KEVIN SELFE
BUY MY SOUL BACK
VIZZTONE RECORDS VT-KEV-01
PICKING EMPTY POCKETS–FIXED IT TILL IT’S BROKE–BUY MY SOUL BACK–DIGGING MY OWN GRAVE–ALL PARTIED OUT–KEEP PUSHING OR DIE TRYING–BLUESMAN WITHOUT THE BLUES–I’M ON FIRE–DON’T TEAR ME DOWN–DOUBLE DIPPING–VIRGINIA FARM–PIG PICKIN–STARING UP AT THE BOTTOM
For those who feel that the blues is a stale art form, we would like to invite your attention to guitarist/singer/composer Kevin Selfe. An artist with uncanny guitar chops inside a storyteller’s soul, he has crafted a fine set of blues for the masses. On his latest Vizztone release, “Buy My Soul Back,” he and his guitar explore a myriad of styles that is sure to please even the most jaded critics.
The proceedings start with an ode to today’s sorry economy, where many are living the American dream “in the back of my beat-up van,” “Picking Empty Pockets.” A deep, born-of-the-Crossroads slide guitar drives the story of a man who “works my fingers to the bone, but I can’t pay my rent,” and feels as if he is “Digging My Own Grave.” Steve Kerin adds piano on a driving tale of survival, “Keep Pushing Or Die Trying,” while guest vocalist Sugaray Rayford spins a sho’ nuff funky tale of a man who’s got plenty of money and everything he wants–he’s a “Bluesman Without The Blues!” He goes into a sweet T-Bone Walker mode on the jazzy swing of “Don’t Tear Me Down,” and closes the set with a stone shot of Sunday morning fervor, with Steve Kerin and James Pace letting their respective piano and organ do some serious testifyin’ over Kevin’s sanctified shoutin, entitled “Staring Up At The Bottom.”
We had two favorites, too. Mitch Kashmar adds mighty fine harp on the Chicago blues of “messin’ up my good thing,” “Fixed It Till It’s Broke.” And, the title cut is a minor-key shot of soul-blues, as Kevin recounts the tale of an infamous “deal” that went down in exchange for “music, money, and fame,” and now tries to find a way to “Buy My Soul Back.”
Kevin Selfe lives in Portland, OR, and plays wherever the road leads him. As one can hear over the course of “Buy My Soul Back,” Kevin’s material is full of energy, and his grooves are irresistible! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.
donandsherylsbluesblog 