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Kate Moss is a well-known figure on the Chicago blues scene. The wife of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Nick Moss, Kate is a talented musician in her own right, a graphic artist, and an avid supporter of a charity by the name of the Blue Star Connection. Based in Denver, Colorado the Blue Star Connection is a non-profit organization that provides gifts of musical instruments to children and young adults suffering from debilitating health conditions.

The organization grew out of the efforts of the Grand County Blues Society in Colorado and, since its founding in 2005, the Blue Star Connection has gifted instruments to over 100 kids in two-dozen states, as well as one in New Delhi, India. Like most non-profits these days, the Blue Star Connection is always in need of funds, so Kate gathered together friends like singer Jimmy Hall, former Double Trouble keyboardist Reese Wynans, singer and guitarist Samantha Fish, bassist Danielle Schnebelen, and drummer Kris Schnebelen (both of Trampled Under Foot), performing together as "The Healers" for a night of joyful music-making to benefit the Blue Star Connection.

The Healers' Live At Knuckleheads

Held at the Knuckleheads club in Kansas City, the Healers' concert was caught on film and on audiotape for posterity, and has been released as the two-disc CD/DVD set Live At Knuckleheads. The show kicks off with Kate Moss leading the band through a spirited take on Freddie King's instrumental classic "San-Ho-Zay," Moss laying down some scorching solos as the band develops a deep rhythmic groove to warm up an enthusiastic audience.

Former Wet Willie frontman Jimmy Hall takes the microphone for the Ike Turner gem "Grits Ain't Groceries," growling and howling with the best of the old-school R&B shouters with an inspired performance.

Hall also acquits himself nicely on a raucous cover of Junior Wells' signature tune "Messin' With The Kid," his vocals sounding like a cross between Wells and Buddy Guy, his raging harp riding high atop a funky groove the Schnebelen siblings paint with their instruments, with Wynans hitting his keys like Jerry Lee Lewis sniffing honky-tonk fumes. The talented blueswoman Samantha Fish takes front and center for a blistering reading of Muddy Waters' great "Rollin' & Tumblin'," her slinky vocals capturing the down 'n' dirty vibe of the original, her guitar conjuring up a unique sort of 21st century black cat moan.

Got My Mojo Working

Hall revisits another chestnut from the Waters' songbook, his true-to-tradition take on "Got My Mojo Working" greatly assisted by the yeoman's work done by the rhythm section, who deliver an appropriately locomotive backdrop for Hall's gruff vox and gruffer harp play, which rolls and tumbles through the song as Fish and Moss trade solos, their energetic guitar licks soaring above the fray. Trampled Under Foot's Danielle Schnebelen takes the spotlight for a romp through her original "Love My Baby," the young blueswoman stealing the show with a swinging performance that mixes the unbridled energy of Koko Taylor with the jazzy elegance of Etta James.

Schnebelen teams up with Hall for a duet on "This Is A Man's World," her soaring R&B styled vocals offering a divine counterpoint to Hall's lowdown dirty blues. It's a powerful performance, the band's strong-but-subtle backing adding to the emotional strength of the song. Hall delivers another raw, rockin' performance with a cover of Don Nix's Southern-fried blues standard "Goin' Down," Wynans raging at the electric piano keys as the band pumps out a monster soundtrack on which Moss embroiders with her slash 'n' burn fretwork. Wynans' keyboard solo here is a thing of pure beauty, while Schnebelen pounds the fat-strings like a lead guitar, achieving a fat, rhythmic bottom line. Fish takes her solo, delivering the same sort of ballistic whiplash as the Texas Cannonball, Freddie King, did when he first recorded the song back in 1971.

The accompanying DVD brings the entire show into your living room in living color, and offers two red-hot "bonus" songs. Hall takes the Southern soul groove of Eddie Hinton's "I Still Want To Be Your Man" to another level with a hearty performance, but Fish's authentic swamp-blues reading of Screamin' Jay Hawkins "I Put A Spell On You" is the sort of evil mojo that gets under a man's skin and makes him do crazy things. Fish's sultry vocals bring a feminine perspective to the song, but it's her mesmerizing fretwork and Wynans' otherworldly keyboard bashing that take the performance to unimaginable and malevolent heights.

The Reverend's Bottom Line

The Healers' Live At Knuckleheads delivers the most fun you'll ever have sitting in your living room, nearly an hour and a half of great blues and blues-rock jams. Whereas the CD offers a dynamic audio representation of the live concert with nary a fumble among the ten performances, the DVD captures the entire electrifying show, an intimate concert that sounds bigger than the room.

All six of the talented musicians here look like they're having a great time on stage, enjoying playing music for the sheer joy of it all, and raising funds for a great cause. Available directly from the Blue Star Connection website, Live At Knuckleheads deserves a place in your blues library! (The Blue Star Connection, released April 2013)

Guide Disclosure: A review copy of this CD, DVD, or book was provided by the record label, publisher, or publicist. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.

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