BLACK CAT BONES
TATTERED AND TORN
MANSLAUGHTER–WHEN I GET THAT FEELING–DEAD BROKE BLUES–THE RACE–LED TO BELIEVE–LOWDOWN–LONE LOBO–PAY YOU BACK WITH INTEREST–JUST AROUND THE CORNER–LAYING IN WAIT–NOT SO FUNNY–I DON’T CARE
Black Cat Bones are based out of Tucson, AZ, and formed in 2004, building around founding members Charles Pitts on vocals, and Jeff Daniels on bass, and on occasion, drums. The band is now a five-piece, with dual lead guitars from Richard Rivera and Gary Davis, and now features Jerry Sommers on drums. They have released four albums, with influences from B B to Muddy and Wolf, and, on the rock side, Savoy Brown and Z Z Top.
Their latest is “Tattered And Torn,” twelve cuts of prime blues all written by the various band members. The guitar playing lends itself more to a more biting, contemporary sound, and Charles can lay plenty of soul on you thru his vocals. He gets the party started by taking care of a cheatin’ lover, and, now, he’s “goin’ down on a charge of Manslaughter!” The sax section–Clay Brown, Carla Brownlee, and Amochip Dabney–spice up the minor-key tale of getting old, with the same sad results–“Father Time always wins The Race!” “Lowdown” is one of our favorites. Roadhouse rock at its best, Charles is hooked on a lady who’s got “the Devil inside,” but, he’s “gotta have her!” This song had one flaw–fellows, it was just too short! Everybody’s had ’em–the wind blows thru your wallet” when you got them “Dead Broke Blues,” and, sho’ nuff, no matter what you do, “life will Pay You Back With Interest!” The guitars go into serious wah-wah mode on this one, too!!
Our final favorite closed the set. “I Don’t Care” settles into a soulful, acoustic groove and the whole thing has a sweet, Tom Petty feel!
Over the course of the last fifteen years, Black Cat Bones have remained true to their original credo–to continue to bring cutting-edge blues to their fans, and “Tattered And Torn” fills the bill! Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.
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