Northern Kentucky music fans have will have an opportunity to catch seasoned veterans of the blues scene, at one of the region’s most historic venues.
Chicago blues musician Johnny Iguana and his band, The Claudettes, are coming to the Southgate House Revival in Newport on August 26.
The Claudettes last played at the Southgate House Revival in 2019, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Excellent people run the venue. We’ve got a lot of history there. I really like coming to the general Cincinnati area to play music. It’s a really great historic music town,” Iguana told LINK nky. “I’ve had a lot of a lot of great experiences there at probably ten different clubs in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area.”
Iguana, who’s real name is Brian Berkowitz, hails from Philadelphia, but is based out of Chicago.
The Claudettes music style comprises a mixture of blues and soul with pop hooks and punk spirit. The band is comprised of Iguana, drummer Michael Caskey, bassist/singer Zach Verdoorn and vocalist Berit Ulseth.
Iguana has personally toured and recorded with artists such as Gary Clark Jr., Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Shemekia Copeland.
Iguana said The Claudettes have an unmistakable chemistry while performing. Iguana attributes this chemistry to the band performing for a number of years, and enduring personal hardships together that’s reflected in their music.
“I think an honest show is effective, and ours is a ride. At the end of the show, we feel like we’ve really been able do something special, rather than just have a toe-tapping time,” Iguana said.
The band’s upcoming album, The Claudette’s Go Out!, is slated for release on October 14 under Forty Below Records.
The Claudette’s Go Out! covers themes such a love, cherished memories, and mental health and addiction.
The Claudette’s last album under Forty Below Records, High Times in the Dark, was helmed by Grammy-winning producer Ted Hutt, who’s produced for famous bands like Old Crow Medicine Show and the Violent Femmes.
For their upcoming album, The Claudettes teamed back up with Hutt and Grammy-winner Kevin Killen, who’s worked with artists such David Bowie, U2 and Elvis Costello.
“We have an album coming out in the fall. The traditional way to do it is to do the show after the album comes out, but as it is, we’re in a position that I’m pleased with, which is quite a few performing arts centers and summer concert series reached out to us to have the band over the summer,” Iguana said.
Tickets for their upcoming show at the Southgate House Revival can be purchased here.
