Stony Plain 40 Years box set review…June 12, 2016…

VARIOUS ARTISTS

STONY PLAIN 40 YEARS

SPCD 1400

CD ONE: SINGERS, SONGWRITERS, AND MUCH MORE:–COLIN LINDEN–NO MORE CHEAP WINE   SPIRIT OF THE WEST–THE CRAWL  CORB LUND–I WANNA BE IN THE CAVALRY  DOUG SAHM–LOUIS RIEL  HARRY MANX AND KEVIN BREIT–DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND WEEP  EMMYLOU HARRIS–WHERE WILL I BE  JAMES BURTON, ALBERT LEE, AMOS GARRETT, DAVID WILCOX–THAT’S ALL RIGHT MAMA  NEW GUITAR SUMMIT–FLYING HOME  RODNEY CROWELL–FUNKY AND THE FARMBOY  VALDY AND GARY FJELLGAARD–VLT  JR. GONE WILD–POET’S HIGHWAY  TIM HUS–WILD ROSE WALTZ  IAN TYSON–COTTONWOOD CANYON  JENNIFER WARNES–BLUE MOUNTAINS OF MEXICO  STEVE EARLE–RIVERS OF BABYLON  ERIC BIBB–NEEDED TIME (FEAT.  TAJ MAHAL, THE BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA, AND RUTHIE FOSTER)

CD TWO:  BLUES, R&B, GOSPEL, SWING, JAZZ, AND EVEN MORE–KENNY “BLUES BOSS” WAYNE–BANKRUPTED BLUES  JOE LOUIS WALKER–EYES LIKE A CAT–ROSCO GORDON–SIT RIGHT HERE  RONNIE EARL AND THE BROADCASTERS–IT TAKES TIME  MARIA MULDAUR–SOUL OF A MAN (FEAT. TAJ MAHAL)  LONG JOHN BALDRY–MIDNIGHT SPECIAL  PAUL REDDICK–MOURNING DOVE  MONKEYJUNK–MOTHER’S CRYING  JAY MCSHANN–GOING TO CHICAGO  JEFF HEALEY–HONG KONG BLUES  BILLY BOY ARNOLD–BAD LUCK BLUES  RORY BLOCK–CANDY MAN  BIG DAVE MCLEAN–ATLANTA MOAN  RUTHIE FOSTER–KEEP YOUR BIG MOUTH CLOSED  SONNY RHODES–MEET ME AT THE 10TH STREET INN  JIM BYRNES–WRAPPED UP, TIED UP  AMOS GARRETT–LOST LOVE  ELLEN MCILWAINE–ALL TO YOU  KING BISCUIT BOY–BLUE LIGHT BOOGIE

CD THREE: RARITIES AND PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED MATERIAL–DUKE ROBILLARD–AIN’T GONNA DO IT–REHAB  ERIC BIBB–SHINGLE BY SHIINGLE– WAYFARING STRANGER   MARIA MULDAUR–IN MY GIRLISH DAYS–I BELONG TO THE BAND  DAVID WILCOX–UPTOWN BUMP  SAM CHATMON AND HIS BARBEQUE BOYS–ALL NIGHT LONG–I HATE THAT TRAIN  BOB CARPENTER–SATAN’S GOLDEN CHAIN–MISTER BLUE  WALTER “SHAKEY” HORTON WITH HOT COTTAGE–SHAKEY’S EDMONTON BLUES

For the 40th anniversary of Stony Plain Records, label president Holger Petersen presents a three-CD box set, each one uniquely different, showcasing the various artists and styles that have been associated with this label since 1976.  Based in Alberta, Canada, this label boasts many legendary bluesmen as well as several contemporary artists releasing viable sets quite recently.  Noted Canadian publicist Richard Flohil adds a brilliant timeline to go along with Holger’s extensive liner notes, making this one a blues “history lesson” as well.

