2016 – Ruf Records
By Phillip Smith; Sep. 3, 2016
Formed about ten years ago in
San Francisco by New Orleans musicians displaced from the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina, Honey Island Swamp Band is
composed of Aaron Wilkinson
(mandolin, guitar, harmonica, vocals), Chris
Mulé (guitar, vocals), Sam Price
(bass, vocals), Garland Paul (drums,
vocals), and Trevor Brooks
(keyboards). Their newest release, Demolition Day is a bountiful big bowl of
soulfully seasoned Americana roots-rock, and wonderfully written songs produced
by Luther Dickinson(North Mississippi Allstars).
An exquisitely funky bassline
sets the track for an intoxicating jam fueled with spacy guitar in “Head High
Water Blues”. I love the little blasts
of brass and boogie-laced piano accompaniment in “Watch and Chain”. Mulé
seems to have channeled the spirit of Harry
Nilsson while writing “She Goes Crazy”. The innocence lingering in the melody is a fun
contrast to the chaotic love story welded into the lyrics. “Katie” is a lovely piece as well. This folky performance with a zydeco spirit is
one my favorites. The album comes to a
close with the magnificent “Devils Den”. The eclectic sound of Wilkinson’s mandolin and Mulé’s swampy slide guitar set an eerie
ominous presence, like a Nick Cave murder ballad.
Demolition Day,
one of the more interesting albums to recently dip into my awareness, reveals something
new with each listen. I’m downright captivated
by this music and so enjoy being unconsciously ushered from genre to genre.
That’s a craft in and of itself.
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