Now a raw Amsterdam soul band anchored in the sounds of the legendary Stax and Kent labels gushes popcorn from its first CD – Popcorn 69 showing why it is fast emerging as one of the most exciting line-ups on the European club scene. Born of love for soul, boogaloo and R&B, Juicebox does more than keep alive the traditions that inspire it. These are the sounds of the late 1960s but rendered by musicians with the impulse of another generation: an authentic soul band with a respect for roots but blessed with the invention that characterized the originals. Juicebox, in other words, has not stood still. Nor have the audiences who have been kicking up their heels in such Amsterdam venues as the immortal Paradiso, De Melkweg, Vrijevloer, De Kring, Club Vegas, the Sugar Factory and Fietsfabriek. “When the deaf hear and the lame dance we know are getting something right†says Juicebox founder, tenor sax and flute player Rob Berends. The band was formed in 2003 although the eight members have enriched the Amsterdam soul and blues scene for years and played with the likes of Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, Alton Ellis, Rico Rodriquez, Rude Rich and the High Notes, Hans Dulfer and Wally Tax. Not surprisingly, Juicebox taped Popcorn 69 in the converted prison cells of the High Notes Studio, using non-digital (analogue) equipment and 1960s instruments, a subtlety reflected in the raw excitement of the album.John Sparrow