There’s a lot to savor, so let’s get with it.  CD One is entitled “Singers, Songwriters,And Much More.  Highlights include “No More Cheap Wine” from Colin Linden’s 2015 “Rich In Love” album; a live cut from Emmylou Harris, the beautifully-charming “Where Will I Be”; the surprisingly-bluesy “Funky And The Farmboy” from Rodney Crowell; and Jennifer Warnes’ beautiful tribute to Ian Tyson, “Blue Mountains Of Mexico.”

CD Two is entitled “Blues, R & B, Gospel, Swing, Jazz, And Even More,” and it is just that–it runs the gamut from the jumpin’ opener from Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, “Bankrupted Blues,” and rolls on thru the Django-flavored jazz guitar of Jeff Healey and “Hong Kong Blues.”  The women get in on the fun, too, with Rory Blocks playfully-sexy “Candy Man,” and Ruthie Foster’s ode to Memphis Minnie, “Keep Your Big Mouth Closed.”

If this set had ended right there, it would still be an awesome collection.  However, Holger went a huge step further to give us fans something we could really cherish–CD Three is entitled “Rarities And Previously Unreleased Material,” and it is a collector’s dream.  Over the course of these thirteen cuts, you get a real glimpse of the history of this label.  Duke Robillard hits a home run with a killer instrumental of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab,” and things only get better.  Eric Bibb seamlessly melds blues and gospel with “Shingle By Shingle” and “Wayfaring Stranger.”  And, Doc MacLean and a nineteen-year old Colin Linden, billing themselves as The Barbeque Boys,  play alongside the iconic Sam Chatmon–he of Mississippi Sheiks fame–for two 1979 recordings, “I Hate That Train” and “All Night Long.”

This is an irresistibly-strong overview of Stony Plain Records’ first 40 years.  We’d like to say a hearty “Thank you,” Holger, for your leadership of this label, and look forward to many more years of the best in roots and blues!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.

 

Little Boys Blue review…June 11, 2016…

LITTLE BOYS BLUE

TENNISSIPPI

JAXON/VIZZTONE  VT–LBB16

TENNISSIPPI–LIGHTS ON–PACK IT UP BABY–IF ID’A KNOWN–35 YEARS–CHITLINS CON CARNE–DO YOU NO WRONG–SMOKE RINGS–HEALTH INSURANCE BLUES–WANNA BE YOUR LOVING MAN–BIG PIMPIN SUGAR DADDY ROMEO–JACKSON

We’ve always been partial to bands with fine harp players, and Little Boys Blue sho’ nuff have a good one fronting them.  JD Taylor on harp and Steve Patterson on guitar started this band some twenty years ago in Jackson, TN, backing up Sun Records touring artists, including Carl Perkins.  Their distinctive, unique brand of blues, soul, and rockabilly garnered them a third-place finish in the 1997 IBC’s, and they have just released “Tennissippi,” twelve cuts that mix all their influences, and this one takes you from Carl Perkins’ hometown down to 706 Union, and on down to the Crossroads, and everywhere in between!  This one also has some sweet touches of soul, courtesy of the Alabama Horns.

Whaddaya get when you cross a “Tennessee hippie with a Tupelo girl?”  Well, you get a “girl in a Volunteer mood with some Rebel pride,” the theme of the title cut, which ends up down there where “Mr. Johnson sang his song.”  It rides a stompin’ groove over JD’s harp.  “Lights On” and “Smoke Rings” are deep,  Muscle Shoals-flavored soul (hey–part of this set was done at Fame Studios!), and the keyboard work adds a sanctifyin’ feel to the latter.

“If Id’A Known” has JD wonderin’ what coulda been in a love affair, and it has a really smooth, Jimmy Reed-ish vibe.  The classic instrumental,  “Chitlins Con Carne,” is done up rhumba-style, and added to the mix is a cool muted trumpet.  The set closes on another instrumental note, as JD rocks us all back home to “Jackson.”

We had two favorites, too.  When you get sick and get turned away from the doc’s office, you know you got them “Health Insurance Blues.”  It’s all-acoustic, country-blues at its best.  And, the raucous call-and-response tale of “pink Cadillacs, diamond rings” and a cheatin’ lover is told to “Pack It Up, Baby, and bring it on home to me!”

