I asked him to please sign a poster that was right behind him hanging on the wall and he said “I’m not going anywhere, I’ll be here all night
long, we’ll take care of all that later”.  That was the start of our evening, he then proceeded to head for something to eat, because the sound check had just been completed. We tried but weren’t allowed to enter to watch all the preparations for the sound check, but Popa did put us on his guest list as promised, and we were very greateful to him for that. We finally got to go in when Peter told us to follow him, other than us the staff were the only ones in there for over a half hour, we had total access to the whole room. 

The room started filling up and  we figure about 350 people attended the show. One of Popa’s fans that we met had been to see him three times before, this would be his fourth and he brought his friend along with him, we invited both of them to join us at our front row table. About ten minutes before it begins the speakers start blasting Popa’s music, and then -- bang-- he and the band are on stage, and he’s off and running.    Popa has his dark sun glasses on and he kicks the stage monitor because it’s too close to him and he needs more room to move. The first song last about fifteen minutes, he then throws his sunglasses backwards in the direction of the drummer in a pissed off action, is he really pissed off or just trying to get his creative juices flowing? Our guess is both. He then starts to complain about the sound, the sound just isn’t what he wants for a Rock and Roll band, right now Popa is just getting warmed up to start on a bombastic titrate, he is really pissed off, and its no joke.  He continues by saying “If you don’t get the sound right you had better give all these people back their money” with that comment everybody for miles around knows that Popa has just hit town, and the shit is going to hit the fan, the people in charge of the sound start to   scramble trying to correct the problem, because this was his second warning, and anyone who knows Popa’s reputation knows for a fact there won’t be a third, there is going to be Hell to Pay!!!   The sound suddenly got better, Popa calmed down and started talking about Breast / Tits,   Fake Breast, Large Breast, Silicone Breast and Real Breast, big ones, little ones, firm ones and then he said "do you want to see my breast?", everyone burst out laughing. Now the gig was in a festive groove, Popa had everyone eating out of his hand, and we were lapping it up, and he was just getting up to speed. Now that we were all relaxed and happy Popa turns the table on us again, and he starts  taking things very  seriously. The word that applies to him, and the band is intense, the drummer, the bass player, and the keyboard player never take their eyes off of him.   Popa doesn’t miss a thing, and we mean nothing, his eyes are like laserbeams, he sees and know’s everyone in the room, he looks upstairs, (he sees there are four elderly people 65-75 years old) downstairs, (he looks at us because we are right in front) and behind him (he has eyes in the back of his head like a New York State school teacher). He hears everything too, if a coin just happens to fall out of someone’s pocket by accident he can tell you who’s pocket it came from, who picked it up and the value of the coin, and if it was returned to its proper owner -- all at the same time, and he never missed a beat. You can only learn to be this observant and consciously aware if you have lived on the streets of New York, spent too much time in the streets as a kid, or have been down and out flat broke, busted and berserk!!!

As for his guitar -  it is beaten, battered, used, and abused .   The one he used on this night looked beat-up like a cross between Roy Buchanan’s, Stevie Ray Vaughn’s , and Rory Gallagher’s  -  all rolled into one.  What comes out of his guitar is not just straight ahead Rock and Roll,  it is a collection  of sounds, rhythms and beats that take form in your sub-conscience mind long before  your conscious mind has a chance to identify something that is familiar to it. His work is right up there on the same creative level with Charlie Parker.     Brigitte is more progressive in her musical taste than I am, so for her it came simple and easy because she just accepted it without question, but for me it took a little longer.  In Popa’s case he takes you on his wild ride, he hits all your emotional buttons, scares the Hell out of you (by his intimidating presence, and his direct attitude), he turns you round and round, makes you dizzy and numb, then he sets you down, pats you on the head and then he’s gone down the road.     Popa is everyone you have ever met and everything that you have known in your life. One Big Loveable,  Ass-Kicking,   Rip your heart out - Teddy Bear of a man.  He takes no prisoners, he  gives no quarter, yet helps the little old lady across the street with their package, on any street in New York City, like a good Boy Scout would, (when no one is looking of course, and he will tell that’s a lie that he’s not that nice.). In short,  Popa Chubby is an extremely intelligent, walking-talking Enigma!!! In his own words “I say what I say and I do what I do”,  that is the truth, some people just need an attitude adjustment and he is just the person to give it.     (Dave)  My personal impression  is that this man could persuade me to hand him $100.00 out of my own pocket for a set of four tires just because he said  it was a good deal, and I would be happy about it, and after he was gone I would realize that I don’t even own a Damn Car.   Popa Chubby is a musical genius,  he has nothing to hide, he wears his heart on his sleeve. His music comes from pain, frustration, and a thousand musical influences, what you see is what you get. 

We present to you a list of some of the people who have influnced him over the years, this will give you some insight on his music: His Father loved Jazz, his Mother liked Disco music, and visiting  club 54 in NYC, he got to see Chuck Berry in person when he was young, and here are some of his other substantial influences: Jeff Beck, Mick Taylor,  Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Freddy King, Albert King, BB King, Carlos Santana, Dick Dale, Link Ray, Wes Montgomery, (William) Willie Dixon, Joe Cocker, James Brown, Robert Johnson, Sly Stone, The Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, ect.ect.     Soul, Jazz, Funk, Blues, Rock and Roll, Space, Rap, and all performed with the high energy of Punk.   As for bands Popa  thinks Ten Years After is a great band, and you can hear some traces of Aerosmith and a thousand others all combined in his vast alchemy.   The highlight of the evening was when he took his guitar and  shoved it through the front of the Sonor bass drum with  overt reckless abandon (it’s no wonder he says “One Million Broken Guitars”)  then proceeded to place himself on the drum stool and that’s when the fun started. Note: (Popa started his musical career on Drums, so he was no amateur in this area, the man is an expert)  This was the best part because he could just relax and have some great fun, and we were all right there with him. He and the drummer who was now standing up had the most exciting two-person-drum-solo we have ever seen, they followed each other and beat the Shit out of that drumset. It is no wonder they use Sonor! (no joke, Sonor is the best made drum kit on the world market today). The encores were over and  it all came to a happy and beautiful end.       We said good-bye to our table mates and headed for the band members, the stage, and Popa himself.  I was lucky enough to find two guitar picks, and a broken drumstick on the stage, it was all that remained.

      Popa was sitting behind a table making himself available for autographs and some conversation. We had him sign about fifteen autographs and had the chance to talk a little bit to the big man himself. I started by taking his towel and saying “oh let me wipe that sweat off your head for you”  this lasted for about ten seconds, and Popa said “will ya get out-ta here with that thing” with a big smile on his face.We kept coming back for more request of him and for the band and they kept being generous and willing to appease us in every way. 

Brigitte and I can’t say enough good things about Popa and his band, this also goes for the staff at the Alando,and the owners / partners who took care of our every want and need during our visit there. Thank You to  everyone from Brigitte and Dave.          

Popa Chubby is the Real Deal  --- The Real Thing.    Popa is Popa and he’s here to stay.