I asked local musician Brian Hess why he likes Stevie Wonder.
‘Why not?’ Hess immediately responded. ‘That’s the perfect example of music that moves me, but is also harmonically complex and interesting. There’s something about him. He’s a pure soul. I’ve seen him live only once, but he sounded like he was 20 [years old] … He’s pure love, too. When you see him up there, he’s performing, he’s smiling the whole time — he’s got the biggest smile — and he loves what he’s doing. And that really comes out in his music. I feel like he’s pretty void of ego …It’s nice to see that part of a musician — to see that humanness and the humility.’
Brian Hess is taking over Moody’s Bistro on Halloween weekend with seven fellow musicians in Gloves vs. Glasses, a tribute to Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. The eight-piece tribute band — Hess (saxophone, vocals), Todd Holway (keys), Steve Saturno (drums), Marissa Campbell (vocals), Jesse Steele (trumpet), Kevin Drake (saxophone), Dan Hurley (guitar), and Steve Kershisnik (bass) — performs original arrangements written by Hess and Holway. Some of the songs are exact translations of the originals, with some added flare, while the musicians took a bit of liberty with other tunes. In ‘I Want You Back’ by the Jackson 5, Hess slowed the tempo down and put the classic pop song to a reggae beat.
‘It was really fun to arrange [Michael Jackson’s] music into this eight-piece band with horns because a lot of his music was done with synthesizers and drum machines,’ Hess said.
Gloves vs. Glasses first took the stage together in May 2010, but hasn’t performed since last Halloween. This year, Gloves vs. Glasses will be performing three evening shows at Moody’s, plus an all-ages matinee show on Sunday. The matinee is particularly important to the group since six of the eight members are also music teachers.
‘We want kids to be able to see us play,’ said Hess, who just opened a new cooperative space for music lessons in Truckee with fellow band members Holway and Hurley. ‘And there aren’t many spaces where kids can go see live music.’
Costumes are encouraged at all shows, and there will be a costume contest on Halloween night. Moody’s has two $50 gift cards as prizes for best costume and best Michael Jackson moonwalk. For the kid-friendly show on Sunday, Oct. 30, Moody’s is offering an $8 kids pancake breakfast ‘Moody’s style.’ Reservations booked early last year, so call well in advance to reserve a table.
