Pisgah Brewing Company is preparing for a fiery night of gospel blues and sacred steel as they welcome the national sensations The Lee Boys, with special guests The Shane Pruitt Band, on Thursday, December 5. The event will be held in Pisgah Brewing’s newly renovated taproom and indoor stage, which has gone under frequent changes and updates throughout 2013.
The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals) along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church they attended in Perrine, FL. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was the pastor and a steel player himself.
“Sacred steel” is a type of music described as an inspired, unique form of gospel music with a hard-driving, blues-based beat. The musical genre is rooted in gospel, but infused with rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, country and ideas from other nations. Influenced by the Hawaiian steel guitar fad of the 1930′s, brothers Willie and Troman Eason brought the electric lap steel guitar into the worship services of the House of God church in Jacksonville, FL. The Pentecostal congregation embraced the soulful sound, and over time this unique sound became the hallmark of the church. The pedal steel guitar was added to the mix and soon became the central instrument. The Lee Boys are part of the fourth generation of musicians in this faith.
The Shane Pruitt Band is no stranger to this billing, as they have worked closely with The Lee Boys on former tours as support dating back to an Asheville performance in 2009. The Lee Boys often speak about Shane Pruitt as if he is the “long lost brother” of the band, and always invite Pruitt to jam with them any time they get the chance. Pruitt is especially close with Roosevelt Collier, pedal steel player of the Lee Boys, who was featured on The Shane Pruitt Band’s latest studio release, State of Grace.
Tickets for this one-of-a-kind event are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, and can be found in the taproom at Pisgah Brewing Company or online at www.pisgahbrewing.com. Pisgah Brewing Company is located at 150 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain, N.C., and you can follow for frequent updates at www.facebook.com/pisgahbrewingcoor follow @pisgahbrewing on twitter.