Sweet Pea's Revenge - More Reviews

Sweet Pea's Revenge - Florida Sun Review
(The Independent Florida Sun - October 2001)
-Sean Peterson

Sweet Pea's Revenge has stumbled upon that simple but elusive formula for making great music - put great songs in the hands of great musicians.

The Roots/blues/rock trio from New Orleans has two independently released CDs under its belt and a live show honed by frequent gigs at venues Tipitina's and the House of Blues in New Orleans and Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in Key West.

On Oct. 13, Sweet Pea's Revenge will make its first appearance at Olde Town Tavern On Palafox Street.

Jim Brown, the band's singer, guitarist and priciple songwriter, is the driving force behind the group's original approach to the blues/rock sound. Brown lived in Atlanta and New Orleans before relocating to Pensacola earlier this year, and his songs are a sophisticated mix of his Georgia (Allman Brothers, Black Crowes, Widespread Panic) and New Orleans (Meters, Radiators) influences.

Brown's guitar work recalls Dickey Betts and Carlos Santana; although, he's more apt to play a great melody rather than launch into guitar pyrotechnics. Bassist Rob Schafer and drummer Stephen Randall stay firmly locked together in the tradition of other great New Orleans rhythmn sections, working with Brown to create one cohesive, very danceable groove.

Sweet Pea's Revenge recently returned from a nine-day stint at Margaritaville. The band took a short break and before diving back into its hectic touring schedule that also includes a set at this month's BayFest in Mobile. The band is a crowd favorite that's sure to please the ears of the discerning music buff as well.

Sweet Pea's Revenge - The Real Paper Review
(The Real Paper - August 2001)
-Ken Gaillot Jr.

Sweet Pea's Revenge is a five-piece outfit based out of New Orleans. Like most New Orleans bands, it benefits from the gumbo of musical influences for which that city is famous. The group's latest album, "Bloodfire", is solid rock 'n' roll spiced up with blues and funk, a sound Radiators fans will recognize. A little Southern rock is thrown in for good measure.

The often angry lyrics provide sharp contrasts with the upbeat music. Several songs rail against the spirit of our time. "One Hot Seat" complains, "Ignorance is riding high and corruption at it's peak." "Wake Up Dead" muses, "I've been knocked down from the heights of pride."

"Bloodfire" is a good jam, and fans of blues rock jamming will want to see Sweet Pea's Revenge live.

Sweet Pea's Revenge plays Trader Jon's this Friday night at 9 PM. For more information, call 429-1000.

Sweet Pea's Revenge - Bloodfire
(OffBeat - July 1999)

by Danielle Biondo

Sweet Pea's Revenge arrived on the New Orleans rock scene two years ago with
a most impressive self-titled CD, after playing together for less than a year. They
proved to be a tight and polished southern- and classic rock-type band. All the
basics, they had down: guitar heavy riffs, a down-home jamming harmonica and
low and deep bass tracks, while they stayed true to influences from Eric
Clapton, Santana and other classic rock giants. Two years later SPR returns
with the scorching blues and rock melding release, Bloodfire, a sure testament
to their musical evolution. Here they alter their classic rock signature sound by
dipping into the blues and R&B.

Bloodfire introduces a new line-up, evidenced by their newfound style. Original
members Jim Brown, lead guitar and vocals, and bassist Evan Chieda added
Glenn Pearl on rhythm guitar and harmonica, Mike Wadsworth, piano and organ,
and Stephen Randall, drums. The most notable addition is background vocalist
Kaye Dorian. Breaking away from jazz, Dorian returns to her blues roots (two
years with Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown) and adds a powerful sexy, gutsy
punch. With his new mates, Jim Brown is at ease and relaxes his usual strained
gruff vocals by smoothing out the rough edges but keeping that smoky-throaty
grit that yields the spirit and verve behind Sweet Pea's Revenge songs.

There are also new influences to be heard. On "Excuse Me", slight traces of
jazz and R&B, are distinctive. "Only One Way" experiments by interweaving
reggae beats with blues, and it works. Fueled surprisingly by Wadsworth's
boogie and rollicking piano, "Feed the Machine" is a good-time rock'n'roll revue
show waiting to happen.

