#561 > Matty T Wall - Live Down Underground (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2022 – Hipster Dumpster Records

By Phillip Smith; July 2, 2022

 

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Since Matty T Wall’s debut release in 2016 of Blue Skies, I’ve reviewed each of his albums.  I’m sure not going to break tradition with his latest, Live Down Underground.  Wall very much deserves the kudos.  He is a force to be reckoned with and his prowess behind the guitar never ceases to amaze me.  Recorded at Lyric Underground in Perth, Western Australia, this nine-track release features Wall backed by drummer Ric Whittle and bassist Leigh Miller.

Wall gives a smoking performance as he leads off with the story-telling outlaw blues of “Broken Heart Tattoo”.  This is followed up by the intense red-hot instrumental “Slideride”.  I enjoy the fierce licks and rolling thunder from the moment the song blasts off.  “Scorcher”, another searing instrumental is also quick to capture my attention.  Wall is an astonishing beast on the guitar.  I love the fact that he brought “Sophia’s Strut” out to play.  This mind-melting track from his 2018 Sidewinder record is still lightning in a bottle, just as I described it four years ago.  The psychedelic piece de resistance that begs to be heard is the nearly fifteen minute long “Voodoo Chile”. Wall conjures up an extraordinary listening experience, masterminding a cosmically intense journey that stretches across the universe to shake hands with Hendrix himself.   

Matty T Wall’s previous two albums have landed in my yearly Top 20 lists, and I have no doubt this one will be in my list for 2022.  Live Down Underground is a bodacious live album of guitar-centric blues-rock one can sink their teeth into.  It’s a highly recommended listen.

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PhillyCheeze reviews Matty T Wall

Transpacific Blues Vol. 1  - https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2019/12/422-matty-t-wall-transpacific-blues-vol.html

Sidewinder - https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/09/351-matty-t-wall-sidewinder.html

Blue Skies - https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2016/07/matty-t-wall-blue-skies.html

 

 

For more information about Matty T Wall, visit https://www.mattytwall.com

 

#490 : Damon Fowler - Alafia Moon

 

2021 – Landslide Records

Release Date: Mar. 26, 2021

By Phillip Smith; Mar. 13, 2021

 

I’ve been reviewing the music of Tampa, Florida musician Damon Fowler for almost eight years now.  Whether playing with his own band, or with Southern Hospitality, the supergroup he was in with J.P.Soars and Victor Wainwright, Fowler continues to be a magnificent force to be reckoned with.  His songs are compelling, his voice soulfully raspy, and his slide guitar is superb.  Alafia Moon, his eighth solo album was coproduced by Fowler and George Harris (Cheap Trick, Rick Derringer, Brian Johnson – AC/DC), and features Chuck Riley on bass, Justin Headley on drums, T.C. Carr on harmonica, Mike Kach on keys, backup vocalist Betty Fox, and Josh Nelms in charge of background noise.     

The record slides nicely into play with the swampy infectious goodness of “Leave It Alone”.  The groove quickly takes ahold of me.  The lush melody and beautiful arrangement on title-track “Alafia Moon” is a delight for the soul.  Notes from the organ seem to linger in mid-air, as the cymbals crash, with Fowler’s passion-soaked vocals ringing out atop his spectacular guitar performance.  I absolutely adore Fowler’s cover of Guy Clark’s fabulous story-telling song “The Guitar”.  It showcases his finger picking expertise very nicely.  “Some Things Change” is fantastic too.  With killer slide guitar from Fowler fueled by the smoldering sounds of harp, the song definitely cooks.  I dig the southern soul of “Wanda”.  Its Stax-meets-Fame vibe is dressed to the nines in a happy, funky groove.

The album closes with a joined-pair of tracks starting with “The Umbrella”, a spoken word selection of Fowler telling a story from his earlier days on tour.  His tale involves an encounter with a drunken fan in Prescott, Arizona, whose incessant request to hear the band play “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” leads to the final track on the album “Kick His Ass Out”.   

Constructed around the four musical corner stones of blues, country, rock, and soul, Alafia Moon sets a new benchmark for Damon Fowler.  It truly is an exceptional album.  

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For more information about the artist, visit this website : https://www.damonfowler.com