MOONDOG MEDICINE SHOW
LET IT GO
HOT STUFF–SHE WEARS TROUBLE (LIKE A CROWN)–LET IT GO–DESIRE–HOW I LOVE YA–SEVEN DAY FOOL–TIRER LE BLUES–MAMA–IT’S ALL GOOD–THE DAY AFTER YESTERDAY
The Moondog Medicine Show members hail from Western Maryland, but their musical souls run from Chicago to Memphis and on down deep into the Delta. All these influences are prevalent on “Let It Go,” ten cuts that showcase the big voice of Lana Spence and the excellent musicianship of Joel Newman on guitar, Keith Sylvester on bass, and Daniel Tait on drums, with guests Jeremy Leber on keys, Tom Crawford on sax, and Eddie Galvin on harp.
This one jumps right out at you from track one, as Lana lends that powerhouse vocal to the Memphis Minnie shouter, the slyly-sexy “Hot Stuff,” with Tom Crawford’s sax on fire throughout. The title cut is a stomper straight outta North Mississippi with Joel’s slide blazing the trail “How I Love Ya” is a gospel-inflected story of love and redemption, while Lana’s tribute to mothers everywhere reminds us that “what some men can do is truly amazing, but nobody is as strong as my Mama!” “It’s All Good” is a clever look at what draws us to our lovers, because Lana knows exactly “who’s pitchin’ and who’s catchin!” Joel rides his acoustic slide all over this one, too.
We had two favorites. Joel’s “surf guitar” punches up Lana’s vocal tale about a woman so in love that she’ll be a “Seven Day Fool.” And, the wah-wahs are workin’ overtime on the story of a sho’ nuff “man hater,” a bad mojo mama that has a potion she calls “make my day,” the voodoo-licious “She Wears Trouble (Like A Crown)”
This is another of those fine sets that we wish could’ve been longer. Everyone in the Moondog Medicine Show had a great time making “Let It Go,” and their enthusiasm is indeed infectious! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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