Sweet Pea's Revenge ventures into new musical territory with Bloodfire and
discovers a fresh spark and soul. Randall's boisterous energetic beat provides
the backing drive missing on their earlier release. Chieda's grooves remain deep
and ultra-smooth. And Pearl provides an extra flare with lush flowing rhythms
and additional expertise on the harmonica. Bloodfire unleashes a new and
improved Sweet Pea's Revenge, a sure omen to expect better things from these
guys.

SWEET PEA’S REVENGE
(Etc. Arts and Culture Monthly - Feb 1998)

Their influences are hinted at in their compositions: a dash of Dire Straits here, a sprinkle of Santana and the Doors there, creating a blend of blues tinted, southern flavored ‘70`s rock with a ‘90`s twist.”-Offbeat Oct. 97 Sweet Pea’s Revenge (S.P.R), a New Orleans rock n roll / funk band, has recently put out a highly acclaimed CD available in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans and Memphis. Having played with former Allman Brothers in Gov’t Mule, Merle Saunders and the Rain Forest Band, The Brian Stoltz Band and others, S.P.R. is well-respected by their contemporaries in N.O. Look for them at weekly gigs around The Big Easy. -- Stephan Williams

Music To Your Ears - Sweet Pea's Revenge
(Vive la Vie! January 1998)

by Anthony Leggio

Sweet Pea's Revenge, a fairly new band to the New Orleans music scene, has been making quite a name for themselves over the last year. The quartet is headed by guitarist and vocalist Jim Brown whose strong vocals impressively dominate the band's self-titled first CD.

The masterful harmonizing of Brown's enticing vocals with bassist Evan Chieda...is one of the major successes of the CD.

This 10 track CD is a promising start for Sweet Pea's Revenge. The CD starts off with a catch tune Trade In Your Life, reminiscent of some of the rock greats of the 70's and then shifts gears to the regga-flavored I Wish I Could Tell You. The next track, I'm Lyin', explodes. Each band member delivers a powerfully polished sound to provide Sweet Pea's Revenge with a sure fire hit.

Sweet Pea's Revenge was recently named Runner-Up as Best Blues Band of 1997 by OffBeat Magazine. The band's music is a mixture of blues, rock and funk - a sophisticated style creating a sensual mood that draws the listener in with its rhythmic beat and memorable lyrics.

Another key to this band's success has to be its work ethic. They have to be one of the hardest working bands on the music scene today. They play a live show every week, playing everywhere from Tipitina's, Mid-City Rock N' Bowl, and Jimmy's to the House of Blues where they opened up for Government Mule.

One burning question I had for Sweet Pea's Revenge was how did they come up with their name?

Brown muses, "Evan and I came up with the band's name whlie we were working at Café Roma Uptown. There was a homeless man named Sweet Pea who would sweep up over there. We joked that if our music careers did not work out, we would end up like Sweet Pea. That would be his ultimate revenge on us. Hence the name."

Coming attractions for Sweet Pea's Revenge: Headline show on January 22 at Tipitina's & January 23 at the Hog's Breath Saloon.

Sweet Pea's Revenge is definitely a band to keep an eye on in the future.

Sweet Pea throws party for new CD
(Times-Picayne, Jan 1998)

Together for only a year, the members of Sweet Pea's Revenge have come up with a suprisingly mature self-titled debut CD. Vocalist and guitarist Jim Brown is a talent, with a rough-edge voice that is alternatively seductive, strong and soulful. His noodling on the CD's opener, 'Trade In Your Life,' evokes Santana. With bassist Evan Chieda, 'I Wish I Could Tell You' is reggae as done by the Radiators; 'Nothing' eases along with an acid-jazz groove; other tracks could pass for one of Lynyrd Skynyrd's more reflective ballads.

Sweet Pea's Revenge will be joined by the Revealers for a CD release party Tuesday at Tipitina's.

Sweet Pea's Revenge: Seduction for Beginners
(OffBeat , March 1998 feature)

by Robert Fontenot, Jr.

