From Staff Reports

HENDERSONVILLE — Pleasure Chest, billed as “a high-energy blues, soul (and) rock and roll band hailing from Asheville,” entertained 50-75 patrons who listened or danced on a spacious outside patio during an early-evening New Year’s Eve concert/dance at Southern Appalachian Brewery at 822 Locust St.

The six-piece band featured Kip Veno on vocals, with Erich Hubner on guitar, Luke Dogg on drums, Willie T on bass and two unidentified saxophone and trombone players.

The band played hard and the crowd — many clad in New Year’s costumes — danced enthusiastically and clapped appreciatively after the songs. Tthe show included two 50-minute sets, divided by a 20-minute break.

Among the most memorable songs were “Warm California Sun,” a 1964 hit by the Rivieras that originally was performed by New Orleans rhythm-and-blues singer Joe Jones; and “Time Is on My Side,” which was a 1964 hit by the Rolling Stones, but also was covered the same year by soul singer Irma Thomas.

Later in the show, Veno addressed the crowd with a smile “Alright, dancers, get out here — this one’s for you!” as the band launched into the Stones’ 1978 hit “Miss You.” The dance floor — allowing for spacing for COVID-19 — soon was filled

Other songs included Ray Charles’ 1957 hit “(Night Time Is) The Right Time,” a blues song first performed by Roosevelt Sykes in 1937.

After a pause between songs, Veno asserted, “Yes. Let’s do it. It’s got ‘time’ in it. Everyone’s obsessed with ‘time ‘tonight.”

As the band launched into the Outsiders’ 1965 garage-rock hit “Time Won’t Let Me,” the dancers enthusiastically once again filled up the dance floor. A 70-ish couple nearby in matching rocking lawnchairs, smiled as they rocked in unison to the song.

After a few more songs, Veno noted with a look of satisfaction, “I think our first gig here was about 10 years ago.”

Pleasure Chest later played several songs in a row that filled up the dance floor, including Wilbert Harrison’s 1959 hit “Kansas City” (and covered famously in 1976 by blues singer Muddy Waters), and Bobby Darin’s 1959 hit “Dream Lover.” 

As it wished everyone present a “happy new year,” the group then finished with a flourish, with a super-revved rendition of Bad Company’s 1974 hit “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love.”