ARSEN SHOMAKOV
RAIN CITY BLUES
SELF-RELEASED
FULL TIME LOVER–NO MORE!–SUNSET BEACH–WOMEN AND WHISKEY–STROLLING IN SAN JOSE–RAIN CITY BLUES–BOOGALOO!–THREE ARROWS–SITTING ON A FENCE-HELLO LITTLE BIRD
Russian guitarist, singer, and composer Arsen Shomakov resides in Vancover, BC, but recently made that California trip to the Greaseland Studio in San Jose, where he connected with Kid Andersen to create his latest, “Rain City Blues.” Kid produced the set, and doubles on bass, keys, and backing vocals. Drums on the first half of the set are from Alexander Pettersen, while it is June Core on the latter half. The set showcases Arsen’s ten originals and his fiery playing, showing influences from rock, blues, funk, and some interesting roots music.
The set opens on a Chicago note, as our hero has “a girl to take care of my bills,” and “one to ride me around in her Coupe de Ville,” yet he longs for that “Full Time Lover!” Aki Kumar shows his stuff on the harp here, too. “No More!” is a stone shot of Sun-splashed rockabilly fire, with the honky tonk piano from Kid, while that good-time groove keeps rollin’ with the swingin’ “Sitting On A Fence!” Arsen gets into a cool West Side groove on the story of using alcohol to help one forget that one you wish “was never in my bed.” For, sho’ nuff, ” “Women And Whiskey don’t mix!”
We had two favorites, too. An excellent foray into funk is the highly-danceable strut of “Boogaloo!” The set closes with a curiously-unique amalgam of what sounds like a guitar from Arsen’s native land mixed in with the North Mississippi Hill Country trance-grooves of Junior Kimbrough. It is waaay too short, for us, but is entitled, “Hello, Little Bird.”
Arsen Shomakov is an exciting, versatile artist who definitely has his finger on the pulse of all styles of blues, rock, and roots music. Have some fun digging these “Rain City Blues!” Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues And Roots Alliance.
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