Quite a lot of "roots" music considers sex a fait accompli, especially these days (note the overhormonal hyperactivity of modern R&B, which treats the dirty deed like another competition at Nagano). Then there are groups like Sweet Pea's Revenge, which lets you feel the romantic possibilities opening up as they play. Mood music for romantic neophytes, it takes its time and toys with you; every move, even the heavy stuff, bears the unmistakable stamp of loose clothing hitting the floor. You don't play the Sweet Pea CD, it plays you.

As far as founder/lead guitarist/lead vocalist/lead songwriter Jim Brown is concerned, that's the way it should be. "Mark Knopfler, J.J. Cale, Carlos Santana, these guys were all smooth," says Brown. "They knew about nuance."

Okay, so he's talking about guitar style, but Sweet Pea's is a band, first and foremost, and you can hear their musical telepathy on their first CD, Sweet Pea's Revenge. On tracks like "Kalifornia" and "Trade In Your Life", drummer Derek Grantz and bassist Evan Chieda wind around Jim's wriggling guitar, creating a real "band sound", not just an anchor for his admittedly superb lines. Playing together on stage? These guys sound like they played together in the sandbox. In reality, it's only been a year.

"I'd been playing in the Quarter, doing an acoustic thing, and I'd always wanted my own band," says Brown, who wrote the lion's share of the CD's 10 tracks. "In the space of about three months, I found one, not just good players but good guys I could get along with." Unity is the key to the amazing interplay within the band. "I like to look at the band like a little family," says Jim. "I know that sounds hokey. It really shows in the music, though. Basically, I don't wanna get in the van for twelve hours with anybody I don't like."

That van might soon be needed. Naming themselves after a local homeless man (who they were afraid they'd end up like, hence the "Revenge"), they landed their first gig last January at Monaco Bob's and never looked back. They bulldozed through the local scene, winding up at the Twin Titans, House of Blues and Tipitina's. ("They legitimized us," he says admiringly.) Now there's talk of hitting the road, playing any number of joints between here and Nashville. Jim has the understatement of the year wrapped up: "We have a strong work ethic." Obsessed, I'd call it.

And speaking of joints, what's with those lyrics on "I Wish I Could Tell You"? "Yeah, it's about smoking weed," Brown laughs. "We were sharing practice space with this guy who was growing it, but we didn't really know him. He would have these enormous sacks layin' around, stashed here and there, and he had so much that he forgot what he had stashed away. So we always had some." Most of the time, Sweet Pea's lyrics are less cloudy, dropping the hard-luck tales and opting for what Brown calls "chasing a dream."

Then there's the live show, which if anything is even meatier than the CD. At Vic's Kangaroo CafŽ this past February 12, the crowd of would-be lovers and has-been drunks soaked up this stuff like it was the best hooch they'd ever had. Sweet Pea can be rock, blues, and all points in between, but in their work ethic, they completely subscribe to that blues maxim that says one should play as often as humanly possible. Which is why they sound tighter now than ever before, laying down a sort of laid-back intensity that sounds like an old T-Bird looks: sleek and shiny on top, gritty and dirty under the hood.

The night of the Vic's show, they unveiled a secret weapon by the name of Glenn Pearl, a double threat on guitar and harp, late of Clearwater, and only in the band two weeks at that point. No matter. He ripped off some leads that brought the house down. Not long ago, in these very pages, I referred to him as the Little Walter of the New Orleans Rock Scene, which sounded oxymoronic to some and downright ridiculous to others. I stand by my original assessment. I've got witnesses now, too. (He's no slouch on guitar, either. Jim: "There's no other guitar player I know in town that I could play with without us getting in each others way.")

This means that Sweet Pea's has double the fuel for those long, extended jams, although loving finesse as they do, they don't make a habit of wearing out a song's welcome. Aside from the originals, they veer all over the musical highway: blues standards like "Smokestack Lightning" and "Come On In My Kitchen", offbeat (no pun intended) offerings like Drivin' and Cryin's "Straight To Hell", and, most tellingly, a version of the Temptation's "Can't Get Next To You" that sounds more like a roadhouse than Hitsville, USA. "We usually do that," says Brown. "If there's any little girl in the front of the club that wants to shake it, she'll do it on that song."

