JIM SHANEBERGER BAND
ABOVE AND BELOW
SELF-RELEASED
MY WAY–INDIFFERENCE–ABOVE AND BELOW–BRIGHT SIDE–AIN’T YOUR DADDY’S BLUES–I CAN’T SLEEP–WAY DOWN SOUTH–JUST SAYIN’ BRO–WHOLE LOTTA SOUL
Blasting out of Western Michigan, the Jim Shaneberger Band features Jim on guitars and vocals, with Jeff Baldus on bass, and drums shared by Steve Harris, and, on one cut, Karl Schantz. Of the nine original cuts that comprise their second album, “Above And Below,” all were either written by Jim wholly, or with other band members. They mix elements of Hendrix, SRV, and Led Zep, and toss in a love for the Motown sound to give the whole project a little shot of funk.
The fellows set up a stone free groove on the leadoff cut, where Jim sings, “It’s My Way or no way at all.” They proudly preach ’bout that “new sound goin’ down, and it Ain’t Your Daddy’s Blues,” over a roadhouse shuffle beat, and then they all head “Way Down South, chasin’ my demons while my demons chase me!” This one features Jim’s Delta-fied slow-blues guitar, set over a pounding, percussive backbeat.
We had two favorites, too. Both “Indifference” and “Above And Below” beg the musical question, “how many lives must be lost before we get things right,” with “innocent people dying in the streets every time I see the news!” “Indifference” was written in response to the shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling in 2016, and each of these songs show the power of music in reaching out to a troubled society.
For the Jim Shaneberger Band, it’s all about that music. Each song on “Above And Below” is a unique, energetic look at what these guys typically bring to their live shows, and we give this one two big thumbs up! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.
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