Article & Photos: Jim Summaria
L to R -- Tony Root, Kevin Purcell
Kevin Purcell & The Root Doctors w/
Mike Church, Rob Anderlik, Tony Root, Tom Bowling, Pete Kruse
Live Show Review & Photos
by Jim Summaria
Kevin Purcell & the Root Doctors took the stage at Hey Nonny in Arlington Hts. August 3rd and thoroughly entertained the sold out crowd to a night of Southern country blues rock. The tight band consists of Purcell on vocals and harmonica, bassist Tony Root, Mike Church on guitar, Rob Anderlik playing slide guitar, Tom Bowling on violin, or as Purcell called it - fiddle - and drummer Pete Kruse.
This was a high energy soulful show, with each song igniting the crowd. Purcell's gritty bluesy voice was in fine form and his harmonica playing would make Charlie Musselwhite proud. The rest of the band was equally talented and displayed their talents with solos throughout the show.
The show got started with two blues classics “Can't Keep From Crying” and “Key To The Highway” followed by” I Don't Talk Much.” A cover of the Wet Willie song “Keep On Smilin'” was a highlight with Purcell doing the Jimmie Hall vocals justice. The traditional folk song “John Hardy” was next and then a beautiful rendition of Van Morrison's “Mystic.” The band played a terrific original song next titled “Ain't No Rules” that led into the John Hiatt song “Through Your Hands.”
Photos/ L to R (Top): Tony Root, Rob Anderlik, Mike Church,
(Bottom): Tom Bowling, Kevin Purcell
The band took on the originator of the blues Robert Johnson with his song “Come On In My Kitchen.” Two pure Southern rock songs featured guitarist Mike Church rockin' out on “Sent By Angels” and the Jimmie Rodgers song “T for Texas” with the band doing the Lynyrd Skynyrd version. A song first recorded by Ry Cooder with one of the funniest titles “The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)” had the entire band in fine form.
A personal favorite of the night for me was the Allman Brothers influenced “Good Day for the Blues” which Purcell recorded on his Kevin Purcell & the Nightburners 2007 House of Fire album. The band then turned the Grateful Dead song “Sugaree” into a slow blues jam that I wished lasted an hour. The last song was “Fair Deal” and the crowd got more than that - they got a great deal.
Photo/ L to R: Rob Anderlik, Tony Root, Kevin Purcell, Pete Kruse, Mike Church, Tom Bowling
About The Author: Jim Summaria began professionally photographing rock concerts in 1973 at the age of 19 when he became the staff photographer for the Chicago rock concert promoter Flip Side Productions. Jim's photos have been published in numerous books, magazines and CDs. His rock ‘n’ roll photos have been viewed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum and Hall of Fame on Rt.66 and the Grammy Awards. Jim and writer Mark Plotnick co-authored the books Classic Rock: Photographs From Yesterday & Today and the October 2024 release ‘70s Chicagoland Rock Concerts.
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