Rob Nicholas

Spring had seemed right around the corner, and Rob Nicholas with his band put even more spring in my step. (That's saying quite a bit for a Midwesterner plagued with a bad case of cabin fever, on the first day over 50 degrees in months.)

The show started a little late, but it was hard to notice with the blues of "Diamond Jim Greene" holding down the stage. Once the show started, it was hard to sit still. At times Rob reminded me of Mike Doughty with a touch of Rob Thomas and at other times Jason Mraz and even some elements of String Cheese Incident at times.

With a very tight drummer, great bouncy bass lines and killer keyboard jams, the crowd moved and swayed to Rob Nicholas and his band. The show was simply too short for all the great energy these guys cranked out.

It was a fairly consise show and I think Rob showcased a little bit of everything from ballads to some fantastic improv jams. I would loved to see these guys again, although I don't know that the House of Blues Back Porch is a proper fit for some of the "unleashed" jam factor these guys displayed. I think they've got great stage presence, talant and songs that make you fight to sit still. With all of these factors and given the fantastic weather of the day, I couldn't help but wish the show was at a street fest or some type of outdoor festival. Although it was more like an intimate evening with Rob Nicholas on the back porch stage, they got the whole crowd involved and shouting for more.

It's been said you should always leave em' wanting more and Rob Nicholas and his band pulled it off handily.
- Chicago Music Guide- Matt Ginger

It doesn't take long to realize that Chicago's Rob Nicholas is classically trained - just a few bars into his new self-titled EP and you'll be amazed with the professional level and depth of his talent. Classically trained artists easily impress us with their fretboard gymnastics, but often come up short in the melody department. Not so with Rob Nicholas. The five tunes on his EP are not only technically brilliant, but are also extremely accessible. I can't recall that last time I've heard someone get away with such a mix of sophisticated pop, rock, blues, and jazz so successfully.

Rob Nicholas is bringing solo guitar back! There is some incredibly tasty lead work throughout this EP, and it stood out as one of the strong suits for me. But Rob Nicholas delivers in other areas as well - his vocals are great, at times sounding like Eric Johnson or Gavin DeGraw, but also reminding me of James Taylor during his quieter moments. Lyrically he is no slouch either, providing us with something more cerebral and compelling than the usual rubbish. The songs expertly blend acoustic and electric guitars, enhanced with some organ and progressive percussion. My favorite tracks are "Dare We Go" and "Searching", probably the two most radio-friendly in the batch, but honestly every track is excellent. What I like most is that Rob Nicholas has found that magic balance that allows his expertise on the instruments to shine while not letting a memorable melody play second fiddle.

If you enjoy Sting, John Mayer, or Dave Matthews, you need to check out Rob Nicholas. This guy is incredible!

iPOD-worthy:Songs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

- Bill's Music Forum

Rob Nicholas begun the evening's lineup of entertainment for this benefit with a lively acoustic performance. After having good friend, Mike Haracz (of The Branded) open with him on the first song, this reviewer was amazed by the talented singer/songwriter. She enjoyed the dynamic vocal power of his subtle voice behind the heartfelt lyrics heard within his songs. SouthSide highly recommends adding his self-titled CD to your collection and take notice of tracks two (Searching) and five (Lost Yourself). Also catch him performing again at Schubas in September. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/robnicholasmusic. - SouthSide