Rick “Cookin'” Sherry is the living, breathing, carnival barker fronting the trio. He’s got an uncanny ability to channel the blues roots of a 30’s juke joint wailer through his 21st century foghorn pipes, creating an outright eerie (and slightly unhinged) persona; the ghost of Skip James or Big Bill Broonzy come to life. He scrapes a washboard, pounds a marching drum with a foot pedal, and whoops on his harmonica like only a top-notch bad ass would–punctuating it all with a crash symbol. He’s now splitting his time with the Sanctified Grumblers.

Bassist Tom Ray learned how to play stand up from Willie Dixon. He’s played with the Bottle Rockets, Waco Brothers, the Pine Valley Cosmonauts and currently in Neko Case‘s band.  His hobbies are fishing (don’t ask him about it, he’ll tell you more than you ever wanted to know), motor sports, and maintaining his legendary utility belt–he’s like some sort of bass-playin’ super hero. Guitarist Joel Paterson is one of the best in Chi-town. He’s played with Kelly Hogan‘s jazz posse, The Wooden Leg, released his own pedal steel record (which we highly recommend) and can be found on stages all over town with anyone with the sense to let him play. We don’t think Joel has any hobbies.

Devil was the backing band for ground zero Delta bluesman David “Honeyboy” Edwards. They were also the backing force in the kiddie punk supergroup the Wee Hairy Beasties.

Devil In A Woodpile doesn’t have to turn it up to 11 to get their point across–one listen to their raunchy, acoustic mayhem and you’ll be convinced.

Show starts at 9pm.  $10 cover.  No reservations.