Little Boys Blue are the real deal, fans.  JD and the fellows give everybody just what they want–a down-home, dern good time, and “Tennissippi” is where it’s at!  Until next time..Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.

 

The Reverend Freakchild review…June 10, 2016…

REVEREND FREAKCHILD

ILLOGICAL OPTIMISM

TREATEDANDRELEASED RECORDS  TR 007

CD 1–ODDS ENDS AND OTHER AMAZINGNESS:  IMAGINE–HEY POCKY A-WAY–I STILL HAVE JOY–CRYING HOLY UNTO THE LORD–WHO DO YOU LOVE–ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER–SHARK BOOGIE–PRETTY BOY FLOYD–SWEET SWEET YOU–SEE THAT MY GRAVE IS KEPT CLEAN–BIG MOUTH BLUES–HELL HOUND ON MY TRAIL–YER BLUES–DEATH DON’T HAVE NO MERCY–PLASTIC JESUS/WORKING ON A BUILDING

CD 2–EVERYTHING IS NOW:  ONCE UPON A TIME CALLED RIGHT NOW–ALL I GOT IS NOW–ALL WE GOT IS–ALL I GOT IS NOW–ALLA GOTTA NA’–ALL I WANT IS NOW!–THE BARDO OF THIS LIFE–ICH HAB NUR DIESEN AUGENBLICK (GERMAN VERSION)–TOUT CE QUE J’AI C’EST MAINTENANT (FRENCH VERSION)–ALL IS NOW–EVERYTHING IS NOW…–NOW?

CD 3–KAIROS  RAMBLIN’ JENNINGS: SAFE IN THE STORM–I SAW A WHEEL–PLEASE SEND ME–SINNER BLUES–LIVIN AND DYIN–SILVER SANDALS–JOHN THE REVELATOR–LAST TRAIN BLUES

The Reverend Freakchild’s latest set is indeed an opus.  Three CD’s of some fantastic music from this avant-garde bluesman and one of his special friends make up “Illogical Optimism.”  The first CD consists of cuts recorded with New York’s Hugh Pool, the set’s co-producer and harmonica ace.  Joining on drums is the renowned Chris Parker.  These fifteen cuts go all over the musical map, starting with Lennon’s “Imagine” and The Meters’ “Hey Pocky A-Way” both done up New Orleans style.  He tackles straight gospel with a sweet backing chorus on “I Still Have Joy” and “Cryin’ Holy Unto The Lord.”  Hooker’s “endless boogie” smokes the tires on “Shark Boogie,” and he goes down to the Crossroads for some acoustic blues, “Death Don’t Have No Mercy” and “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.”  Our favorite, tho, was a brilliant, reggae-fied take on Dylan’s “All Along The Watchtower.”

Disc Two is just as unique.  It is built around the Rev’s “Everything Is Now,” where “yesterday is history, and tomorrows are a misery!”  No less than twelve versions of this song are presented, including a funk version that sounds as if it were dropped outta George Clinton’s Mothership.  There’s a hillbilly version with Hugh’s harp, and French and German versions as well!

Disc Three is entitled “Kairos,” and is an excellent example of the Rev’s “do unto others,” philanthropic side.  It consists of eight gospel-influenced blues cuts from Ramblin’ Jennings, a former preacher who’s found his calling singing these gospel blues on the streets of South Beach.  Highlights here are the vocals-and-harp only of “Sinner Blues,” and a chilling a cappella take on “John The Revelator.”

The Reverend Freakchild may be a tad on the “irreverent” side, but he’s got a good heart tucked away inside that bluesman’s soul.  “Illogical Optimism” lets his true passions for the blues, in all their many permutations, shine like a beacon!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.

Diana Rein review…June 8, 2016…

DIANA REIN

LONG ROAD

RUDE MOOD RECORDS

LONG ROAD-WILD ONE–LIVIN’ LOUD–GREEN LIGHT–REBEL WITH A CAUSE–THE REAL THING–DONE ME DIRTY–DON’T WALK AWAY–COME BACK HOME–WICKED–DOWN DOWN DOWN–PEACE

From our studies of mythology, the Sirens were women with such beautiful voices that sailors were lured to their deaths on the rocky coast that protected their home after hearing them sing.  And, on a more contemporary note, they dang near did away with George Clooney and his band of chain gang escapees in “O Brother Where Art Thou?”  So, let us introduce the “Six String Siren of the Blues,” Diana Rein.  Sultry vocals and killer guitar ain’t the half of it, folks.  On her second album, “Long Road,” she wrote the songs, sings, plays lead, rhythm, bass AND drums!  She is sho’ nuff the whole package!

