MELLOW FELLOWS ARE ANYTHING BUTPublication: Richmond Times-DispatchByline: Joe SokohlDate: 05-04-1987Edition: CitySection: Art & TravelMemo: (lgw) Music ReviewWhat if James Brown, the self-proclaimed "Godfather of Soul," had stayedin rhythm and blues? Or if Junior Parker or Little Johnnie Taylor were stillalive? If so, then they would try to imitate Big Twist and the MellowFellows.Founded in the early 1970s in southern Illinois by Larry "Big Twist"Nolan, guitarist Pete Special and sax player Terry Ogolini, the bandcombined Big Twist's singing experience from the 1950s with the tight soundof urbansoul.Several years later the band migrated to Chicago. The influence of thatcity's legendary blues artists such as Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters gavethe band the blue-tinged edge sometimes missing from funk and soul artists.After three albums on independent labels Flying Fish and AlligatorRecords,the band is currently touring to highlight its upcoming release,"Bigger Than Life." Saturday's appearance at the Flood Zone before asmall but hyped crowd indicated how powerful the new album, a liverecording, must be.Opening with the funk instrumental "New York Mary," the Mellow Fellowsshowcased their intensely tight arrangements. Then Special belted out"Chicken Heads," closely followed by keyboardist Sid Wingfield's wailingversion of "(If You Leave Me) I'll Go Crazy."As soon as the band began "The Sweet Sound of R&B," Big Twist himselfsauntered onto stage and began singing some of the best rhythm and bluesthis side of Memphis.Big Twist's size gives him his name, as does his growling yet rich voice. Hebelted out Willie Dixon's "300 Pounds of Joy" and "Love the Life." Heeffused soul in "I'll Be Coming Home," "Turn Back the Hands of Time" and"Let the Good Times Roll."He also proved he can handle the blues in "Same Old Blues" and RobertJohnson's classic "Sweet Home Chicago" . . . all the while giving each songhis unique signature.Robert Cray may have the best-selling blues album since Bobby Bland's 1963vinyl, but Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows show that where there's soul,they're "gonna pitch a wang dang doodle all night long." As Big Twistshouted, "Are we gonna party or what?" We did.Keywords: MUSIC REVIEW BAND