RANDY MCALLISTER
TRIGGERS BE TRIPPIN’
REACTION RECORDS
IN A FLICK OF A BIC–SINCE I MET YOU BABY–BEAUTY AND UGLY UPSIDE DOWN (ODE TO LIZZIE VELASQUEZ)–BRING IT ON BACKBREAKER–THE YIN AND THE YANG–BATTER UP–VACATION IN MY MIND–MATH AIN’T WORKIN–MAKESHIFT MOLLY–WE CAN’T BE FRIENDS (IF YOU DON’T LIKE JIMMY REED)
Novice, TX, native Randy Mcallister is a monster on the drums, harp, and as a vocalist. He’s been carryin’ this bidness on for nearly three decades, starting on drums at age nine, and learning the harp while in the Air Force, stationed in Massachusetts, from “Earring George” Mayweather. For his latest set, “Triggers Be Trippin,” on Reaction Records, nine outta the ten cuts are originals. We always enjoy the blues played with a sense of humor, and Randy’s is as sharp as a tack on this set.
We had several highlights. Perhaps the most unique cut was Randy’s take on “Since I Met You Baby.” Here, it features only Randy’s vocal and harp, over brilliant acoustic guitar from Santos Puertas, giving this one a down-home, lonesome Delta vibe. Learning to give and take throughout life is the soulful theme of “The Yin And The Yang,” while “Batter Up” uses baseball and that “endless boogie” beat to show our beleaguered hero ducking from everything “not nailed down” coming at his head from a less-than-happy lover!
Randy takes a hard look at the plight of the homeless in society with the bittersweet story of “Makeshift Molly.” Yeah, Molly may live “underneath the overpass” in Dallas, but Molly “has a heart,” and “has a soul,” and, “every night she gives thanks to the Lord.” The set closes on an upbeat, striding note, with Randy’s bluesy news for all potential besties–bouncin’ over Brandon Hudspeth’s Hell-hound slide, Randy puts it plain as day–“We Can’t Be Friends (If You Don’t Like Jimmy Reed!)”
Randy Mcalister is a sixth-generation Texan. His vocals are razor-sharp, as is his harp-blowin’ and timekeeping. His blues are no b**ls**t, straight from the soul, and he and the Scrappiest Band In The Motherland are right on time with “Triggers Be Trippin!” Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.
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