Born In Romania and raised in Chicago, she fell right in with the local jam scene, and everyone was captivated by her strong vocals and over-the-top playing, and you will be, too.  She leads off with an ode to ultimate redemption in the powerful tale of “Long Road,” where she learns that forgiveness and time are the great healers.  A chugging riff that hits you right in the gut is the key to her biography of sorts, “I’m a Wild One, and my main man is Stevie Ray Vaughn.”  She gives a rockin’ shout-out to Doyle Bramhall, Jr,’s “Green Light Girl” with her uptempo tale of youthful lust, “Green Light–I’m gonna take you home tonite and I won’t put up a fight!”

The set closes on a somber, pastoral note.  “Peace” is a lilting, “Little Wing”-ish instrumental Diana wrote after the passing of her beloved dog Zoe.

We had two favorites, too.  First up, she gets downright playful and funky with the sassy strut of “The Real Thing,” telling a lover over a modified Diddley-beat that “I ain’t no fantasy!”  The antithesis of that cut was our other favorite.  She gets back at a cheatin’ dog of a lover in the wickedest kinda way with “I’ll tell your next lady that you are so shady, ’cause you Done Me Dirty!”

Diana Rein bares her soul on this set, and “Long Road” is poised to bring her the recognition a talent of her magnitude so richly deserves!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.

Matty T. Wall review…June 7, 2016….

MATTY T WALL

BLUE SKIES

HIPSTERDUMPSTER RECORDS

BURNIN UP BURNIN DOWN–AM I WRONG–LOVE GONE AWAY–SCORCHER–BLUE SKIES–THIS IS REAL–VOODOO CHILE–BROKEN HEART TATTOO–SMILE–HELLHOUND ON MY TRAIL

Hailing from Perth, Australia, Matty T. Wall has always been a student of musical history, especially where the blues and rock converge.  His unique style is captured on his latest set for Hipsterdumpster Records, “Blue Skies.”  It’s a Duke’s mixture of originals and covers that pay tribute to his heroes, and shows his love for the classics while forging his own distinct sound.  Joining Matty, who is on guitar throughout, is Jasper Miller on drums, Stephen Walker on bass, and Gordon Cant on keys.

Matty T rockets outta the gate with a mile-a-minute guitar riff that touches on Elmore James and chases it with the swagger of Muddy in the story of a girl who “poured gasoline and lit a match on my heart,” “Burnin Up Burnin Down.”  “Am I Wrong” follows  a stompin’ Hill-Country beat to convince a lover that he’s her right choice.  Then, there’s the curious blues-rock story of a woman with, shall we say, “light-fingered tendencies” and the men she seduces, “the girl with the Broken Heart Tattoo.”

We had three favorites, too.  We said Matty T was a student of the blues, and in the dazzling instrumental, “Scorcher,” you can hear elements of Duane Eddy twang, Dick Dale’s surf guitar, and smooth blues from T-Bone Walker, and probably many more in this fine cut.  The set closes with a seemingly-wind-blown groove of Robert Johnson’s “Hellhound On My Trail,” presented here in a vastly different style than the original.  That same thing can be said of our other favorite, Jimi’s “Voodoo Chile.”  Matty begins this song with a somewhat stripped-down intro, giving Gordon’s organ an opportunity to set the tone.  But, by mid-song, Matty’s in full-on wah-wah mode, taking this one “to the outskirts of infinity.”

We are some of the luckiest folks on the face of the Earth.  A three-hour road trip west of here gets us to Memphis, and, in another hour, we’re at Ground Zero in Clarksdale.  Obviously, for Matty T. Wall, this is a geographical impossibility.  But, neither time nor distance has kept him from learning the sounds and heritage of the masters, which he proudly shares thru the grooves on “Blue Skies”  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.

