Los Chicos Guapos sets the tone for a chill Sunday at Folly’s funky outdoor venue
by Miranda Steadman | Contributing Writer
Los Chicos Guapos is a tight local trio that has been grooving the Sunday crowds at Chico Feo over the last two years. For guitarist James Rubush, playing music at the funky outdoor venue is the perfect way to spend a Sunday. “The feeling in the air, the breeze, the vegetation … the sea, all creates the bubble around Chico Feo that’s hard to beat,” says Rubush, who also plays guitar for the local bands Little Birds and The Psycodelics. “There’s not much more I’d rather be doing on a Sunday.”
Along with Rubush, Los Chicos Guapos are made up of fellow Little Bird member Ben Mossmon who plays bass and Cree Moore from Folly-based band Ashes of Old Ways on drums/percussion.
“We get to show up and do our thing- Chico Feo is so laid back … they leave it up to us and I never take that for granted,” says Rubush.
Almost a decade ago, Rubush moved to Charleston to study jazz guitar at The College of Charleston. He has played gigs at Boone’s Bar and also enjoyed jamming at the Blues Jam at the original Home Team BBQ in West Ashley. But Chico Feo is where he is feeling the love these days. “It’s a connection that we get to share with our listeners while they sit in the sun and drink Samurai Slings,” says Rubush. “People have enjoyed our music enough to come back every Sunday.”
Rubush and Mossman first met through musician Oliver Goldstein, who was traveling through Italy at the time and unable to play bass with Rubush and Cree, so he introduced them to Ben Mossman. Now stateside, Oliver sits in to jam with Los Chicos Guapos sometimes at Chico Feo. Another guest artist who often joins the band on stage is soulful singer and guitarist Jeff Caldwell.
“It all fits the vibe,” says Rubush. It’s not uncommon for Los Chico Guapos to invite guests to sit in with them onstage, including their friends Johnny Holliday on harmonica and Mo Lowda & The Humble, from Philadelphia. Lightning Luke is another friend of the band who has played fiddle at past Los Chicos Guapos gigs at Chico Feo.
According to Rubush, Derek Trucks has inspired his guitar recently. “I try to cast a wide net to avoid taking too much from one person,” he says. Another influence of Rubush’ style of guitar playing includes the late Lowell George of the band Little Feat, whose slide guitar play-ing style Rubush has emulated since High School.
Rubush performed at Sweetwater 420 Festival in Atlanta last month with Charleston band The Psycodelics, featuring the fiery vocals of Doom Flamingo’s Kanika Moore. The Psycodelics are scheduled to play at the newly renovated and reopened Music Farm on Saturday, May 7. Rubush will rock the Farm again alongside Guapos’ bassman Mossman with their band Little Bird on Friday, May 20. On Saturday, May 21, the revival of D’Allesandro’s Block Par-ty will return after a four year hiatus. Local musician Marshall Hudson from the Charleston rock bands Susto and Whiskey Diablo has scheduled The Psycodelics and Crab Claw to rock the block.
Different from the Los Chicos Guapos, Rubush describes the Psycodelics sound as Psychedelic indie rock with an R&B influence. He refers to his fellow Psycodelic band members as “Young maestros of straight Funk.” “They’re all stupid talented. It’s a pleasure to play with a group of people who are that talented,” says Rubush.
