2018 – Hokahey! Records
By Phillip Smith;
Aug. 18, 2018
In 1991, front man Micke Bjorklof and bassist
Seppo Nuolikoski formed Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip. With over twenty-five years under their belt,
and a few personnel changes this Finnish outfit is now stronger than ever
and holds court as a top tier blues band with a global fanbase. Twentyfive
Live at Blues Baltica celebrates those twenty-five years of playing live
music with a magnificent twenty-one track double live album recorded at Blues
Baltica, the annual four-day blues festival in Eutin, Germany. Alongside Micke and Seppo, the
lineup of the band consists of guitarist Ville “Lefty” Leppänen who has
been with the band since 1999, drummer Teemu Vuorela, and percussionist/MalletKAT
master Timo Roiko-Jokela.
Firing smoothly on all
cylinders, the band nicely starts off with “Jack the Black Hat” from their 2014
studio album, After the Flood. With a tremendous jazzy groove, they splendidly
cover the sultry title track to that album as well. I love the hoodoo inspired “Ray Needs a Mojo
Hand”. It captivates me with every
listen. A couple of very cool blues covers
land on disc one too: “5-10-15 Hours”, originally recorded by Ruth Brown,
and a ripping celebration of “Honey Hush” which is loaded with lots of hot
juicy harp. “Honey Hush” was originally
recorded and co-written by Lowell Fulsom as “Talkin’ Woman”. The song
was later covered by the blues-master Albert Collins who recorded it as “Honey
Hush” to place on his 1978 LP Ice Pickin’.
Lefty gives a smokin’ guitar performance
on this final song of the first disc.
The second disc opens with
”In Chains” a heart-wrenching blues ballad off Bjorklof’s 2015 studio
album Ain’t Bad Yet. “Gumbo Mama” is a fun and funky treat with a Red
Hot Chili Peppers vibe. Teemu
nicely rolls the red carpet out for “Killer Woman” a twangy head-banger that
rips it up in a classic rockabilly form. It segues perfectly right into the next song,
dedicated to the great, late Son House, “Ramblified” which is an
incredible performance packed with lots of amazing slide guitar. Twentyfive
Live beautifully comes to a close with “Sweet Dream’s a Sweet Dream” a soulfully
delicate tune which brings to mind the music of Tommy Bolin.
Until I actually get to
experience a Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip concert in person, I’m more
than happy to have Twentyfive Live at
Blues Baltica to enjoy. It’s
fabulous.
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Follow the links
below to read previous PhillyCheeze reviews for Micke Bjorklof and Blue Strip :
Micke
Bjorklof & Blue Strip - Ain’t Bad Yet
Micke
Bjorklof & Blue Strip - After the Flood
Southpaw
Steel ‘n’ Twang - Stat(u)e of Mind (w/
Ville “Lefty” Leppänen)
Southpaw
Steel ‘n’ Twang - Hale’s Pleasure Railway
(w/ Ville “Lefty” Leppänen and Micke Bjorklof)
