Sweet Home Huntley

Huntley – Entertaining audiences everywhere from Soldier Field to the House of Blues, the tribute band Blooze Brothers will return to Sun City this September with“Elwood” and “Jake” at the helm.

The show will feature the “crazy dance steps” and other antics that the original Blues Brothers performed in the 1980 film, according to band member Chuck Little, who plays Elwood. Residents can also look forward to a variety of other musical styles ranging from big band to soul.

Little explained that the Blooze Brothers had a humble beginning.

“It all started about 27 years ago. My friend John and I went to a Halloween party dressed as the blues brothers and performed a couple of songs to a cassette tape, just as a spoof for a friend. It went over really well at the party, so we decided to work on our act over the next year or two,” he said.

John Aguila, who plays Jake in the band, and who has been performing with Little since high school, said the group gained momentum once they partnered with a band that had a strong horn section.

“It took off from there and just skyrocketed,” Little said.

The sky does seem to be the limit for this group, whose gigs have ranged from weddings and private parties to presidential performances. The Blooze Brothers played for the Illinois Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C. in January 2013 for Barack Obama, an invite which Little considers to be quite an honor.

Aguila argues that their largest show occurred this year.

“The biggest one that stands out to me was just recently when we played at Soldier Field for the NHL Stadium Series. When you’re singing for that many people, it leaves a mark on you. When we played ‘Sweet Home Chicago’ we asked people to sing along with us on the chorus. And when you hear 60,000 people singing it with you…wow,” he said.

Although not all of their venues are that large, Little and Aguila explain that their performances are the powerhouse variety. Featuring the band, the Elwood and Jake gimmicks, and female vocalist Sheila Pepple (who covers Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner), Aguila feels that the shows are almost three gigs in one.

What can Sun City audiences specifically expect to hear?

“Songs such as ‘Sweet Home Chicago’, ‘Rawhide’, and ‘Soul Man’,” said Little. “We’re primarily acting as the Blues Brothers. We try to replicate exactly those scenes as best we can, as far as the dance moves. We might throw in a Frank Sinatra song just to have some fun.”

Aguila agrees that their shows are universally accessible.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re eight or eighty years old. You will enjoy the show,” he said.

The Blooze Brotherswill perform at Drendel Hall on Tuesday, September 16 from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

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