#708 > Chad Rupp and The Sugar Roots - Gate C23 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Lightning In A Bottle Records

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 12, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Since reviewing Chad Rupp and the Sugar Roots’ previous album last year, I’ve been totally onboard with their soulful approach to music. The latest recording from this Portland, Oregon ensemble is titled Gate 23 and hits like a fresh breath of air. I’m quite fond of the all-original guitar-centric, horn-infused blues they create.

Rupp and Sugar Roots quickly grab the attention of my ears with the suave and rockin’ blues of “Fresh Suits”. His guitar solo hits like a blast of Joe Walsh, and I soak it all up. As if simmered in a pot of funky New Orleans gumbo, “She Got That Business” surely puts a smile on my face. The masterful, slow dripping piano-laced blues on title-track “Gate C23” wonderfully captures the experience of being stuck in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. No trip to Beale Street in Memphis should be without a visit to Blues City Café for an evening of southern delicacies and top-notch entertainment. Rupp’s homage to this eatery and juke joint cleverly name-drops a plethora of musicians and menu items often found there with “Blues City Cafe”.  Growing up as one of those boys who had to shop for clothes in the ‘husky’ section of J.C. Penney, “Fat Kid Boogie” makes for a fun track loaded all the sweet treats which I often crave. The album comes to a funky jam-packed end with “Blind, Crippled & Crazy”.  I dig the way the song opens up to allow each member of the band to shine on this track.

Chad Rupp and the Sugar Roots have certainly scored again. Gate C23 is a terrific album, and further fuels my urge to see them in a live show. I’m definitely keeping an eye on this band.

 ---

 

Check out additional PhillyCheeze reviews of Chad Rupp with this link:

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Chad+Rupp

 

 

#656 : GeminiiDragon - 3 (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

2024 – Lighting in a Bottle Records

By Phillip Smith; Jan. 20, 2024

Release Date : Feb 1, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Louisiana-based GeminiiDragon has been on a roll for the past couple of years.  She released her first two albums in 2022, both of which grabbed my attention in a most positive way.  Her third and latest album, appropriately titled 3, continues to keep me tuned-in and turned-on with eleven all-original power-blues-rock tracks.  Jessica Harper aka GeminiiDragon and guitarist Christian Simeon share writing credits on every song.  The rhythm section behind GeminiiDragon and Simeon is comprised of bassist Douglas Varnado Jr., drummer Eric Sasser and Malaysia Lewis on vibraphone.  The record also features special appearances by Chad Rupp on harmonica and TJ Wong on guitar.

An infectious opening riff on “I Wanna Know” effortlessly pulls me right in to a powerful guitar-laced anthem where the chords seem to hang in mid-air.  In an amazing way, it creates a magical wave of sound for GeminiiDragon’s vocals to surf atop.  I love how Simeon turns the energy up to eleven on the front-end of “Clowns” as he delivers a Collective Soul-friendly axe-groove.  GeminiiDragon dives into Tina Turner mode with her voice as it melds with the Simeon’s sonic tones on “Wasted Time”.  “Cherokee” draws me in with its pop-punk center and southern-rock- flavored musical snippets.  The Seventies rock foundation Simeon pours for “A Fool For You” makes for a solid as hell track.  The song momentarily takes a dip into a pocket of psychedelia and fills me with delight.  “Last Train to Thibodaux” is a track I listen to repeatedly.  Its ethereal melody brings the blues into the world of emo.  It sounds new and sounds great.

GeminiiDragon’s 3 is an album that has tremendous appeal and hits all the right notes.  I like this one a lot. 

---

For more information about this artist, visit https://geminiidragon.bandcamp.com/music

This album available to purchase on Bandcamp.

Check out other PhillyCheeze review for GeminiiDragon : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=Geminiidragon

#637: Chad Rupp & The Sugar Roots - The Devil Won't Get You (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

2023 – Lightning in a Bottle Records

By Phillip Smith; Sep. 30, 2023

Release Date : Aug. 1, 2023

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

The Devil Won’t Get You is the second release from Portland, Oregon’s Chad Rupp & The Sugar Roots, and it’s stocked full of high-energy, all-original blues.  Headed up by Chad Rupp on vocals and guitar, this seven-piece ensemble is also comprised of Brady T. Goss on piano/Rhodes/Wurlitzer, Louis Pain on organ, Timmer Blakely on bass, Jimi Bolt on drums/percussion, Scott Franklin on saxophone, and Joe-Mack McCarthy on trumpet. 

Johnny Wheels from Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys makes a guest appearance on “Blues Men in Black” in which he lends a smokin’ dose of harp and vocals.  Rupp tears it up on guitar while Bolt lays down a big beat on drums.  The song is so hot, it’s downright nuclear.  “Leopard For Your Love” is solid blues through and through.  I dig the vintage Chicago Blues sound which pulses through the veins of this track.  Thing really begin to jump on “At the Candlelight Room”.  This bodacious track pays homage to the well-known blues club in Portland which unfortunately closed its doors in 2012.  Title-track “The Devil Won’t Get You” pays tribute to the music and locales of the Mississippi Delta.  It’s cool to hear Rupp name-drop locations in Clarksdale such as Abes BBQ and Ground Zero, along with performers Lala Craig, and Stan Street.  The album closes in style with a swinging, horn-infused treat called “Tighten It Up”.  Everyone comes together on this for a grand finale and I love every bit of it. 

Chad Rupp & The Sugar Roots have another winner with The Devil Won’t Get You.  It’s a fabulous listen. 

---