DAVID MICHAEL MILLER
PRESENTS
POISONS SIPPED
TWELVE TREATMENTS TO SOOTHE THE SOUL
HAND ME DOWNS–EDGE OF THE END OF THE WORLD–MEMPHIS BELLE–HOPE FINDS A WAY–MOONSHINE–SPENT–CAROLINA BOUND–DIGGIN ON BILL–ONCE– MOVING ON EXTRAORDINARY
The blues is a music that was born of strife, none perhaps greater than man’s constant struggle with good and evil. That pull on a man’s soul is the underlying theme throughout the latest release from David Michael Miller, “Poisons Sipped.” It is a dazzling collection of twelve originals that are indeed treatments to soothe the soul.
David Michael Miller represented hiis home base of Western New York in the 2013 IBC’s in Memphis, and has opened for luminaries such as Bobby Bland and Joe Bonamassa. On this set, he is teamed with Chuck and Darrick Campbell on the sacred steel, the rhythm section of Carlton Campbell and Daric Bennett, Jim Ehinger on keys and Jay Moynihan on sax.
You can’t put a finger on Miller’s voice—he’s got that rugged, powerful style that just screams “soul,” and his guitar playing is along the same vein. His gospel background jumps out at you on the opening cut, the story of “standing down another’s gun” in “Hand Me Downs,” with Darick’s lap steel bearing down like a runaway train. “Moonshine” finds David rekindling a young love affair, and the couple’s subsequent struggles and redemption. This one is set over a sweet, vintage soul vibe, with Jay’s sax and Stephen Jacob McLean’s trumpet setting a cool tone. “Hope Finds A Way in a life worth living” is another song of redemption, with a strong Delta blues influence throughout, as is “Careless,” with accordion from Ron Davis. The set closes with the poignant story of a man who’s got his share of flaws, and who often has “one foot in the shadows, one in the light,” but, to the woman who loves him, he is “Extraordinary.”
We had two favorites, too. As longtime fans of the great Bill Withers, it was refreshing to listen to David singing the snappy funk of “Diggin On Bill,” whenever you need “your spirit to chill.” And, another cut with a Delta underpinning is the somber love story of “Memphis Belle,” a lady of the evening who “soothes like Heaven but hurts like Hell.’ This one features pedal steel from Chuck Campbell.
With “Poisons Sipped,” David Michael Miller has us all coming to grips with our own personal demons throughout this high-energy set. With plans for a live gospel album later this year, we look forward to hearing more from this outstanding vocalist! Until next time…Sheryl and Don crow.
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