Like all nice rock and roll, Popa Chubby’s new double album, Reside at G. Bluey’s Juke Joint NYC, invokes a way of hazard and perspective, powered by the distinctive enjoying of the person born Theodore Horowitz. Often known as “The Beast from the East,” Popa is a hard-working musician who performs a whole bunch of exhibits annually worldwide.

VG not too long ago spoke with him as he prepped to tour of the South.

What have been your ideas behind placing out a reside report, and the way did it come about?
It’s nice to be working with Gulf Coast Information as they actually get it. The report was tracked reside by Glenn Forrest, who I skilled 30 years in the past to be a recording engineer. Since that point, Glenn has constructed one of many most-amazing services I’ve ever seen, in Lengthy Island Metropolis. He’s not too long ago began to do information for larger labels by The Roots, Meshell Ndegeocello, and a bunch extra.

For this report, we went in there for 2 days with an invitation-only studio viewers and had a five-camera shoot, so there’s video accompanying each music. Ultimately, we got here up with greater than two hours of music recorded reside with my dream band.

Who makes up that dream band?
Mike Merritt on bass, Mike DiMeo on keys, and my longtime bandmate Stefano Giudici on drums. As a result of we’d performed plenty of exhibits collectively, this band was road-ready, and we couldn’t wait to report!

It’s a no-nonsense recording that carries a way of hazard…
Properly, good (laughs)! I at all times consider Keith Richards, when that man got here onstage and Keith cracked him along with his Telecaster, places the guitar again on and retains enjoying. You have a look at the unique blues guys, and that hazard was an actual a part of the blues. I attempt to preserve that alive in my music.

Although you’re a vintage-guitar collector, you are inclined to play only one guitar reside – your ’66 Strat, “The Beast.” What attracts you to the Stratocaster, and particularly that one?
The Strat, to me, is the most-expressive instrument; it provides the best alternatives for tonal enjoyable and simply feels good in my hand.

About 25 years in the past, a buddy known as saying he wanted to eliminate some guitars, and amongst these I purchased from him was the ’66 – pristine on the time. I picked it up and fell in love, and it’s been my important guitar ever since. It has performed 1000’s of exhibits, and the wear and tear is all mine! A number of years again, it fell off the stage and broke into three items. I introduced the items again to New York and Rick Kelly, of Carmine Avenue Guitars, glued it again collectively. It truly performs higher now, and it’s the one guitar on the brand new reside report.

Which amps and results can we hear on the report?
I used my ’66 Vibrolux Reverb with Eminence Little Buddy audio system, which I actually like, as they provide plenty of articulation however nonetheless keep Fender-ish.

As for results, I used an Analogman Tubescreamer 808, a Wampler Tape Delay, a Dunlop Mini Jimi Hendrix wah, and a prototype Deja Vibe – the primary ever made, and the perfect one I’ve ever heard.

For this newest tour, I’m now down to 1 pedal – the 808 – as a result of the highway generally dictates your rig and the much less I carry, the happier I’m.

There are some alternative covers on the album. How’d you choose them?
It’s a fan-driven “better of” report, and the tunes are all songs the followers requested. I’m an enormous fan of giving the folks what they need… plus I really like enjoying that sh*t (laughs). I’ll by no means tire of it!

You spend half the 12 months enjoying to European audiences. How do they evaluate with these stateside?
They’re larger (laughs)! However principally, it’s a common expertise man…you exit, you setup, you play and hopefully folks dig it and are available away with a little bit happiness and enlightenment. And that’s actually what the sport is on the finish of the day, and I attempt to preserve it at that. That is my job, that is my ardour, and that is what I like to do and I gotta undergo plenty of issues I don’t wanna do to do it, like touring 36 hours straight for a 90-minute present. After the present, you promote a little bit merch and speak to folks, and hopefully see that spark of their faces, how they’re lit up, and the way some really feel their lives are modified. That’s an enormous present, and an enormous accountability – and I’m nonetheless doin’ it!

This text initially appeared in VG’s November 2023 problem. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.