WFHB Music - Bloomington Community Radio

Ball, Marcia – “Roadside Attractions” (Alligator) B+

Marcia Ball chuckles at an old bluesman’s warning: “Women are too smart to stay long in music.” She’s been at it nearly 40 years…through many albums on the Rounder label and with Alligator since 2000. She’s a road dawg too…loves performing and although based in Austin, TX, she’s away more than home, playing that East-Texas-Blues-Meets-Louisiana-Swamp-Rock on her keyboard and double-daring everyone not to dance. On this fifth disc for Alligator she works with famed songwriter and producer (Nashville, TN) Gary Nicholson. Her vocals are a combination of singing and shouting—a bit wobbly on the slow ones and her trademark remains those rollin’ piano that also signifies there’s a party goin’ on.

Bartley, Geoff – “Put The Big Stone Down” (Indie) A

New England is a great place for acoustic music, and Cambridge has long been a supportive center for it. Bartley is a long-time veteran there, a songwriter/guitarist very well-known and appreciated for his old-style (pre WWII) finger-picking and skills with flat-picking and slide guitar. He’s been at it for decades, and regularly hosting the Tuesday open mic nights at Central Square’s Cantab Lounge, and working with Tom Paxton. His playing is a delight, moving smoothly through rag time, jazz and blues. So refreshing to hear all that style and maturity on guitar. Like a cool drink after a long, parched day. Gruff vocals reflect the years, but somehow enhance the whole. Several original songs…very good for all mixes.

Budd, Andy – “Ragtop Monterey” (Red Bush Records) C+

Singer Songwriter from Virginia, by way of Nashville, Budd pulls together a Nashville band to do his bluegrass/country style of tunes. Nice, and often comic lyrics tell decent stories in each song, with a back-up band that delivers a straight country and bluegrass bed for him to sing over. Nice, but nothing really stands out.

Chapin Sisters, The – “Two” (Lake Bottom Records) B

After a tantalizing 6-tune sampler whetted the appetite for these ladies tight-knit, ethereal vocals, they’ve dropped off one sister to motherhood, and made this disc as a duet. The tunes are very dark and seem to sink slowly under the weight with not enough change-up in style to have the impact the sampler had. Yet the two still have hauntingly beautiful voices and mesh and interweave through an abundance of slow and mournful melodies that tell tales of abandonment and loss, sometimes fading to drones. No dance music here! Songs for introspection and slow piano tinkling with heavy focus on their (admittedly) fine vocals.

Curtis, Stony – “Cosmic Connection” (Blues Bureau Intern’l)

Power trio…going for guitar electro-sizzle sainthood. Sonny can play…he pounds the songs together with plenty of notes leftover. Cosmic indeed…helps if you’ve smoked a big spliff and have the day off tomorrow. Not recommended.

Delta Generators – “Hard River to Row” (Delta Generators Music) B+

Grooveadelic four-piece from New England who swear they were dragged feet-first up the Mississippi, collecting rocks in their socks and that’s why they blast this very bluesy rock with Led Zep vocals. Ain’t afraid of fuzz guitar, but can live without it too (thank Gawd). Not sure they can live without slide guitar and a dirty-bottom rhythm section…even the slow ones growl. Cleaned up on blues awards in the NE and even tripped the lights fantastic at the Memphis Blues Fest. They’ve been takin’ vitamins, but have the skills to back it up. Mostly rock-blues with some very interesting songwriting palette-cleansers (#11) and quite a singer. Collected a lot of rocks – it was a hard river to row.

Etheridge, Riley, Jr – “Powder Keg” (Rock Ridge Music) B

Southern rock guitarist (now working from New York) runs through a selection of Southern blues-rock with a New York shine on them--big band backs with horns, and Mickey Rafael (Willie Nelson) on harp. Reminiscent of Little Feat catalog. Can also move through quieter vocal and minimal backup (#4) tunes—all with great players. but big band blues-rock are his forte with kinda plain vocals.

