The University Of Miami's weekly free lunchtime "Patio Jams" concert series bills itself as "one of the coolest things UM does" on its facebook page . By bringing back South Dade's world famous sacred steel band The Lee Boys for a second performance, they are living up to their own hype.
For those unfamiliar with "Sacred Steel" - it's a lap-steel guitar led, gospel sub-genre that burst out of the House Of God church in the 1930s. Robert Randolph and the Family Band popularized it a decade ago, and the Lee Boys have perfected the form, crossing over into secular blues and funk - but never losing the gospel thump that propels sacred steel to crossover heights unexplored since Ray Charles scaled them in the 1950s.
Here's a clip of The Lee Boys doing their thing at the Bonnaroo Festival in 2008. It's a pretty convincing argument as to why you should hit the rathskeller for a greasy cheeseburger, and then soak up the Lee Boys Gratis on the patio with the 200 or so birkenstock-wearing coeds fresh from their wake & bake.
Posted By Tom Bowker
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