2021 – Ruf Records
Little Black Files marks the third album for the twenty-five-year-old
Atlanta-area singer-songwriter Eddie 9V, aka Brooks Mason, and
it’s going to be hanging tight nearby and ready for play at any given time this
Summer. Recorded live in the studio,
with an arsenal of top Georgia-based musicians, this cocktail of blues and
southern soul that Eddie 9V has masterminded, makes for a fresh and
invigorating listen. With Eddie
on lead guitar and vocals, the recording band is comprised of Cody Matlock
on rhythm guitar, Lane Kelly, Brandon Boone (Tedeschi Trucks
Band), and Marvin Mahanay splitting up the bass guitar parts,
Chad Mason on organ and Fender Rhodes, Jackson Allen on harp, Aaron
Hambrick on drums, Mandi Strachota on background vocals, and Sam
Nelson on alto and tenor sax.
I absolutely love the soulfulness of “Little Black Flies” which ushers the album in. This timeless song of infatuation with a girl engaged in an abusive relationship with another man is downright brilliant. With every listen, I’m reminded of how much I adored Alabama Shakes’ Sound and Color album when I first heard it. “3 AM in Chicago” slides right in with a slow groovy beat and buttery bassline. Eddie’s smooth vocals shine brightly on this intoxicating track. His unbridled cover of Albert King’s “Traveling Man” sounds fantastic as he’s ripping it up on guitar amid a grand rhythm section backing topped with some serious keyboard accompaniment. “Miss James” is another terrific cover. This song off Howlin’ Wolf’s 1971 Message to the Young album is fun and funky.
It’s apparent Eddie 9V listened to a lot of blues growing up. When hearing originals such as “Reach Into Your Heart”, you hear the blues, but it’s very well crafted and bypasses the ‘cookie cutter’ blues formula which many current blues artists rely on. “Putting the Kids to Bed” is fabulous song too. It has a 70’s Rolling Stones vibe, and I can absolutely hear that Mick Jagger attitude in Eddie’s voice as he releases little growls like grenades thrown with precision.
Little Black Flies is one my favorite releases of 2021. I highly recommend it.
For more information about the artist, visit this website : www.eddie9v.com
Available on Bandcamp
