A Rose In The Garden Of Weeds (CD) By Pugwash

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Pugwash

A Rose In The Garden Of Weeds

Pugwash

Omnivore Recordings 2014

Review by David Bowling

 

So what would you do if you received a cash award for a childhood injury? If you are Thomas Walsh, you would build a recording studio in a shed in his parents yard. And so Pugwash was born.

Pugwash has been highly popular and commercially successful in their home country of Ireland and the U.K. Their albums have not been released in the United States and so the 17 track compilation album, A Rose In The Garden Of Weeds: A Preamble Through The History Of Pugwash, is welcome as it is an excellent introduction their music.

Walsh is the main cog in the Pugwash sound as he is the one constant member in an ever-changing band. He is a vocalist, songwriter, and a multi-instrumentalist whose vision creates the music. His voice is very similar to that of ELO’s Jeff Lynne and the overall sound falls in the power pop and sometimes psychedelic pop category.

From the opening jangle of Walsh’s 12-string on “Take Me Away,” the album is awash in energetic and joyous music. The keyboard driven “Keep Movin’ On” gives way to the harmonies of “It’s Nice To Be Nice.” His gentle stories and reflections are brought to life by the textures he creates.

Pugwash has been a well-kept secret in the United States. A Rose In The Garden Of Weeds will rectify that situation as it gives some visibility to a band that has learned to craft its music well.

Rating: ***1/2

Down Rising By Third Of Never

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Down Rising, Third Of Never

Downrising

Third Of Never

Jam 2014

Review by David Bowling

 

Third Of Never was formed during 2003 and they have just released their third full-length album titled Downrising. Guitarist/keyboardist Jon Dawson, vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist CJ Grogan, bassist Vince Grogan, drummer Mike Polilli, and vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Kurt Reil have created a sound that fuses traditional rock with a retro psychedelic sound.

The sound is simpler and more sparse than their previous releases. The textures remain but the layers are not as extensive as much of their prior material.

Tracks such as “Green Roses,” “Man Without A Play,” “Life Saver,” and “Man Without A Plan” change tempos and are different enough to always keep it interest. They have also created a series of short connecter tracks under a minute in length which serve as transition pieces.

Downrising may not change the course of rock music but track for track it is a very solid outing for a band about a decade into their career.

Rating: ***

Dana Robbins By Dana Robbins

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Dana Robbins, Third Of Never

Dana Robbins

Dana Robbins

Dana Robbins 2014

Review by David Bowling

 

Dana Robbins is an artist you may have seen and heard without realizing it. She is a saxophonist who has been a part of the touring bands for Barry Manilow and Aretha Franklin, plus has played with such artists as Roger Daltry, John Mayall, Chaka Khan, James Brown, Steve Cropper, and Frank Zappa. Her latest gig is touring in support of Delbert McClinton.

During 2012 she struck out on her own as a band leader and released So So Good. She has now returned with her second self-titled offering.

Sometimes you are measured by the friends you keep, and Dana Robbins has a lot of friends. Delbert McClinton and Jimmy Hall each provide the lead vocals for two tracks. Also on hand are drummer Lynn Williams’, bassist Michael Joyce, guitarist Bob Britt, guitarist Rob McNelley, keyboardists Kevin McKendree and Tom McDonald, plus producer Tom Hambridge

She has a good idea of how to create an interesting album. She mixes up the tempos, plus the instrumentals intertwine with the vocal tracks. Throughout it all, Robbins demonstrates that she is a first-rate saxophonist. She wrote or co-wrote six of the 11 tracks and even supplies the lead vocal for “Right As Rain.”

Some of the instrumentls include McKendree’s organ and Robbins sax playing off of each other on the King Curtis cover “Soul Twist,” a romp through Buddy Miles’ “Them Changes,” and the smooth jazz sounds of “Make It A Double.”

“Hardest Part” was co-written by McClinton and he delivers a soulful vocal on the ballad while Robbins fills in the gaps. Jimmy Hall is equally soulful on “Bless Your Heart” as Robbins matches his emotion with her saxophone.

Dana Robbins continues to bloom as a band leader. Her latest album finds her not only producing good music but understanding how to put an album together.

Rating: ***1/2

The Blues Soul Of Billy Boy Arnold By Billy Boy Arnold

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Billy Boy Arnold

The Blues Soul Of Billy Boy Arnold

Billy Boy Arnold

Stony Plain Records 2014

Review by David Bowling

 

The first generation of Delta Blues artists are gone and the second generation of pre-World War II artists are leaving the scene. Such is not the case, however, for the 79 year old, Chicago born vocalist/harpist Billy Boy Arnold who is still active on the road and in the studio.

