MIKE OSBORN
IN THE DOG HOUSE
MOB-CD-002
LOVE VS. EGO–COMPANY GRAVEYARD–LOVIN TIME–COLD MAN COLD–FIRE AND GASOLINE–TIED UP–CHEAP WOMEN–VETERANS SONG–SATAN AND ST. PAUL–JUMP IN YOUR FIRE–IN THE DOG HOUSE
Mike Osborn is a strong guitarist and vocalist from the San Francisco Bay area who combines a soulful delivery with deadly guitar lines along with a passion for doing what he does best—bringing great blues to the masses!
Over his career, he’s traveled a somewhat unusual path. After success at an early age, he laid his guitar down to concentrate on home and family concerns. Since he picked it up again, tho, he hasn’t missed a stroke. His latest CD is entitled “In The Dog House,” and there are eleven outstanding originals written by Mike, John Fulbright, Dennis Walker, and the set’s Grammy-winning producer, Alan Mirikitani.
Mike kicks things off with a strong rocker which finds him faced with the dilemma of “Love VS. Ego,” and, in this case, “love wins!””Company Graveyard” has a poignant message set over that “endless boogie” groove. Mike breaks out the wah-wah to work out on the classic “my baby left me” song, “that’s Cold Man Cold.” The somber message of “Veterans Song” reminds us that “those who live to tell know the deepest scars are within.” The set closes with the title cut, a raucous, rattlesnake-hide of an instrumental that rocks with sheer abandon.
We had two favorites, too. Three things you can alwas count on seeing at most “every little smoky bar” is “Cheap Women, cheap whiskey, and cheap guitars!” This one has some killer barrelhouse piano from Teddy Andreadis. And, Mike exercises his slow-blues chops on a “true love” song—“you got me Tied Down, tied up, and twisted with my heart wrapped up in chains!” This one scorches from start to finish!
The blues world and all us fans are all better off since Mike Osborn has returned to the contemporary scene. And, a set as strong as “In The Dog House” will bring him some well-deservedrecognition! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.
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