2026 – Overton Music
Release Date : September 4, 2026
By Phillip
Smith; August
29, 2026
Being a big fan of Iowa-based,
blues-duo Cedar County Cobras, I’m ecstatic to hear new music from
them. Their latest album Sinners
& Saints continues their mission to deliver the vintage, soul-stirring sounds
of pre-war delta blues with four outstanding covers and six new originals. The Cedar County Cobras, comprised of Tom
Spielbauer (songwriter/vocalist/guitar/banjo and April Dirks
(songwriter/vocalist/upright bass/mandolin), are joined by Bryan Vanderpool (drums/percussion/upright
bass/audio engineer), Dave Moore (harmonica), Heath Alan
(saxophone/backing vocals), Tanner Taylor (Hammond B-3/piano), Monica
Faye (harmony vocals), and Krista Guillaume (harmony vocals).
The album ignites with the fabulous original “Matches & Gasoline”. I’ve had the pleasure of hearing this gem live on a few occasions, and I love that it landed on the record. Harmonica in hand, Iowa City recording artist Dave Moore accompanies Spielbauer and Dirks for a ‘throw caution to the wind’ blues track “Motorbike”. I can feel the exhilarating rush of air and the vibration of gravel roads each time I hear this one. The Cobras bring the tragic and senseless circumstances of Bessie Smith’s death in 1937 to song in “Bessie Smith’s Last Ride”. Heath Alan lends a vibrant performance on sax and backing vocals to this poignant track. I’m fascinated at the new life they breathe into traditional songs “St. James Infirmary” and “Get Right Church”. A guiding deep bassline from Dirks ushers in their beautiful cover of “St. James Infirmary”. Spielbauer’s vocal performance is strongly reminiscent of the great Tom Waits and pulls me immediately in. The way his resonator guitar mingles with piano, B-3, and saxophone sets the gloomy and mournful tone of the song perfectly. Previously recorded by a number of blues and gospel artists “Get Right Church”, another favorite I’ve often heard them play live, makes for a spirited, feel-good listen with the swirling sounds of the B3 and backing vocals. “Precious Lord” written by Thomas A. Dorsey in 1932 while grieving for his wife who died during child birth of his infant son who passed two days later, brings the album to a thoughtful close. The song was known to be a favorite of Martin Luther King Jr. and definitely takes me to church. In June 2026, the song was included in CBS News’ list of 250 essential American songs of the past 250 years.
Saturday night sinners and Sunday morning saints seem to get equal billing on Cedar County Cobras’ Sinners & Saints… even when the lines between the two are blurry as hell. The album is an amazing listen, and its songs are timeless.
For more information about Cedar County Cobras, follow this link to their website:
For past Cedar County
Cobras reviews on PhillyCheeze’s Rock & Blues Reviews follow
this link: https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Cedar+County+Cobras