Billy Boy Arnold’s career now stretches back over a half-century. His harp can be heard on Bo Diddley’s classic performance of “I’m A Man” and his early releases for the Vee Jay label are highly collectable.

For his new album, The Blues Soul Of Billy Boy Arnold, he has wisely used the services of modern day bluesman Duke Robillard as a guitarist and producer. Robillard has few peers as a guitarist, plus his lifetime emersion in the blues serves Arnold well as a producer.

The 14 tracks move in a number of directions and cover a number of styles. There are some Billy Boy original compositions, a few blues standards, and some old soul songs. Through it all Arnold’s worn but passionate voice and his precision harp play serve as reminders of what the blues are all about.

Arnold was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2013. The Blues Soul Of Billy Boy Arnold is a good indication why.

Songs From The Road By Mike Zito And The Wheel

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Mike Zito, Songs From The Road

Songs From The Road

Mike Zito & The Wheel

Ruf Records 2014

Review by David Bowling

 

One of the better ideas of 2014 is Ruf Records live series titled Songs From The Road. The approach is to record an artist in concert and then release a CD and DVD set of the performance. I recently reviewed the Dana Fuchs entry and now Mike Zito & The Wheel take center stage.

Zito, both as a member of the Royal Southern Brotherhood and as a solo artist, has  been a road warrior with several thousand live performances under his belt. He and his band pulled into the Dosey Doe in Woodlands, Texas, January 10, 2014, and the tape was rolling.

I own several of Zito’s studio albums but on stage he exudes a whole new level of energy and excitement. Joining him are sax player Jimmy Carpenter, bassist Scot Sutherland, keyboardist Lewis Stephens, and drummer Rob Lee. . Zito is many times an underrated guitarist but on stage he steps forward to demonstrate his skills. His interactions with Carpenter and Stephens tie everything together.

Whether it be on the funky, sax driven “Don’t Break A Leg,” the rocking “Greyhound,” the autobiographical “Rainbow Bridge,” or a tasty cover of “Little Red Corvette;” the music crackles and the band is tight.

If you truly want to know what a musician is all about, you need to experience his or her music live. Song From The Road allows one to see and hear the culmination of Mike Zito’s twenty plus years of experience.

Rating: ***1/2

Love Whip Blues By Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers

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Eric Harpe, The Delta Swingers

Love Whip Blues

Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers

Juicy Juju/VizzTone 2014

Review by David Bowling

 

Travel to the Mississippi Delta, take a cup of blues, add a dash of soul and funk, and you have the sound and approach of Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers. They have now released their latest album Love Whip Blues.

Harpe is a vocalist/guitarist/songwriter who is the daughter of Maryland area bluesman Neil Harpe. The Delta Swingers include bassist Jim Countryman, harpist Richard Rosenblatt, and drummer Bob Nisi. Also on hand are multi-instrumentalist Dave Gross and slide guitarists Bob Margolin and Sonny Jim Clifford on three tracks.

The music is a combination of original compositions and interpretations of songs by Willie Brown (“Future Blues”), Lucille Bogan (“The M&O Blues”), and John Prine (“Angel From Montgomery”) among others.

Harpe has traveled an interesting musical journey. She released two acoustic blues albums and five more fronting an electro-dance band. Now with the Delta Swingers, she has fused both of these approaches and settled in to what can best be described as a danceable blues sound.

A blues foundation is intact and Rosenblatt’s harp play helps maintain a connection to the southern delta. It may not be an album for purists but the blues have always been open to interpretation and expansion and Erin Harpe & The Delta Swingers have carved out a nice niche for themselves.

Love Whip Blues is an album that will entertain and make you smile and sometimes that is enough.

Rating: ***

Don’t Waste Your Life By The Tripping Souls

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Tripping Souls

Don’t Waste Your Life

The Tripping Souls

Tripping Souls Productions 2014

Review by David Bowling

 

The Tripping Souls are not a band in the usual sense of the word. It is guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter Paul Makris who gathers together a number of musicians when he wants to record or tour. Joining him on his latest project are bassist Wayne Whitaker and drummers Steve Chaggaris & Harrison Seller.

Makris is above all an accomplished guitarist and his ability to produce melodic chords permeates his music. His vocal sound is restrained and laid back, which gives the overall sound and easy going feel.

While his influences may come from the British rock and pop sound of the past several decades; he has a very modern approach.  “Sunny Afternoon” has some booming percussive rhythms that allow Makris to build his guitar sounds. “Narrow Road” continues to build on those rhythms. “Soul Sister” finds him layering his sound.

He takes a simple melodic approach with “A Piece Of Paper.” “Mary Jane” seems like a love song but is actually an ode to marijuana, which could be right out of the 1960’s or 70’s.

