The crowd applauds as The Empty Pockets take the Vogel stage in Red Bank, NJ, this summery August 9, 2023 evening. The Chicago-based Americana, folk, rock, and roots/soul group features musicians Josh Solomon on guitar/vocals, Erika Brett on vocals/keyboards, Nate Bellon on bass/vocals, and Adam Balasco on drums.
The Empty Pockets are currently on tour as the back-up band for Scottish singer/songwriter Al Stewart, best known for such hits as 1976’s “Year of the Cat” and 1978’s “Time Passages.” The group has also backed up Richie Furay of Buffalo Springfield and Poco at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has appeared on PBS’s Soundstage with Kenny Loggins.
The band was founded by Josh Solomon who grew up in Lincolnville, Illinois. As a youngster, Josh studied trumpet before learning piano, electric bass, and guitar.
Growing up, Josh played in a band with his friend, bassist Nate Bellon.
In 2006, Solomon was cast as Buddy Holly in a production of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at Chicago’s Mercury Theatre. Following Solomon, Bellon auditioned and was cast in the role of a Cricket.
Soon after, the duo befriended Erika Brett, a singer and dancer in the show.
In 2008, Solomon and his band, Josh and The Empty Pockets, released their first album of original material entitled Under the Bed. Two of the album’s tracks featured Brett as guest vocalist, but all ten were used on Nickelodeon TV programs including iCarly, Zoey 101, and Drake and Josh.
Shortening their name to The Empty Pockets, Solomon and Co. released a series of albums with Brett as a full-fledged band member. In 2017, drummer Adam Belasco was added to the line up.
In 2022, The Empty Pockets released their recording, Outside Spectrum, which topped Billboard’s Blues Album Chart leap-frogging past such well-established artists as Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples, and Eric Clapton.
The Pockets’ latest effort is 2023’s Gotta Find the Moon which was recorded at London’s Abbey Road Studios. Recalls Solomon about the experience, “In general, traveling the world to play music is amazing, but Abbey Road was the best day ever!” Vocalist Brett agrees, adding, “We just love to play and make music. We need each other and, hopefully, a room full of people to connect with.”
And “a room full of people” is precisely what The Empty Pockets get when they take the Vogel stage in front of tonight’s sold-out crowd.
Opening with the title track from Gotta Find the Moon, Solomon and Brett harmonize on this country-rocker before Solomon solos on guitar accompanied by Belasco’s tight drumming.
After Brett’s clear vocals are featured on “A Bird Does Not Sing,” Solomon explains that the group’s next number, also from Gotta Find the Moon, was inspired by Al Stewart, who encouraged the group to write about historical situations.
Here, they perform the upbeat rockabilly tune, “Typhoid Mary,” on which Brett and Solomon harmonize, “She grew up across the river/A whole world of money away/Got a job in the city cooking dinner for the rich folks/Now she’s got a reason to stay,” before downshifting into the slower “Mary can we ask you some questions?/Mary, where have you been?” refrain.
The Pockets invite saxophonist Elliot Scozzaro to join them on stage.
Here, they perform “Mrs. Sacramento,” a jazzy instrumental number where Scozzaro and Solomon play off each other on alto and guitar.
In honor of the late musician, Robbie Robertson of The Band, the group performs the bluesy “Ophelia” on an arrangement which features Brett’s soulful lead vocal.
After talking to the audience about recording at Abbey Road Studios, Solomon and Brett harmonize singing, “I’ll be all right/With you/Maybe tonight/Will do” on Gotta Find the Moon’s “Make it Through.”
The Empty Pockets wrap up their set with the title track from Outside Spectrum where Brett cries, “Things are starting to change/The outside spectrum will find a new range” before Solomon electrifies with a bluesy guitar solo.
As Bellon plays his bass both overhand and underhand, Brett fills in with harmonies on the keyboard, and Balasco rocks steady on the drums.
The crowd cheers as The Empty Pockets take a break to meet and greet with concertgoers before returning for a set of songs backing Al Stewart.
To learn more about The Empty Pockets — including information about their latest release, Gotta Find the Moon — please go to theemptypockets.com. For information on upcoming shows at The Vogel — including The Weight Band on September 8 and Maria Muldaur on September 16 — please click on thebasie.org.
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