Add to favorites Examiner Bio

The Crisler Brothers are true Alabama Blues Brothers

Alabama Blues Brothers and Band  Photo Courtesy of Justin "Elwood" Crisler

Back in the early days for Saturday Night Live, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd became famous for their act, The Blues Brothers.  This mushroomed into movies and recordings and has become a popular act to play tribute to.  No one does this better than a pair of actual brothers as the Alabama Blues Brothers.
Justin (Ellwood) and Jamey (Jake) Crisler are known as the best in the business.  It all started, like a lot of tribute artists do, with the two attending a Halloween party dressed in the dark suits, pencil thin ties and dark glasses.  Add in a little cutting up in Belushi and Aykroyd style, their friends went wild and the fever struck. Jamey quickly went out and found a 1976 Dodge Coronet, with a little paint, made it into a replica of the movie's "Blues Mobile". Justin, was still a little skeptical of the whole idea, but got dressed one night and went along with Jamey in the car up to the Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville "Just for kicks".  Well when they walked in, the manager threw "Soul Man" on the sound system, announced the Blues Brothers are in the house, the crowd again went totally crazy, and Jamey and Justin ended up on top of the tables dancing in true Blues Brothers style. That was in 1998.

Today The Alabama Blues Brothers are known as the most authentic Blues Brothers tribute around. Even receiving a thumbs up from Dan Aykroyd himself saying that " John (Bellushi) would have love you guys.  He would be happy knowing you are doing such a great job at keeping his memory alive"

In a phone interview with Justin, who doubles as the manager and a full-time Booking agent for them and other bands, I found out although they have played for some top VIPs such a high ranking Military Personnel, Government official and CEOs of top companies, the most satisfying gigs is the benefits they do for children struck with disabilities or illnesses.  " When those children’s faces light up with a smile and they really get into our performing for them, it warms your heart in a way, even as a parent myself, can not put into words."

Both Jamey and Justin are perfectionists, constantly pushing to improve the act. They started with sound tracks, but now have a band that will rock the house, consisting of  Eric Rhodes on Guitar, Joe Curtis on Bass, Ryan Tillery on Drums, James Ganzberg (Rock n Roll Hall of Fame member) on Keys, Jim Beck on Sax, Chuck Barnhill or Averil Taylor on Trumpet.  Sometimes due to scheduling conflict, they have had others fill in, including Randall Key of Jeff Cook and AGB band fame.  Even have had Jeff Cook himself jump in for a few songs on occasion.
 Justin, who attended U of A in Tuscaloosa on a music scholarship for his expertise on the drums, had to learn how to play the Harmonica, Ellwood’s trademark.  Jamey, not a acrobatic person, had to learn how to turn a cartwheel.  Although Justin is now considered by many to be tops on his Hohner Special 20 , he says " Jamey really won the challenge of us learning these things.  He can spin cartwheels from one end of a stage to the other...just awesome to see!"

They are constantly adding to their act as well "There are only so many 'Blues Brothers' tunes" Justin said. " so we have added some that just fit into the whole theme, like Muddy Waters' "Mojo Workin'" which we both love doing. My personal Blues Brothers favorite is "Rubber Biscuit" and Jamey, of course, is "Soul Man" which he is really awesome on!"

I asked Justin what was the most difficult part of the act was to get down. "Wow...that has never been asked before! Well I guess to was being comfortable in being Justin and Jamey on stage as well as being Jake and Ellwood.  Being from Alabama with a southern drawl and doing the Blues Brothers which is Chicago based, caused a little concern for us.  But on one of our first gigs up north, Jamey asked the crowd in between songs 'Who is the most famous person from Alabama?'  After several guesses, Jamey said "Nope! ...it's Forrest Gump!" and broke into a skit in Forrest Gump voice. The crowd loved it and that was when we knew we could be 'Us' on stage as well"

Although they play at many private functions, you can catch them at a few public ones as well.  They have one Alabama public appearance scheduled, The Alabama Brothers/Toga Party!, at the Shoals Theater in Florence Alabama on July 25.

If you do happen to catch them live, do me a favor....ask Justin if he eats only dry toast, I forgot to find out.

 For more info: www.thealabamabluesbrothers.com , MySpace , YouTube