The Claudettes fuse Chicago piano blues with the full-throttle energy of rockabilly and punk and the sultriness of '60s soul to write a thrilling new chapter in American roots music. Johnny Iguana pounds the piano alongside seductive singer Berit Ulseth, bassist/guitarist/singer Zach Verdoorn and drummer Michael Caskey.
The group recalled its roots as an instrumental combo by opening with the rumbling “New Orleans Yard Sale” and the manic “Infernal Piano Plot…HATCHED!” Singet Berit Ulseth joined for the sly and purring “Don't Stay With Me,” accompanied by Zach Verdoorn's swooping.
City Winery, Chicago, IL; Chicago's own The Claudettes are an uncategorizable but captivating blend of cheeky cabaret, gut-level blues, raucous rockabilly, cartoonish whimsy, and pop songcraft. 2020 was initially primed to be the band's year, with the release of its most highly-praised set of songs.
The energetic performance of The Claudettes at Hill Country on Thursday defied the heavy hearts of its members as drummer Danny Yost lay home in Chicago, recuperating after suffering a stroke one week prior.
