Lucky Peterson review 02-07-13….

THE LUCKY PETERSON BAND

FEATURING TAMARA PETERSON

LIVE AT THE 55 ARTS CLUB BERLIN

BLACKBIRD MUSIC  3DVD–DOUBLE CD

CD/DVD 1: I’M BACK AGAIN–SMOOTH SAILING–TROUBLE–BLUES MEDLEY–YOU SHOOK ME–KNOCKING–HOW DO I, WHY DO I–I DON’T LIKE YOU BUT I LOVE YOU–BEEN SO LONG–I WANNA KNOW WHAT GOOD LOVE IS–LOST THE RIGHT

CD/DVD 2:GIVING ME THE BLUES–TA TA YOU–IT AIN’T SAFE–I”M READY–WHO’S BEEN TALKIN’–I BELIEVE I’LL DUST MY BROOM–THE WORLD’S IN A TANGLE–KISS–LAST NIGHT YOU LEFT–AIN’T NOBODY LIKE YOU–REAL MUSIC

DVD 3: BOOGIE THANG–PRETTY WOMAN–LOVE OF MINE–BIG TIME–MOTHER-IN-LAW BLUES–I WANNA KNOW WHAT GOOD LOVE IS–MOVE ON YOU–WHO’S BEEN TALKIN–LOVE ME–TROUBLE

 

The son of bluesman James Peterson, Judge Kenneth “Lucky” Peterson was, by the age of three,  being mentored by Jimmy Smith and Willie Dixon.  By 17, he was playing in Little Milton’s band, and his solo career encompasses twelve albums.  The latest is a literal blues explosion, two live CD’s and three DVD’s, entitled “Live At The 55 Arts Club Berlin”, recorded as it happened at that historic German venue.

Joined by Shawn Kellerman on guitar, Tim Waites on bass, and Raul Valdes on drums, Lucky and his stunningly-beautiful wife Tamara scorch thru some three hours of blues, funk, and testifyin’ soul.  Lucky kicks off Disc 1 with a stone shot of B-3 driven funk, lettin’ everyone know “I’m Back Again.”  He shows off his gospel influences with a slow, touching read of Ray Lamontagne’s “Trouble,” with his acoustic piano leading the way as he preaches to us that the love of a good woman conquers all our fears.

What follows next was, for us anyways, the highlight of the whole package.  Grabbing up his white axe Lucky rocks, rolls, and cajoles for a thirteen-minute “Blues Medley,” that pulls out all the stops as he wails thru instrumental versions of “Hideaway,” “Voodoo Chile,” “Cold Shot,” and “Mary Had A Little Lamb.”  And, as if that wasn’t enough, he slows things down to a simmer for the slow-burn of “Little Red Rooster” and “You Shook Me” before Tamara takes the stage.  She and Lucky inspire each other to great heights on a tale of living n today’s hard times, “Knocking.”  She carries on the “love” torch with her original ode to Lucky, “How Do I, Why Do I.”  They duet again as Disc 1 closes with the driving shuffle of “Lost The Right,” as they do their best Otis and Carla impressions, with Lucky playing the scorned lover to the hilt.

Disc Two opens with the scorching, scratchin’ funk of Rico McFarland’s “Giving Me The Blues,” then breaking down to the slow blues of Johnny Guitar Watson’s sexually-charged  “I Want To Ta Ta You.”  Continuing to showcase his versatility, we “go back to the beginning” for Lucky’s read of “I’m Ready,” featuring a brilliant B-3 solo.  He continues in the old-school vein with the minor-key “Who’s Been Talking,” then suddenly leaves the B-3 and grabs his slide and guitar, and goes waaaay back for another absolutely smokin’ ten-minute jam on “Dust My Broom.”

Mrs. Peterson returns to close out the program, and she and Lucky do it up in a big way.  First up is a clever arrangement on Prince’s “Kiss,” with Lucky still burnin’ up the slide guitar (and they share an actual kiss!) on this one.  Tamara does a bit of testifyin’ on her advice to the lovelorn, a very funky “Last Night You Left.”  Everyone takes a solo on the set-closing, fifteen-minute vamp of “Real Music,” showing the crowd more of just how well-oiled this groove machine is.

The third DVD shows the incredible chops of Kellerman, Waites, and Valdes as a trio, as they rip thru a song closely associated with James Cotton, “Boogie Thang,” then seamlessly segue’ into “Pretty Woman,” “Love Of Mine,” and “Big Time.”  Kellerman is on fire as a vocalist and guitarist in his own right, and these guys could easily be a touring act on their own merits.

The “Behind The Scenes” portion takes a look at show rehearsals and how Lucky believes that he is doing his father proud to be a bluesman, feeling that it is what he was born to do.  Wife Tamara also indicates that she had never been familiar with blues until meeting Lucky.

Those Berliners were “Lucky” indeed to be in the presence of this outstanding  contemporary bluesman, who gave them a show that they’ll never forget.  Enjoy “Live At The 55 Arts Club Berlin ” from a man truly born into the blues, Lucky Peterson!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.

