Average White Band keeps the groove going

The band will return to
perform in Northeast Ohio on Saturday.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

Just like books and their covers, you can’t judge a band by its geographic location.

So even though on the surface the notion of a funk band coming from the U.K. may seem odd, it made all the sense in the world to Average White Band original member Onnie McIntyre.

“I just think that people want to enjoy themselves, and there’s a common thread,” said the Average White Band’s singer-guitarist, calling from New York City. “Scottish music is very down to earth. So when we discovered R&B, mainly from America and brought in by American sailors, there was something strangely familiar about it.

“It seemed to spark something. Scottish people were very much into soul music, whereas in southeast England, like [Eric] Clapton was into Muddy Waters and the [Rolling] Stones were into Chicago blues. At the same time, the Scots were more into R&B.”

Formed in 1971, the Average White Band, which was influenced by the likes of Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Donny Hathaway and more, enjoyed a number of soul and disco hits between 1974 and 1980. The list includes “Cut The Cake,” “Let’s Go Round Again,” “Pick Up the Pieces,” “Cloudy,” “A Love Of Your Own” and “Nothing You Can Do.”

Today, the New York City-based act is regarded as one of the more potent soul and funk bands of its era. Even though the outfit has become part of the nostalgia appeal for the ’70s, McIntyre says the product remains top-notch.

Staying true

“The lineup changed over the years, but it’s all R&B players,” McIntyre said. “So you choose people with what to do, and we try to stay true to the original idea of what the band was about, which is to be an R&B band playing good songs with good arrangements and a killer groove.

“We try to do that, but from what the audiences see and hear, we get very good reports back. That’s important, if you’re doing a show, you have to get something back from the audience. If you’re not getting anything back, then you’re not doing your job. We’re all in this together.”

You better believe it’ll be a group effort when the Average White Band returns to Northeast Ohio for a Saturday show at the Lake Tavern amphitheater in Mecca. In fact, McIntyre fondly remembers favorable shows in the area.

Memories

“I don’t remember the last time we toured through Youngstown, but we were there many times in the ’70s,” McIntyre said. “It’s always a great audience. There’s something about steel towns. Being Scottish, we always found the best shows were in industrial-type towns.

“And Ohio in general has always been a good audience for us.”

Considering the blue-collar aspect of Northeast Ohio, perhaps the Average White Band provides a sense of escapism?

“I think that’s what it is,” McIntyre said. “I think people tend to be more down to earth rather than your white-collar-type crowd. We found out in Glasgow, where we grew up, the crowds would always work hard all week and then on the weekends they wanted to go to shows and dress up.

“It was just like a complete opposite of what their working week was, and they’d really look forward to that and cherish it. I think it’s a good working-class tradition.”