The Campbell Brothers Had “Church” at PS21

By Journalist Ms. Jones

CHATHAM – “This is going to be the first annual,” said Judy Grunberg, Board President of PS21: Performance Spaces for the 21st Century.

The Campbell Brothers kicked off the Gospel and Blues Fest Weekend at The Tent at PS21 on Friday, July 28th in Chatham. The Campbell Brothers are known as experts in Sacred Steel, African-American gospel music with electric steel guitar and vocals. Their music has been featured at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“If the music makes you feel good this evening, it’s alright if you clap your hands. It’s alright if you get up and move. It’s alright if you sing along if you know the words. This is active music,” said Phil Campbell to the crowd as he invited them to participate.

The audience engaged in call and response, clapped, danced, and waved their hands in the air throughout the evening. At the end of the show they stomped so loudly in appreciation that the Campbell Brothers returned for an encore.

The Campbell Brothers sang familiar tunes: “Something About the Name of Jesus,” “I’ve Got a Feeling Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” “A Change is Gonna Come,” “I’m Goin’ Home on the Morning Train,” “Lord I Just Want to Praise You,” “I Ain’t Gonna Cry No More,” “Amazing Grace,” “Don’t Let the Devil Ride,” and “What’s His Name.” They also performed an original song titled “Hell No, Heaven Yes” from their new CD Beyond the 4 Walls.

Between songs the Campbell Brothers gave the history of the instruments and how they were used in the church. They also engaged in a debate of which came first, gospel or the blues?

“What the Campbell Brothers will submit this evening is that they both came along at the same time because a lot of musicians that played in the juke joints on Saturday nights, played in the church service on Sunday mornings,” said Phil Campbell.

The weekend was produced by five time blues music award winner Rory Block who performed on Saturday, July 29th with Texas Music Hall of Famer Cindy Cashdollar as the Sisters of Slide.

On Sunday afternoon, July 30th a Gospel Choir Fest took place at ChurchLIVE. Choirs from Payne AME church in Chatham; Shiloh Baptist Church in Hudson; St. Mark Chapel AME Church in Kingston; and First Israel AME Church in Albany partook in the service. The concert was free to the public and a reception with refreshments followed.

“The 2017 12th Summer Season at PS21 will be the final season in our little saddlespan tent,” said Judy Grunberg. PS21 is currently constructing a new building that will be complete in Spring 2018 where they can have events year-round. It will hold 300 seats. For more information, go to www.ps21chatham.org.