Nick Schnebelen Band review…June 6, 2016….

NICK SCHNEBELEN BAND

LIVE AT KNUCKLEHEADS VOLUME 1

VIZZTONE RECORDS  VT-NSB-01

I’M GOIN’–WILLIE JAMES–CRAZY–DESPERATE HEART–BREAK OF DAY–BAD DISPOSITION–TAILGATE SWING–WHO WILL COMFORT ME–SPOONFUL–SLEEP WALK–JOLENE–NEW ORLEANS

Many fans may remember Nick Schnebelen as the founding family member of Trampled Under Foot, a critically-acclaimed group that consisted of Nick and his siblings.  Those youngsters are all grown up now, and Nick is fronting his own band, and takes full advantage of the home court for his debut release  for Vizztone, “Live At Knuckleheads, Volume 1.”  Along with Nick on guitar and vocals, we have Cliff Moore on bass, and Joe Voye on drums.  Also, making her dazzling debut herein is guitarist/vocalist Heather Newman.  She brings another soulful dimension to an already-powerful lineup, with a vocal style that will bring to mind Susan Tedeschi.

Nick’s family was always immersed in all types of music, and the band brings a sampling of this to the table on this set.  He kicks off with a little bit of KC swing with the jumpin’ “I’m Goin’, but I don’t know where I’m going!”  Heather comes out next, preachin’ the blues about “goin’ down to Alabama to see ol’ Willie James!”  “Break Of Day” rides a “walkin’ blues” groove as Nick goes “lookin’ for that little woman that kept my soul.”  Heather sings a sweet boogie in the double-entendre’-filled tale of youthful lusts, “Tailgate Swing,” then goes right down to the Crossroads and gets down on her knees, preachin’ a story of her “weary soul,” and asks, “Oh Lord, Who Will Comfort Me.”

The set closes with four really nice covers.  Mick takes the lead vocal and Heather adds the backup on a primal, raw, sparsely-arranged “Spoonful.”  Santo And Johnny’s iconic “Sleep Walk” is a time-honored instrumental, and Heather follows with our favorite.  She brings that tortured lover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” to life, pleading “please don’t take him just because you can.”  The whole shootin’ match winds up with a slide-driven ride “down the Mississippoi, down ta New Orleans!”

This is a fantastic way for the Nick Schnebelen Band to kick off their career, and Heather Newman makes a fine addition.  Certainly, “Live At Knuckleheads, Volume 1,” begs for a Volume 2!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.

Chase Walker Band review…June 4, 2016…

CHASE WALKER BAND

NOT QUITE LEGAL

REVVED UP RECORDS

DONE LOVING YOU–RED HOUSE–THE WALK–NEW STATE OF MIND–I WARNED YOU–COLD HEARTED–DON’T F IT UP–54-46–CHANGED–IT’LL PASS–HONEY JAR–LIVING ON THIN ICE–YABBA DABBA (HIDDEN TRACK INST.)

Chase Walker was born in August of 1998, and started his guitar playing by age twelve.  At all of fifteen, he was a Semi-Finalist at the prestigious Lee Ritenour Six String Theory competition, making him eligible for a full-ride at The Berklee School Of Music! His latest album is actually his second release, and he’s STILL “Not Quite Legal,” for Revved Up Records.

He may not be legal, but he’s sho’ nuff lethal on that guitar!  There are thirteen cuts total, and blistering blues-rock and his well-beyond-his-years vocal delivery are the order of the day.  Of course, one man does not a trio make, and he is joined by fellow wunderkind Randon Davitt on bass and Matt Fyke on drums.  They get right down to brass tacks, leading off with young Chase calling out a cheatin’ lover, finally throwing in the towel “playin’ this game with me and what’s-his-name,” “Done Loving You.”  “The Walk” is a danceable groove aimed at those irresistible girls at which “you can’t help but stare!”  Drake Shining’s piano gives “I Warned You” a sweet Chris Robinson-ish vibe, and the fellows close the set with a quirky, jazz-infused instrumental disguised as a hidden track, “Yabba Dabba.”

