Video Premiere: Popa Chubby ‘I Can’t See The Light Of Day’

Video Premiere: Popa Chubby ‘I Can’t See The Light Of Day’

Rock & Blues Muse is pleased to premiere Popa Chubby’s video “I Can’t See The Light Of Day” from his forthcoming live album Live At Bluey’s Juke Joint NYC set to release on September 8th via Gulf Coast Records.

“I Can’t See The Light Of Day” is a gospel-tinged, blues/punk/soul epic that will move even the hardest of hearts. Popa Chubby and his band give it an absolutely monstrous treatment that overflows with vibe and sits on the deepest pocket ever created. PC is a melodic guitar ripper who never runs out of ideas as well as a soulful lead vocalist who leans all the way into this one. The live studio audience is in his hands from the jump and he treats them right every step of the way. Watching Popa play live in this intimate setting is the next best thing to having been there and will cure what ails you every time. Blues and roots music fans should prepare to be blown away.

Popa Chubby says, “’I Can’t See the Light of Day’ is one of my most-requested songs. Written during a darker period of my life, the song reflects upon love not returned and allowing yourself to be mistreated, a topic that is for sure universal. After all, that’s what the blues are all about, right? The five camera shoot was orchestrated by my old mate Glen Forrest and his crew of awesome professionals at G. BLUEY’S Juke Joint in Long Island City New York. The band is pure fire on this one, but the real feature is Michael Merritt’s (Conan O’Brien, Billy Gibbons) bass break about half-way-in. Pure Memphis funk, unleashed by one of the greatest.”

The New York City-based blues guitar slinger Popa Chubby aka “The Beast From The East” recorded the live double CD set at G. Bluey’s Juke Joint in Long Island City, New York, on October 24 and 25, 2022, and features Popa Chubby (guitar and vocals), backed by his all-star “Beast Band,” which consists of Mike Merritt – bass (Conan O’Brien, Billy Gibbons); Mike Dimeo – keyboards (Johnny Winter, Tommy James); and Stefano Giudici – drums.

“I Can’t See The Light Of Day”

 
“This record is a reunion in a lot of ways,” states Popa Chubby. “Rejoining with my long-time ally and bassist extraordinaire Mike Merritt and recording in my old Manny’s Car Wash engineer Glen Forrest’s studio. The icing on the cake was Mike Dimeo on keys. Add the Centurion Stefano Giudici on drums and you’ve got some heavy blues rock! It’s a live best of for the ages!”

Born Ted Horowitz, Popa Chubby is a long-time, New York City veteran blues rocker, who also produced and mixed his upcoming new album. He’s been rocking the blues in his fierce and soulful way for more than 35 years. Over the course of his career, he has been a force to be reckoned with on the guitar, and his tempestuous, soulful playing has never been more powerful. An imposing figure with a shaven head, tattooed arms, a goatee and a performance style he describes as “the Stooges meets Buddy Guy, Motörhead meets Muddy Waters and Jimi Hendrix meets Robert Johnson,” Popa Chubby is an endearing character who has become one of the genre’s most popular figures.

Popa Chubby’s career has always been about moving forward and carving a place for himself in the imposing terrain of the music business, overcoming odds to continue growing and maturing as a creative force. He has built a constantly increasing base of fans across the world, where in many territories he is a star. A native New Yorker, his first gigs were in the NYC punk scene as a guitarist for what he reflects was a “crazy Japanese special effects performance artist in a kimono called ‘Screaming Mad George,’ who had a horror-movie inspired show.”

Right from the start, he was immersed in rock ‘n’ roll as theater, and learned from George and others playing CBGB’s at the time that included the Ramones, the Cramps, Richard Hell, whose band -the Voidoids – he joined, that rock ‘n’ roll should be dangerous. He reflects, “Musicians like the Ramones and the Sex Pistols weren’t just bands. They were a threat to society.”

The blues, however, was the foundation of Popa Chubby’s playing style. He recalls, “Since I’d grown up on Hendrix, Cream and Led Zeppelin, when I started playing blues in New York clubs I understood that the blues should be dangerous, too. It wasn’t just from playing in punk bands. Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters were dangerous men. They’d cut or shoot you if they thought it was necessary, and Little Walter packed a gun and wouldn’t hesitate to use it. That danger is a real part of the blues and I keep it alive in my music.”

In addition to some extensive touring this summer in Europe to support the release of Live at G. Bluey’s Juke Joint NYC, Popa Chubby and the Beast Band have set many summer/fall shows in the USA, too.

For more information on Popa Chubby see his website  

Pre-order the album HERE

LIVE AT G. BLUEY’S JUKE JOINT NYC TRACK LISTING

CD1
1. MOTORCYCLE MAMA – 6:51- Neil Young
2. ANOTHER TEN YEARS GONE – 6:56 – T.Horowitz
3. HEY JOE – 9:14 – Billy Roberts
4. DIRTY LIE – 8:02 – T. Horowitz
5. 69 DOLLARS – 7:16 – T. Horowitz
6. GODFATHER THEME (Speak Softly Love) – 2:50- Nino Rota
7. DIRTY DIESEL – 3:50 T. Horowitz
8. GROWN MAN CRYING BLUES – 13:58 – T. Horowitz
9. OVER THE RAINBOW- 8:48 – Harold Arlen

CD2
1. IT’S A MIGHTY HARD ROAD – 5:10- T. Horowitz
2. I DON’T WANT NOBODY – 7:04- T. Horowitz
3. I CAN’T SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY- 7:56- T. Horowitz
4. EMBEE’S SONG – 5:50- T. Horowitz
5. STEEL HORSE SERENADE – 6:57- T. Horowitz
6. HALLELUJAH – 10:39- Leonard Cohen
7. HEART ATTACK AND VINE – 4:05- Tom Waits
8. SWEAT – 4:19- T. Horowitz
9. NOBODY WANTS YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT -5:35- Jimmy Cox
10. SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL/CHUBBY’S STORY – 10:25 Jagger/ Richards / T. Horowitz