CapLive - Carolina Choc Drops

Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 8:00PM
Capitol Theatre

A CapLive presentation.

Buy tickets below.

When three students decided to form a band, they didn’t have big plans. It was mostly a tribute to old-time fiddler Joe Thompson of Mebane, NC and a chance to bring his music back out of the house again and into dance halls and public places. They called themselves The Chocolate Drops as a tip of the hat to the Tennessee Chocolate Drops, three black brothers Howard, Martin and Bogan Armstrong, who lit up the music scene in the 1930’s. Honing and experimenting with Joe’s repertoire, the band often coaxed their teacher out of the house to join them on stage. Joe’s charisma and charm regularly stole the show.

While the young “Drops” were upstarts in a stable of deep tradition, they were also the link between past and future. They began to expand their repertoire, taking advantage “the novelty factor” to get folks in the door and then teaching and thrilling them with traditional music that was evolving as they performed.

In 2010, with the release of their Nonesuch recording, Genuine Negro Jig, the group confirms its place in the music pantheon. With its tongue in cheek, multiple-meaning title, the album ranges boldly from Joe Thompson’s Cindy Gal to Tom Waits’ Trampled Rose and Rhiannon’s acoustic hip hop version of R&B artist Blu Cantrell’s Hit ‘Em Up Style.

Rolling Stone Magazine described the Carolina Chocolate Drops’ style as “dirt-floor-dance electricity”. If you ask the band, that is what matters most. Yes, banjos and black string musicians first got here on slave ships, but now this is everyone’s music. It’s OK to mix it up and go where the spirit moves. Read more here.

Sponsored by:

and

Partner:

All Susquehanna Folk Music Society members receive $2 off. Call 717-846-1111 for details.