These young men take two hard looks at today’s society, also.  Echo-effect vocals set up the story of living in “the land of the fees, and the home of the slaves,” “Living On Thin Ice,” which features a cool wah-wah guitar solo at the break.  And, a somber look at the “man in blue” faced with “doing what can’t be undone” finds Chase pleading with those in authority to find “A New State Of Mind.”

We had two favorites, too.  Chase kicks off his version of Jimi’s “Red House” by taking it ’bout as far down to the Delta as you can go, with a cool Resonator acoustic intro, before busting out into full-on amped-up assault, again using those echo vocals for desired effect!  Our other favorite serves as sage advice to these young men.  It’s set over a slow groove, and has Chase listening to the story of an old guy, “who looked about 65(!),”  and conveyed to Chase, “I speak from experience–you only live once, so Don’t F It Up!”

All we’ll add is for the Chase Walker Band to stay young as long as you can, and keep on playing great blues and bringing sets as good as “Not Quite Legal” to the table!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.

Alexis P. Suter Band review…June 3, 2016…

ALEXIS P. SUTER BAND

ALL FOR LOVING YOU

AMERICAN SHOWPLACE MUSIC  ASM  7006

TALK TO MYSELF–CAN’T FIND A REASON–ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME–ALL FOR LOVING YOU–LIVING IN A WORLD–FOOL FOR YOU–DON’T YA TELL–SO LONG CIRCUMSTANCE–EVERY SHUT EYE–LET IT BE

Alexis P. Suter and her band were always one of Levon Helm’s favorite groups, appearing regularly as a part of his legendary “Midnight Ramble” concerts, and they are one of our favorites as well.  She’s got one of those powerhouse, gritty, baritone deliveries that’ll shake you right down to your soul, and her latest set for American Showplace Music, “All For Loving You,” checks in with ten soul-blues band originals and one outstanding cover.  Joining Alexis, we have Jimmy Bennett on guitar, Peter Bennett on bass, Ray Grappone on drums, John Ginty on the keys, and backing vocals from Vicki Bell.

Want a little soul-rockin’ blues?  Give a listen to the Faces-inspired story of a girl who’d rather just “Talk To Myself,” with Jimmy’s slide ridin’all over the groove here.  He returns a little later to provide the sweet backdrop for Alexis’ whimsical, mystical portrait of a life  journey recounting things she’d do, “All For Loving You.”  John Ginty’s organ adds a nice touch to a Fifties-styled slow-blues tune, “Can’t Find A Reason for loving you.”  He returns a little later to bring the sanctifyin’ and testifyin’ keyboard heat to Alexis’ soulful read of a tortured lover who realizes that “you may be fooling me, but I’m a Fool For You.”

“So Long” uses grungy, “Voodoo Chile”-like guitar to help Alexis convey her message of “gettin’ back home to you!”   She closes the set on an incredible note, with a heartfelt and powerful performance of “Let It Be.”

We had two  favorites, and they, frankly, rocked the house!  The band gets its Chicago blues groove on as Alexis tells her lover, “if you don’t want my lovin’ then I’m Living In A World without you!”  And, there’s nothin’ better than a good ole stop-time boogie, and Alexis is keepin’ a low profile wherever she goes, so “Don’t Ya Tell nobody you saw Big Mama here!”

Alexis P. Suter has been nominated for a Blues Music Award, in 2013 and 2015 for the Koko Taylor Vocalist of the Year and for the Soul/Blues Vocalist categories.  “All For Loving You” captures the sound this band is famous for, and it is highly recommended listening!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.

 

Bill Phillippe review…June 2, 2016….

