Performance Review - Charlie Grimes

Daisy Helmuth, The Rells, & Johnny Conqueroo at Chuck’s Music (Dec. 5, 2015) – Performance Review

Charlie Grimes

AP Literature & Composition

Ms. Whitman

Johnny Conqueroo is a local “swampy blues-rock” band consisting entirely of high schoolers, but do not be fooled by their age -- lead vocalist and guitarist Grant Curless, drummer Wils Quinn, and bassist Shawn Reynolds have been making waves in the Lexington music scene. Whether it’s scoring gigs at local joints such as Willie’s Locally Known and Morris Book Shop, getting major play time on local radio stations, or selling surprisingly high amounts of their debut CD’s, Conqueroo’s striking talent has not gone unnoticed.

I had the privilege of getting to see Johnny Conqueroo play at Chuck’s Music on Southland Dr. this past Saturday, December 5, with their opening acts, Daisy Helmuth and The Rells, beginning at 7:00PM. The experience was truly a treat. Immediately upon entering the upstairs mini-concert hall (we’ll call it a corridor) of Chuck’s, I was struck by the sheer number of people crammed together, eagerly awaiting the performance. When it began, any semblance of order almost immediately vanished, and the band’s energy filled the room. I found myself; however, very intrigued by the powerful stage presence that Conqueroo retained throughout the entire show.

The band played a full hour-long set containing a variety of original songs, such as “Night in Jail” and “Summer Blues,” as well as some mesmerizingly energetic and creative takes on classic blues tunes. In general, the band’s instrumental talent, especially Curless’ guitar, is beyond what one would imagine most teenagers could do. His electric guitar cries, soars, and dives wildly, but I will focus instead on the beautiful, simple poetry of his lyrics.

Conqueroo’s original song lyrics often concern love and turbulent relationships. Curless has a knack for songwriting that harkens back to Mississippi delta blues, with musicians of the likes of Robert Johnson and Howlin’ Wolf. “Well I’m feelin’ so dead now, but she’s doing so well now,” lamented on “Night in Jail,” a song about the consequences of an abusive relationship. “You took my heart. I gave my love to you, and you ripped it apart!” Curless sung over a moody guitar riff on “Took My Heart”. While Conqueroo’s lyrics are not overly complex, they are delivered with great emotional heft, giving them significantly more power when experienced rather than read. It is, once again, hard to believe at times that such a performance is coming from a group as young as Conqueroo is. The subject matter of their songs is often mature and they were performed with incredible focus and intensity at this venue. “Baby baby, where were you at, now? I knew you were screwing behind my back now,” Curless shouted over only the sound of Wils Quinn’s pulsing kick drum.

What blew me away most, however, were Conqueroo’s heavy, energetic covers of classic blues songs. Most notably, Son House’s “Grinnnin’ in Your Face,” a highly influential blues tune from the early 1930’s. “Don’t you mind, people grinnin’ in your face? You know they’ll jump you up and down, they’ll carry you all 'round and 'round, but just as soon as your back is turned, they’ll be tryin’ to crush you down.” Conqueroo delivered these lyrics with such real anger and enthusiasm, with everyone in the crowd watching and listening in amazement. The group also performed “Smokestack Lightning,” another classic blues song by a legendary artist, Howlin’ Wolf, and a nice acknowledge of the deep influence of African-American blues on rock and roll. Occasionally the group toned down the energy, especially on their performance of the song “Salad Days,” which contains the memorable lyrics “As I'm getting older, chip up on my shoulder / Rolling through life, to roll over and die.”

Ultimately, the energy, lyrical delivery, and stage presence that Johnny Conqueroo has made for a highly entertaining performance that left everyone in the audience, including myself, in awe. Conqueroo’s very own bluesy song lyrics, amazingly, stack up nicely against the lyrics of their legendary influences, and the emotional depth with which they are delivered makes for a sonically diverse and mature performance that far surpassed my expectations.

Rating: 4/5