Since 2009, the Chubby Knuckle Choir has been steadily regaling audiences with a unique sound that “gleefully ignores the constraints of genre.” The band features percussion like congas and bongos in lieu of a typical drum set and acoustic stringed instruments in place of the usual rocking electric guitars you see in most bands that fuse country, rock, R&B and everything in between. But just ask any fan who frequents their eclectic performances: Chubby Knuckle Choir packs just as much punch as any fully amped band.
The result is a “musical gumbo” of country, funk, soul and blues. Really just keep adding as many genres to the list as you like — you won’t be able to really define Chubby Knuckle Choir by typical conventions. Perhaps it’s best to just take famed Texas musician and producer Lloyd Maines’ word for it when he says, “These guys are so funky you can smell ‘em!”
So what does it mean to Chubby Knuckle Choir to be back and playing live music? “Everything,” the band tells Texas Music. “We enjoy the vibe of the crowd and just getting to meet new friends and and catch up with old ones. We love sharing our music and talents with others, and the love is always reciprocated. Just being out and among the people is what we really missed.”
Though the band says the pandemic did stall their new music momentum a bit, they’re back to writing and working on a new record. Most immediately, they’ve got a new forthcoming single called “Hurricane Hannah.”
“We expect the vibe to be lively and electric,” the band says of the inaugural Conroe Crossroads Music Festival. “Conroe is really becoming a burgeoning hotbed for music. The scene is taking off, and the folks here really embrace it.”
Conroe Crossroads is produced by Texas Music and sponsored by Visit Conroe. Find more info and get your tickets at conroecrossroads.com.
