BLUE LUNCH
ABOVE THE FOLD
RIP CAT RECORDS RIC 1117
AIN’T TRYING TO KILL NOBODY–ONE FINE DAY–EVERYBODY’S ON THE PHONE–THE LONG GAME–WOMAN I BLEED–NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT–SEVEN TIMES–WHERE DO YOU THINK IT’S GOING–LAKE ERIE HIGHBALL–VENITA–LOVE ME NO MORE– –ALL I NEEDED–TOSSIN AND TURNIN AND BURNIN ALL UP INSIDE–KATT’N AROUND WITH MOE–GOOD NEWS
The premise behind Rip Cat Records has always been to let the musicians create great music without any outside interference. And, nowhere is this more evident than wih the Cleveland-based outfit, Blue Lunch. Led by guitarist Bob Frank and harp man Pete London, who both handle vocals, they head up a sweet eight-piece band who can play anything in any style imaginable. Their latest, “Above The Fold,” is a multi-genre romp thru cuts that cover blues, jazz, New-Orleans-styled R & B, and, even gospel.
The party starts with the jump-blues swing of “Ain’t Trying To Kill Nobody,’ then segues’ into the breezy soul of tenor sax man chris Burge’s original instrumental, “One Fine Day.” “Seven Times you walked out on me” is a good example how the fellows can bring it on the classic soul sound, while the brush-stroked drums and barroom piano gives the slow-blues of “Venita” that “last call at 3 AM” feel.
There are two great gospel cuts, too. Evelyn Wright adds vocals on the “John The Revelator”-influenced “Where o You Think It’s Going?” And, the set closes on a brilliant note–the fellows sing the gospel favorite, “Good News, the chariot’s coming,” completely a cappella, further showcasing their versatility.
We had two favorites, too. Pete channels his inner Rice Miller with the swagger of “The Long Game,” while the predilection in today’s society to depend upon cell phones for just about everything is rather humorously detailed thru the rockin’ swing of “Everybody’s On The Phone.”
Blue Lunch has done it again—in their own words, they have made “Above The Fold,” an album “no one else could make!” If you want a cool shot of something just a little bit different, then give this one a spin! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.
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