Gaines, Roy – “Tuxedo Blues” (Black Gold Records) A-

Brother to Little Richard’s saxophone player, Grady Gaines, Roy started out on piano emulating Nat King Cole, but moved to guitar as a teenager after being stunned by the playing of T-Bone Walker. He grew up playing clubs in his native Houston and was even dubbed “T-Bone Junior” for a time. He then relocated to Los Angeles and became a force to be reckoned with in Roy Milton’s band, followed by stint with Chuck Willis. Here he brings out six originals and some favorites from Quincy Jones, Nat King Cole, and others with his Orchestra. Once more we’re deailing with big band blues (a la B.B. King) with guitar that sails over the top and sweetly mature vocals. He’s gotten his guitar-tone DOWN baby! Nice record of big-band blues ‘n jazz..

Gilkyson, Eliza – “Roses at The End of Time” (Red House) B+

Singer songwriter Gilkyson gives us another collection of Americana story-telling. From a family of performers and songwriters, she’s woven her own trail of introspective and descriptive tunes, finding a home on the Red House label. John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky guest on the disc (produced by her son Cisco), filled with fairly dark prospects on the world and its politics, sorrows, and saving-graces…painted in poetic descriptions. A little humorous projection (#8) even.

Goldberg, Mark “Pocket” – “Off the Alleyway” (PocketGoldberg Prodns.)

Southern California bassist/vocalist Goldburg pulls together a number of South Cal studio musicians (Joe Sublett-horns, Terry Evans-vocals, etc.) and issues a listenable album with horns, some slide guitar and songwriting of the eclectic kind. Nevertheless, overall not recommended for WFHB.

Great Caesar’s Ghost – “What’s Done is Done” (Great Caesar’s Ghost) B

Southern rock cover band puts out a double CD of it’s greatest “hits” – culled over eight years of playng on the road. Lead vocalist Larry Schmid sings over a full band of musicians who have obviously honed their skills out there in the trenches. Band is good, reminiscent of the Allman Brothers (who indeed, they thank on the sleeve). Very nice musicianship though heavily influenced/rife with Almans, Dickey Betts, Jeff Beck, Stones…and three Schmid originals…all rock, even when lightly restrained. Covers are very like originals.

Grills, Steve – “After Hours—with Ernest Lane” (Toogaloo Records) B+

New England guitarist who, after being turned on to rock/blues via Chuck Berry, swiftly fell in love with the blues, befriending Robert Nighthawk Jr., and Albert Collins. He gathers some VERY cool sidemen here to back him on a collection of blues selected to pay tribute to his blues influences. Ernest Lane, pianist for Earl Hooker, Ike and Tina Turner, etc., holds the keyboard position here, and Steve Gomes, Bassist Extraordinaire (Darryl Nulisch, Severen Record house musician, etc.) create a pocket you can’t slip out of if you tried. They certainly give him a rock-steady foundation over which he plays some fine guitar. Joe Beard also provides guest vocals on #5. The grooves are very good, as is his fretwork. His vocals…not so much. Nevertheless, this is a tight band and none too shabby in the blues groove.

Hobson-Compact, Erin – “Fortune Cookie Philosophy” (Choking Chicken Rec.)

The young Erin Hobson leads her four-piece group comprised to three very veteran and skilled musicians with confident electric guitar playing and supple vocals. Songwriting is a combination of pop flavored with funk and professional arrangements…no doubt heavily influenced by multi-instrumentalists Steven Ross (here mainly playing bass), Ross Rice (a touring studio musician and guru on keyboards/synth), and drummer Gary Burke (Dylan, Graham Parker, Shania Twain, Joe Jackson). Hobson’s voice is almost childlike, non-assertive, but smooth. She caresses the lyrics that are nearly overwhelmed by the players’ musical prowess. I’m not much of a pop fan, but this disc is invitingly quirky and several tunes have a Paul Simon feel.

