Sky King at Chances Are

Longtime Ann Arborites, the band SKY KING landed at Chances Are for a one night appearance April 13. Hot on the heels of their new Secret Sauce LP, Michigan's fastest rising band is in the midst of their first national tour.

It was the King's first time back home since they moved to New York and released their first Columbia album. Lots of recording and roadwork can make a marked improvement in a band's sound, and this one is no exception. To be more specific, Sky King's gotten tighter than a Playtex rubber glove. They've always been "good," but in today's fast entertainment world oftentimes being "good" just isn't enough. But this is a great band, and to say their funky, jazz-flavored rock is very danceable would be an understatement. A quick glance at the sardine scene on the dance floor would prove my point. But the positive danceability of the music takes nothing away from its listenability. In fact, it's just the opposite, which is the key to all the airplay the album's been getting.

In their two sets SKY KING covered many of the Secret Sauce tunes- and in addition those in attendance were treated to quite a selection of newer, unreleased material, of which two numbers immediately to mind. One, "Red Tape," chronicles the boy's experiences learning to deal with a large Corporation, but my favorite is "Sister Mary."

Individually each musician turned in fine performances, which is about par for these guys. Both guitarists-Rich Jacobi and Dave Mason- were in top form, and so so was bassist Chris Brubeck. Drummer Richie Morales is an absolute dynamo on the skins. But no account of this gig would be possible without a tip of hat to Peter "Madcat" Ruth. Unbelievably adept with the harp, Madcat's also a hell of a singer-- he almost brought down the house with his showstopping delivering of a blues number midway through the first set. Ruth could be almost any other band's lead singer, but with Chris Coan on board, he's free to concentrate on his main love, blowing the harp.

All in all it was a very enjoyable night at Chances Are, probably more so than any other time I've been there. A good time is the essence of the SKY KING band. It's also a big part of why they're the best, most professional new group out of Ann Arbor in several years. Columbia Records has provided them with a big break over many other deserving contemporaries, in terms of marketing and exposing their music, and the sky's the limit. It's always good to see a group fueled by real creative energy get off the ground, and and Sky King's presently cruising at a very high altitude. Here's hoping they land here again, real soon.

-Freddie Brooks