Steve Baskin to Rock the Red Light Cafe
You gotta admit that anyone who has the courage to tackle two No. 1 pop songs on the Billboard charts, one by The Beatles and one by the Partridge Family, has got to be either lame or way cool.
Steve Baskin is one fearless rocker who plays mostly original tunes, yet he pulls off playing tunes by The Partridge Family and The Beatles with aplomb and originality. While he rocks “I Think I Love You,” he flips The Beatles’ celebratory “A Hard Days Night” upside down. When Baskin plays it, he takes you floating down a slow river of hardships that only love can heal. Although the tune barely resembles the original, his arrangement sounds just as valid and authentic.
Baskin, a recording artist influenced by music from the ‘60s and ‘70s, R&B and country, will be playing mainly original tunes with his three-piece band at the Red Light Café Friday, April 9.
If you go, be prepared to sing along and shove your table out of the way and dance. Baskin’s country tune “Float on Down” rocks so much it could catapult you into a Texas Two-step or an Irish stepdance. “Catch Me If You Can,” a catchy pop tune released last year on his CD “Naked,” is so infectious it is getting air-play around the country. This summer it was one of the Top 10 most added songs to playlists, according to FMQB, a radio industry organization that tracks tunes.
Baskin, who hid himself in the business world for the past 20 years, began playing music as a kid. By 17, he was playing on the professional circuit as a sideman with The Shirelles, Archie Bell & the Drells, and Samuel David Moore (of Sam and Dave). More recently he has played with Cindy Wilson of the B-52s.
Baskin will be playing at the Red Light Café Friday, April 9 at 9:30 p.m. The pop group Phillip Hanson & Vancouver open at 7:30 p.m., and R&B singer Jess Goodwynn takes the stage at 8:30 p.m.
I love the partridge family!
Interesting guy.
The Shirelles? No way! I love them!! Love your description of his performance skills.
Really enjoyed the article, thanks for the enlightment about a really cool group.
Cool tunes, cool blog.
The world is complete now — the Partridge Family and the Beatles together. I would like to hear that live.
And do I hear echoes of the Beatles’ “Carry That Weight” bass riff in the Partridge family tune? Could be!
Since you played bass with Paul and Ringo on that one tour not long ago, you would know that better than I! : )