Increadible performance by Sara Asleigh and the “Push the Blues Band”

Last Evening I joined a couple of friends of mine for a night out. We went to see Sara Ashleigh and the Push the Blues Band at Crossroads on route 20, in Palmer.
I have to say, Sara, YOU ROCK!... and WOW can you sing the blues! Sara opened with a song called “Whistle Stop” (. . .at least that is my best guess for the song name.) And we watched Sara belt it out like a pro! She sang from within, with a guttural throat roll that is so characteristic of good blues singers. Sara used her true visceral energy to draw the audience into her stunning performance.
Sara was joined on stage with other singers over the course of the evening, and Sara made several dedications to specific audience members. I would say the most important dedication went out to Sara‘s Mom Mary, who I coincidently sat directly behind. Sara sang “Send me an Angel” to her mom. It was beautiful. She looked right at her Mom as she sang to her. It was clear that the connection between mother and daughter is strong. Later in the evening I asked Sara‘s Mom if it made her cry. Mary admitted, “sometimes it does.”

The Push the Blues Band is not limited to solely blues music (pun intended . . .) The Sax player, Marc Graveline, certainly makes it about the blues when he is on stage, but when you add keyboards -- also by Marc Graveline -- and a back up singer to the guitars -- Chris Hyatt and Richard Bruns -- and drummer -- Dave Bell, who buy the way is also very entertaining as you watch him twirl his drumsticks -- there is no limit to what this band can entertain you with.

Here is Sara and her backup singer Caitlin McDougall singing “Rihanna,” a Fleetwood Mac song. Caitlin also sang “Give me One Reason” by Tracey Chapman solo.

And this is Sara sounding a lot like Janis Joplin as she sings “Bobby McGee.”

The highlight of the show for me however was when the band cranked out “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon.

The dance floor just filled up. Even I had to get up and dance bringing a reluctance dance partner with me. It‘s great to have such local talent. I would definitely recommend taking in one of their future shows!

Dana Manning