Cory Chisel’s Soul Obscura
The Mill — Sunday, June 29 at 8 p.m.
Normally working in the Americana and folk-rock genres under the name Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, the singer’s 2014 Soul Obscura Shakedown Tour finds Chisel bringing seldom heard soul, funk and gospel tracks to light.
The Wisconsin-based musician takes his new sound to The Mill this Sunday for a show presented by the Englert Theatre.
At some concerts, the audience can get by with swaying and toe-tapping — definitely not at this show. Chisel’s music is jam-packed with snappy lyrics and jubilant rhythms that are irresistibly danceable. For instance, a cover of Eddie Floyd’s song “Get Up Big Bird” involves Chisel practically shouting the chorus; performed as it is with contagious energy and zeal, the audience is powerless to resist getting up with the Big Bird. Cory Chisel gets down and to borrow his term, “wobble-wobbles” with his backing band on stage.
Chisel has released six albums, beginning in 2004, and has been busy on the road ever since, playing internationally at festivals and opening for illustrious artists like Norah Jones and Jackson Browne. Chisel’s latest project, covering obscure soul songs, can’t yet be found on iTunes or YouTube, so catching it live is a must. His voice is rich and soulful, and coupled with the enthusiasm of his backing band makes for a fantastically fun show.
Luckily his Midwestern tour lands him in Iowa City, and tickets are a steal at $10 in advance or $12 at the door. As Chisel put it at a recent performance in Des Moines, “It’s less of a set and more of an exorcism. Sometimes there are things inside that have to come out!”