The band, which has members from New York, New Orleans, and Atlanta, is well versed in the art of taking disparate elements and making a Sweet Pea Stew out of 'em. Check out "Kalifornia", for example. (Sort of about the film, sort of about the state, sort of about other things.) I hear some Hendrix, some Allman Brothers, some Skynyrd, but nothing that you can nail down; it all sounds like one, big, new thing. Likewise, Evan Chieda and Jim's collaboration "I'm Lyin'", the most emotionally gripping song in their repertoire, could be Pearl Jam but for that unexpected piano meltdown that colors its entire mood a different shade of blue. And their finest song, the aforementioned stoner's anthem "I Wish I Could Tell You", has the feel of a Holy Summit between Eric Clapton and Bob Marley. (Brown, in particular, sounds amazingly God-like.)

One gap remains: a keyboard player who can take the place of Michael Burkhart, the bands previous harp and piano man who's heard all over the CD. Once that hurdle's overcome, Brown feels, there'll be no stopping this band. And with that he may be right, if that gig at Vic's was any indication, because Sweet Pea's Revenge creates a mood like no other band in town; call it seduction music for young hipsters. During the band's break, for example, the jukebox came to life and started oozing out the sweet sounds of Al Green's "Love and Happiness." And the mood in the room didn't have to change one single bit. Not bad, right?

Sweet Pea's Revenge
(Gambit Weekly, Nov 1997)

On this debut, Sweet Pea distinguishes itself from the pack by its influences. Like the late Irene & the Mikes, the group mines the fertile soil of late-'60's rock and R&B for inspiration rather than relying on the power chords and introspection of its peers. Vocalist and guitarist Jim Brown directs the flow of the music with his raw voice, which recalls Joe Cocker and, on "I Wish I Could Tell You," a younger Eric Clapton. Like the '70's themselves, some of these tunes seem to stick around a little longer than necessary, but it's still an impressive show of potential from a relatively new outfit. -- K.M.

Sweet Pea's Revenge at Carrollton Station
(Rhythm and News previews - Gambit Weekly, Nov 1997)

To many acts, having a '70's influence means little more than wearing bell-bottoms and winking at the musical and fashion excesses of the decade. Sweet Pea's Revenge is different; its members wear their influences proudly on their sleeve and refuse to sell the era short for the sake of hipster irony. Sweet Pea's smorgasbord is peppered liberally with traces of the Doors, Santana, Cream and Exile-era Stones, but the references are never heavy-handed or derivative (unlike those of, say, Oasis). Although the band's only been around for about a year, its debut disc shows a strong tendency toward original guitar rock that builds on a foundation of blues and R&B rather than Brady Bunch reruns. Showtime 10 p.m. -- K.F.M.

Sweet Pea's Revenge
(Offbeat, Oct 1997 CD Review)

Sweet Pea's Revenge isn't trying to break new ground in the rock n' roll scene. Instead they stick to the familiar, and it works for them. Their influences are hinted at in their compositions: a dash of Dire Straits here, a sprinkle of Santana and The Doors there, creating a blend of blues-tinted, southern-flavored 70's rock with a 90's twist.

Formed less than a year ago, Sweet Pea's Revenge started...with vocalist and guitarist Jim Brown and Evan Chieda on bass. For a newborn unit, their performances are tight and close-knit, coming off sleek and sophisticated without sounding pretentious. The self-titled CD is a textured melange of simmering nights in laid-back, smoke-filled bars, contemplating Brown's throaty, seductive vocals. The back-and-forth pace of the album starts with the mellow opener of "Trade In Your Life" to the reggae-ish "I Wish I Could Tell You," then slows down for the melancholy ballad "Kalifornia" before veering into tantalizing tones of "Miss You Anyway."

"I'm Lying" deviates from Sweet Pea Revenge's norm, as a frenzied, seething song of drug addiction gives way to thudding bass chords, driving drums and sizzling cymbals, as the demonic rush of the keyboard soars along with the chaotic, biting guitar licks. It's the heaviest track and also the best composition out of the 10 songs. Another highlight, "Nothing," kicks in a bluesy rocking jam....

Sweet Pea's Revenge deserves credit for straying away from the cutting-edge movement and sticking to their own inclinations. They've succeeded in making an impressive independant CD, and are a refreshing change from the alternative that's not so alternative anymore. -- Danielle Biondo