BILL PHILLIPPE

PARADE

ARKANSAS STREET RECORDS

BLUES COME CALLING (HOME)–PROPER-SORROW–14TH STREET–IF I SHOULD LOSE MY MIND–SOLITUDE/A KINDER VOICE–EVERYTHING I HAVE IS GREY–PARADE–TONIGHT–LITTLE ZION–RED BERET–TAKE IT WITH ME

Bill Phillippe broke big onto the scene with his 2015 all-acoustic affair, “Ghosts,” detailing his journey thru the Delta a few years back to study the music, myths, and truths of that storied region.  His latest release continues that exploratory theme, and is entitled “Parade.  This one is also all -acoustic, with Bill on vocals and guitar, Ivor Holloway on clarinet, Swen Hendrickson on upright bass, and Glenn Hartman on accordion.

Of the eleven cuts, there are two covers that fit perfectly within the context of the originals that Bill uses to convey his message of “life is indeed a Parade,” and “no dream of life is spared” from it.  As we listened, we likened this music to a unique joining of Delta blues with New Orleans-styled sounds, especially with the interplay between the accordion and clarinet.

Bill also uses these tunes to relate to life’s many varied experiences.  There’s always gonna be some “Blues Come Calling (Home),” so, might as well “punch your ticket and take your seat!”  Loneliness is addressed in “If I Should Lose My Mind tonight, will you love me anyway?”   There’s the girl in the “Red Beret” who “whispers your name” and “whistles a tune, beckoning me,” to, perhaps, “come along and join the Parade!”  And, in the end, nothing compares to that love of a good woman that you’ll “Take It With Me When I’m Gone,” Bill’s touching read of this Tom Waits classic.

Bill Phillippe continues to bring a fresh, avant-garde perspective to the blues, using visionary instrumentation to convey the message that life is a “Parade,” so let’s all embrace it!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.

 

Bridget Kelly Band review…June 1, 2016…

THE BRIDGET KELLY BAND

OUTTA THE BLUES

ALPHA SUN RECORDS

GONNA STAY HERE–SPELLBOUND–IF YOU SEE MY BABY–SWEET RIVER BLUES–BALTIMORE WOES–DANCIN’ WITH THE BLUES–DANGEROUS MAN–UP AND GONE/SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING–LONELY NIGHT IN JUNE–WHEN THE NIGHTTIME COMES–HARD TIMES IN THE CITY–SOMEONE’S HOODOOIN’ ME–DOUBLE CROSSED–ROCKET TO THE MOON

Everyone knows the Gainesville, Florida, area has a strong Southern-rock and blues presence.  One of our favorite groups from that region is The Bridget Kelly Band, and they are back with another powerhouse set of fourteen good-rockin’ blues and soulful ballads entitled “Outta The Blues” on Alpha Sun Records.

Bridget’s on vocals, with the set’s producer, the venerable Tim Fik on guitars, with the rhythm section of Mark Armbrecht on bass and Alex Klausner on drums.  They were Semi-Finalists in both 2015 and 2016 at the IBC’s down in Memphis, and keep that hot streak going with this sweet set.

They lead off on a strong note, as Bridget tells a no-good lover to “travel on, baby–I’m Gonna Stay Here with the blues!”  Tim’s slide gives this one  a Duane Allman feel, and Bridget revisits that theme a little later, as “tonight I’m goin’ Dancin’ With The Blues.”  And, she knows all too well about that “Dangerous Man”—“I shoulda walked away, or, better yet, ran!”  The guitar here is vintage Southern-rock, and Tim takes a fiery, extended solo.   “Up And Gone/Smokestack Lightning” incorporates the Chester Burnett chestnut into a message that tells a lover that “when you come back home from Memphis. I’ll be Up And Gone!”  Another cool midtempo groover finds Bridget being troubled by that ol’ “unseen eye,” and knows that “Someone’s Hoodooin’ Me!”

We had two favorites, too.  Bridget’s soulful side always shines on the slow-bluesers, and she really turns up the heat on the broken love affair story of “Spellbound,” over Tim’s blister-string riffs.  The set’s most powerful piece deals with “a mother crying for a son that just ain’t there.”  It is “Baltimore Woes,” and takes a poignant look at the strained relationships all over the USA between law enforcement and inner-city youths.

The Bridget Kelly Band makes authentic, good ole Southern-fried boogie blues, and tour all over the Southeast at clubs and festivals.  “Outta The Blues” is sho’ nuff “outta this world” good!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society.