The Groove Doctors defied Running Horse fans by leaving Blues Brothers influences off the set BY GRAHAM JARVIS

It seems the band was struck by the Blues Brothers' phenomenon. The cult movie has the public thinking of soft, sad music and "men wearing pork pie hats, black suits and black ties," said drummer John Butters.

Butters believes that people often come to Blues' concerts expecting to see a Soul band. "You're talking about the excellent Soul players from the Stacks days, it's not a Blues band," he explained.

Scottish bass guitarist, Fergie Fulton continued: "Basically what you're talking about is a film parody that people have taken seriously and that's the trouble with it." Blues to Mr. Fulton is where anybody picks up any type of instrument and "sings from the heart."

For Fulton, Blues is not simply about picking up an acoustic guitar and feeling depressed. "It can be a kid singing about his mother's heroine addiction, he could be singing about his first girlfriend or kid," he argues. Fulton reckons there are a lot of people out there just playing 'somebody's interpretation' of the Blues.

The Groove Doctors first faced criticism when they first got together about two years ago. Their audiences complained that they played "the same old stuff." When the song list was changed and comprised of unfamiliar tunes, the complaints never relented.

The problem: nobody had heard of the new songs! They couldn't win, so the band now plays what it enjoys performing. They hope the audience will fall in line and enjoy the music.

The reaction has been mixed so far. "It's amazing how the response changes as you go from gig to gig. Some sit down and unenthusiastically clap, while others might dance vivaciously," Fulton added.

In spite of the barrage of criticism the band's first album, "Crazy Mixed Up World" was voted best CD of the year in 1999 by Stephen Foster of BBC Radio.

No one can deny that the Groove Doctors play with vigour and from the heart. Lead singer and harmonica player Luke Arnold and Fergie Fulton in particular have a great sense of humour, adding to the band's enormous stage presence.

At the Running Horse the Groove Doctors played some of their own tracks from the CD. Muddy Waters and Little Walter tracks were also part of their repertoire.

The Doctors plan to buck public opinion and play more of their own numbers. They are currently producing a new album of original material which should be released by the end of the year.

I defy the band's critics. Go and see the Groove Doctors, but get your heart checked first.