May, Willie – “Nights of Luna” (Black Rock Entertainment)

Player from “western” New York with rough voice and okay backup band with horns. No cigar.

Moss, Joe – “Drive Time: Live at Chan’s” (Joe Moss & His Brothers Records) B-

Massachusetts guitar player’s 8-tune disc on an independent label. Nice grooves along the rock-funk line with blues occasionally visiting. Super long intros (as much as a minute) of comping before vocals start on most tunes. Instrumentation pretty nice, but singing only adequate. Nice bar band, probably fun live.

Quiett, Terry – “Just My Luck” (Terry Quiett Music) B

Oh no…another power trio…comin’ in blastin. But wait…here’s a soulful acoustic number with resonator guitar. Then here’s one with jazzy touches. All band tunes bristling with muscular guitar attacks and Quiett’s in-your-face vocals…that still manage to sing, not yell. Songwriting reveals the man’s got a host of alien women encounters…but the music is an electric rocker’s delight….along the Robben Ford trail.

Randolph, Robert & The Family Band – “We Walk This Road” (Warner Bros) B+

Randolph learned pedal steel guitar from church. In church, it’s referred to as “sacred steel” guitar. Randolph added soul and funk as he learned and came to the attention of several people, eventually landing a gig working with the North Mississippi Allstars. Forming “The Family Band” with cousins, he began opening for Derek Trucks and others, then recording with Eric Clapton. On this release Ben Harper, Doyle Bramhall and others guest with T-Bone Burnett producing. “We Walk This Road” is a “celebration of African-American music over the past 100 years…with old-time (original recordings) leading the listener to new songs/versions by Randolph and guests. Funk, soul, gospel and rock. Vocals are quiet stars on this disc, and the combined work of T-Bone Burnett and Randolph make the tunes amazing, yet hard to classify. Innovative work.

Rodriguez, Carrie & Ben Kyle – “We Still Love Our Country” (Ninth St. Opus) A

Austin, TX native Rodriguez toured for years with Chip Taylor and then became very well known for her fiddle playing, singing and songwriting. She has been dabbling with different partners, and this one with Irishman Ben Kyle (Romantica) sure hits the spot. His mellow vocals are the perfect foil for her dazzling pure sound as they sing. The do a beautiful remake of the Townes Van Zandt “If I Needed You” – a song I thought might be too tired to survive yet it is revived ever sweetly here. These type of harmonies are so fine and so hard to find. WOW. They also do some wonderful Texas two step, country, and even a sweet version of Boudleaux Bryant’s Love Hurts. Wow. This CD is too short…more please.

Sweany, Patrick – “That Old Southern Drag” (Nine Mile Records) C

Rough-voiced rock with traces of southern soul, but not a lot of nuance…not recommended.

Waters, Ben – “Boogie 4 Stu: Tribute to Ian Stewart” (Eagle Records) A

A young fan of Ian Stewart set out to make a CD in tribute of his hero after studying him for years (even after Stewart’s death) and as he began, notice of his project came to the Rolling Stones and several others who knew him – all who asked to participate. The result of a year’s project lie on this disc. Waters really demonstrates a solid command of Stewart’s style with his own flourishes thrown in, and as always – the Stones jump it up about 10 notches. The whole disc not only sounds great, but it’s clearly a project of love. As Keith Richards told Waters…”There’s only two people I never heard a bad word about…Ian and Charlie Watts.” This is a beat.

Whiptails, The – “The Whiptails” (Basilhead Records) C+

This Texas trio plays eclectic country & rockabilly and are described as “Patsy Cline meets Elvis Costello.” I’m not sure that describes it. Lead singer/guitarist Jeanne Sinclair has a clear,-but-warbly voice laden with yodel and bassist Chris Cessac, and drummer Garrett T. Capps provide an underpinning to her careening,but breathy phrasing and unadorned guitar work, Strange, not terribly melodic.. I think I’d need a different kind of vitamins to call this good..eclectic certainly…good?