Don’t Waste Your Life is a fusion of rock and pop and is a clear statement oof Paul Makris’ musical vision. It is an interesting listen from a man who continues to hone and develop his sound.

 

Rating: ***

Etta Does Delbert By Etta Britt

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Etta Britt

Etta Does Delbert

Etta Britt

Brittunes Music 2114

Review by David Bowing

 

Etta Britt first came to the public’s attention when she replaced Vicki Hakeman in the popular country act Dave & Sugar. She remained with the group for five years, 1979-1984. For over 20 years after that, she was an in-demand session singer in addition to raising a family.

She finally returned to the solo spotlight with the release of 2012’s Out Of The Shadows. She emerged as a gritty and soulful blues singer who also wrote all the tracks for her coming-out party.

Now she has returned with an album of primarily Delbert McClinton songs. She couldn’t have chosen a better person to cover as her voice is perfect for his brand of country/blues material. She has even recruited a number of his band members to provide support. Guitarist, husband, and session guitarist deluxe Bob Britt, keyboardist Kevin McKendree, bassist Steve Mackey, drummer Lynn Williams, and sax player Dana Robbins form a talented and tight unit. It also helps having the McCrary Sisters as backing vocalists.

Songs such as “Somebody To Love You,” “Boy You Better Move On,” “You Were Never Mine,” and “Best Of Me” are all top notch blues vocals. Her voice has gained a wonderful patina with the passage of years and it is on display here.

Etta Does Delbert is another fine effort from Etta Britt as she ascends the ladder of Nashville’s finest soul and blues singers. Hopefully more efforts of this caliber are in store in the future.

 

Rating: ***1/2

Too Blessed To Be Stressed By Paul Thorn

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Paul Thorn, Too Blessed To Be Stressed

Too Blessed To be Stressed

Paul Thorn

Perpetual Obscurity/Thirty Tiger 2014

Review by David Bowling

 

Paul Thorn is now about 20 years into his career. The roots and blues artist has just released his latest album titled Too Blessed To Be Stressed.

He has continued to explore new directions with his latest release. His 2012 album, What The Hell Is Goin’ On was his first album of cover songs. He has now returned to original material as he wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 11 tracks. He has veered away from the personal stories that have dominated his material in the past as now his lyrics are more philosophical explorations of life.

He has always had a subtle humor in many of his lyrics. “I Backslide On Friday” is about the art of procrastination. “Mediocrity Is King” is a biting criticism of celebrity worship and our addition to stuff. “Everything Is Gonna be Alright” travels in a different direction as the rocking music celebrates the joyful side of life.

He backing band is a tight outfit whose sound has been honed by two decades on the small-club concert circuit. Guitarist Bill Hinds, keyboardist Michael Graham, drummer Jeffrey Perkins, and bassist Ralph Friedrichsen interpret his music without over whelming the vocals. It takes a veteran band to know when to step-forward and when to step-back.

His music tends to have a personal quality to it as he forms a personal relationship with his listeners. The former boxer and son of a preacher man has delivered another album of positive and enjoyable music.

Passing Through (CD) By Grace Griffith

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Grace Griffith, Passing Through

Passing Through

Grace Griffith

Blix Street 2014

Review by David Bowling

 

That this album actually exists is due to the grit, determination, and spiritual fortitude of Grace Griffith.

Griffith was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease almost 20 years ago and her condition deteriorated with the passage of time. Today she is unable to play the guitar, has problems walking, and has difficulty with her vocal control. She is currently living in an assisted care facility in Washington D.C.

She possesses a wonderful soprano voice and it was her desire to record one more album. Through the help of her friends, a editing process by Chris Biondo, and two years in an out of the recording studio; resulted is the album Passing Through.

The songs she chose for the album are a collection of modern and traditional folk and Celtic songs.

“The Wood Thrush’s Song” places the emphasis on her voice as it is an a capella performances complete with backing vocals. “Nature Boy” is more of the same simple approach as it is her vocal and Richard Miller’s guitar.

During 1981 English poet Sydney Carter wrote “Loud Are The Bells Of Norwich,” which he based on a 14th century prayer by Julian of Norwich. Backed by guitar, upright bass, violin, and cello; she takes the listener on a moving spiritual journey. The traditional “Down By The Sally Gardens,” based on a poem by William Butler Yates, and accompanied only by Sue Richards on the Celtic harp, is an expression of emotion.

The album concludes with the bonus song; “Water, Fire, and Smoke.” it is the only previously released track, which was taken from he solo debut album. Its inclusion brings her music career full circle.

Music moves in many directions and has all types of connections with the listener. The music of Passing Through is an album in which the journey of its creation is just as important as its result.

Rating: ****