribute to the first responders in the great tragedy.
Throughout Popa Chubby has made and produced several CDs with his wife and long time Muse Galea.
Her 2003 Solo CD "Diary Of A Bad Housewife" and 2008s "Viscous Country" stand as great works.
A short time later Popa was contacted by Dreamworks Productions and asked to audition for the role of Shrek on Broadway. He worked in two staged readings with Tony award winning director Jason Moore before previous commitments took him back on tour.
In 2009 Popa joined the Dutch based Provogue record label and released the blues rock masterpiece "The Fight Is On." 2010 saw Popa's highest grossing year to date with concerts in 11 countries.
In 2011 Popa Chubby will mount the "Monsters Of Blues Rock Tour" with the legendary Walter Trout in France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. There is talk of bringing the tour to North America.
Popa Chubby is an artist who stands for musical and personal integrity. Audiences worldwide all say the same thing: "This is the best show I have ever seen!"
* We do not reserve specific tables except for TCC members, when possible (see membership benefits). * Tables closest to the stage are held for dinner guests. * The earlier you arrive, the greater the selection. The Towne Crier Cafe is an intimate room, and there are no bad seats. * "Show Only" tables are assigned after those reserved for "Dinner & Show" parties. * Recommended time for an enjoyable, relaxed dining experience: Party of 2: One hour before show time Party of 3 or 4: Two hours before show time Party of 5 or more: At least two and one half hours before show time. * $2 handling & processing charge per ticket. * All sales are final. No refunds. No exchanges.
