AMY HART
LIVE AT THE MAYNE STAGE
PAINTED ROCK RECORDS/VIZZTONE VTPRR–2015L
IN THE ZONE–BLUES AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD–GET READY–PUT ME BACK–BLUE EYED BLUES–RIBCAGE–RED DRESS BLUES–GET THE GIRLS DANCIN–EVEN COUNTRY GETS THE BLUES–CONGRATULATIONS–RICH ASS DADDY–TALKING–YOU DRIVE ME
Amy Hart was born in Chicago, with her first gig in 1979 being part of a West Side blues band. She now calls Nashville home, and we are fortunate to have her. She recently returned to the Windy City for several gigs, including one special show at Rogers Park for the PBS series, “Live At The Mayne Stage,” which serves as her latest release.
Amy is on guitar and vocals, and is joined by her husband, Wally Hoffman, on bass, PT Gazell on harp, Gene Bush on dobro, and Matt McDowell on drums. The groove kicks off with the harp-fueled “In The Zone.” Amy recently headlined the Himalayan Blues Festival in Kathmandu, Nepal, and that exhilarating excursion is documented by “Blues At The Top Of The World,” while “Put Me Back the right way this time” finds Amy “scattered on the carpet” after the daily challenges of life become too much. PT blows a cool Butterfield groove on this one, too.
The lovelorn “Blue Eyed Blues” anjd “Even Country Gets The Blues” do indeed have a country feel, thanks to Gene Bush’s sweet dobro. Amy gets the good times rollin’ with the funky strut of “Ribcage,” and her “call to arms” for dancers, “Get The Girls Dancin.” And, every girl needs that special someone, that “Big Fat Rich-Ass Daddy” to take care of ’em, and this one rocks with a juke joint feel.
We had two favorites, too. “Red Dress Blues” is a new song from Amy, and this minor-key classic deals with one-night stands, as “the last thing I need tonite is the blues.” And, “Congratulations, baby—you got the blues” when “you’re at the mercy of nothin’ left to lose.” PT and Gene get in some extended solos on this one.
Whether she’s “Live At The Mayne Stage” in Chicago, or live on stage at the Fillin’ Station in beautiful downtown Kingston Springs, Tennessee, Amy Hart is a Triple-A guarantee for a great night of the blues! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
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