2014 – Blind Pig Records
By Phillip Smith;
Sep. 13, 2014
Live My Life,
the third studio release from Minnesota native, Sena Ehrhardt, is a true gem of an album. Ehrhardt
is backed by a tight new group of musicians fronted by guitarist/songwriter Cole Allen. To top things off, the legendary David Z returned to his old Minnesotan
stomping grounds, being called in to produce and mix.
Ehrhardt reminds
us how great the range is on her voice, as she lets loose on “Stakes Have Gone
Up”, an energetic opener, blending contemporary country with blues. Special guest, Smokin’ Joe Kubek breaks out the slide guitar on “Things You
Shouldn’t Need to Know”. I really like
this track. It reminds me of the early
Jefferson Airplane years, with its sexy and sultry vocals riding atop lush
bluesy guitar riffs and a splash of psychedelia. Cole
rocks out with intensity, as he throws down the gauntlet with heavy licks and head-banging
riffs, ripping it up on “Did You Ever Love Me At All”. This one is blues rock
at its best.
Digging deep, Ehrhardt blows the dust off the old Leon Russell penned classic, “Help Me Through the Day”, recorded by Freddy
King. Modified slightly to switch
the point of reference from male to female, this track is performed with
perfection. With Jimi “Primetime” Smith joining in on rhythm guitar and Bruce McCabe on piano, this sounds so
good, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Being the amazing singer she
is, Ehrhardt has once more outdone
herself. Based on this album, I’d be
very surprised if she wasn’t nominated for Contemporary Blues Female Artist for
the 2015 Blues Music Awards.