 

 

 

 

The Mike Eldred Trio review 02-02-2013…

THE MIKE ELDRED TRIO

61 AND 49

RIP CAT RECORDS  RIC 1113

DON’T GO DOWN THERE–JAKE’S BOOGIE–LOUISE–MR. NEWMAN–SHE’S A ROCKET–RUBY’S BLUES–FOR A GIRL–THIS OLD TRAIN–JIMMY JIMMY–MS GAYLE’S CHICKEN HOUSE–I AIN’T COMIN’ BACK–LOOKIE HERE–61 AND 49

 

Immensely talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter Mike Eldred was once a member of ex-Stray Cat Lee Rocker’s ensemble, so he knows a little bit about rockin’ rhythm and blues.  And, along with John Bazz on bass, Jerry Angel on drums, and a host of special guests, this trio has laid down “61 And 49,” an album originally released on another label in 2011, and now reissued by Scott Abeyta and the good folks over at Rip Cat Records.  It is thirteen original tracks that serve as a microcosm of the flourishing and varied metro Los Angeles blues scene.  There’s straight-ahead blues, West Coast jump, and even some roots-rock cuts that are reminiscent of the Byrds or Tom Petty.

 

Mike kicks off the set with the haunting a capella “Don’t Go Down There,” joined mid-song by the Emmanuel Church Gospel Choir.  Their message is clear–this song is about that mythical Crossroads, where, if you go, “there’s a man waitin’ to take your soul.”  Kid Ramos adds guitar to the swing of “Louise,” while Scotty Moore (yeah, THAT Scotty Moore!) jazzes up that familiar riff of Ms. Gayle’s Chicken House.”

 

On the roots-rockin’ side, “Mister Newman” and “For A Girl” are great examples of how Mike uses the blues as the base for songs that are not pure “three chords and a cloud of dust.”  And, Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos adds guitar to the harmony-heavy “This Old Train,” which could’ve easily been on any of The Traveling Wilburys sets.

 

We had three favorites, too.  Speaking of three chords, Ike Turner reprises his days at Sun Records with Jackie Brenston as he bangs away on the 88’s on the absolutely-smokin’ Fifties-inspired “Jimmy Jimmy” and “She’s A Rocket.”  And, the set closes as it began, with another brooding, slide-drenched Delta blues, the hellhound-on-my-trail tribute to Robert Johnson that serves as the album’s title cut.

 

Mike Eldred has shown his vast versatility on these thirteen cuts.  He can swing low into the Delta, then cut back north to Memphis, and westward into the roadhouse boogie of Stevie Ray.  Then, he tops it all off with roots-rock that would fit on any Americana playlist.  “61 And 49” is an excellent, diverse set, indeed!   Until next time….Sheryl and Don crow.

George Kilby Jr review…02-02-13…

GEORGE KILBY JR

SIX PACK

TOP FROG MUSIC  GKJ 6 PACK

WHEN THE PEOPLE SANG–I LOVE YOU IN BROOKLYN–SOMETHING I CAN’T FIND–SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE–CRO-MAGNON MAN–YOU NEVER SEE THE HAND THROW THE STONE

Alabama-born George Kilby, Jr. has been playing what he refers to as “rough-cut American music” for some thirty years, mainly in a burgeoning scene in New York City that encompasses and encourages everything from roots to rock to Delta blues.  And, with the help of a few special guests, George utilizes that eclectic background to release his six-song EP, aptly-titled “Six Pack,” in which listeners will find songs that are borne of all his influences.  His long-time band, The Road Dogs, also add the sonic depth to this set, and include Neil Thomas on accordion and keys, Arturo Baguer on bass, and Eric Halvorson on drums.

The set starts with a cut that would’ve been right at home on a Dylan or Byrds album at the height of the Vietnam protest era, a tribute to a simpler time “When The People Sang and really gave a damn” in so doing.  It features Neil’s accordion and fiddle from Tim Carbone.  That muted accordion reappears in Neil’s original ode to a lover, “I Love You In Brooklyn,” and you’d almost swear you can smell the pizza from street corner vendors as George croons over the hushed backbeats.  The pace picks up considerably on “Something I Can’t Find,” with a double-barreled guitar attack reminiscent of vintage Allmans.  “Cro-Magnon Man” is a downright funny look at society’s fixation with social media as seen thru the eyes of prehistoric man, who “never checked his e-mails” and “never missed a meeting.”

Perhaps the two most powerful cuts are one original and one scintillating cover.  With the aid of Andy Goessling’s dobro and banjo work, Clapton’s “Sunshine Of Your Love” is turned into an acoustic, “blues-grass” affair that gives an entirely new spin on this psychedelic classic.

The set closes with a deep, almost spiritual-like Delta blues cut, featuring only George on guitar and vocals and Phil Wiggins on harp and backing vocals.  It is a poignant look at society, the economy, and religion entitled “You Never See The Hand Throw The Stone,” and is sure to evoke memories of Piedmont blues duo (the late John) Cephas and Wiggins.

It’s always a good sign when an artist’s set is deemed too short.  Such is the case with “Six Pack” from George Kilby, Jr.  His excellent choice of material and musicianship literally begs for more the next time around!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.