Hop on Popovic

Since releasing her 2001 debut album Hush! (Ruf), Serbian singer-guitarist Ana Popovic has ascended the six-string-slinging ranks: a blues classicist with one hell of a work ethic. On Saturday, Jan. 26, 8 p.m., Popovic will play Homer’s Center for the Arts, 72 S. Main St. Expect to hear tracks from Popovic’s 2011 release Unconditional (Eclecto Groove), which was nominated for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year by the Blues Foundation.

Popovic grew up in Belgrade. “I probably heard blues way before a lot of American kids,” she recalls, since her father was a blues-obsessed bassist. “My dad had a huge {record} collection. At age 1 or 2 I was listening to Elmore James, Robert Johnson, Sonny Landreth.” She formed the Ana Popovic Band in 1999 while studying at Utrecht Conservatory in the Netherlands, which resulted in a label deal with Germany’s Ruf Records. Popovic recorded Hush! (named after a two-piece she fronted in grade school) in Memphis, Tenn. World tours, raving press, an endorsement deal for Fender Stratocaster and recognition followed. Popovic has since left Ruf for Eclecto Groove, a division of West Coast roots label Delta Groove Music. She has also started a family: Her kids Luuk and Lenna are constant travel companions. The Popovic clan recently gathered with drummer Tony Coleman, bassist John Williams and organist Frank Ray Jr. to create a new LP at Ardent Studios in Memphis.“We decided to make a blues record the way Albert King used to do it: a lot of groove and a lot of funk,” says Popovic. Despite having finished off the record last week, Popovic foresees hanging out in Memphis a little bit longer: “We’re definitely staying for at least a year. This city’s got soul.”

Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $10 for students and free for attendees 18 and under. Call (607) 749-4900 for more information.

02.02.2013 at 10:06 | Reply |

Bluesman_NY

Yeah, she's the real deal ... great vocals and outstanding guitar... like Joanna Connor (Chicago,Brooklyn ) OK ... Ana is quite a looker too, but that wears off after you hear her play.

But the sound guys ( again) drowned her out with a Mix that challenged her to scream above the drums and guitars. Numerous times, one of the sound guys would lean in and crank the bass, or the keyboards... up in the balcony ... the poor old timer trying to get a good sound should have gone home... or swatted the deaf dude 'leaning in to help' they should go to a John Nemeth concert to hear a good ( fantastic) mix.

And she shot her load in the first three songs... "wow she's great" then what .... 5 or 6 more hot electric blues runs that were also great... like SRV and Walter trout deuling it out ... and after a while it was too much "in your face" leaving us with "does she know anything else". She needs a producer... arrange the set list.. save a little for the end , go EZ , tease us... then unleash the fury. And look up "dynamics" .. that Messa Boogie does have great sound... but damn, we're in a conecrt hall not Bryant Park.

the Band was hot, Bassman drivin a great grove, lots of talent... best 4 minute drum solo I've heard in 10 years . But again - everybodys on 10 and poundin , poundin, poundin ... audience at the end was exhausted too... if you weren't wearing ear plugs you were wishin you had them. The only sound mix worse than this was the second Tommy Emmanual concert at SYR center4arts ( his first visit was perfect - his own sound guy... not the two "Feedback Brothers" at the second) .. for Homer, the Leon Russell a year ago mix takes second place for "most Mud at greatest volume".

Ana - don't trust these guys to ruin your career !