#529 : Cole Allen - The Other Side

 

2021 – Cole Allen

By Phillip Smith; Nov. 20, 2021

Minnesota-based music artist Cole Allen first appeared on my radar while I was in the midst of reviewing the album Live My Life by his wife Sena Ehrhardt.  Allen was lead guitarist for the band, and that album, which was released on Blind Pig Records made a terrific impression on me.  His new six-track release The Other Side is quite impressive as well.  His talents shine brightly on this recording as he performs solo with acoustic guitar in hand.

Divided into two parts: sunset, and sunrise, this album begins on the darker sunset side, with title track “The Other Side”.  There’s a strong Pearl Jam-unplugged vibe on this song, which I just love.  Allen’s lyrical mastery is perfectly framed by his melancholy melody in “Black Cloud” a song where desperation seems to be the norm, and total hopelessness seems to be right around the corner.  As the darkness fades away, and the light creeps in, a splendid cover of “Maybe it’s Time” by Jason Isbell opens the sunrise portion of the album in a thought-provoking fashion.  Allen’s odyssey through the dark and into the light finally lands him on the ‘other side’ with “Noelle”.  This beautiful song, dedicated to his daughter, is wrapped in a blanket of love and joy. 

The Other Side is such a reflective piece.  Allen wears his heart on his sleeve throughout the whole album.  His original songs are amazingly crafted and seem to walk the line between Eddie Vedder and John Prine.  I certainly hope to hear more of Cole Allen in the future.      

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 Links to additional PhillyCheeze reviews featuring Cole Allen:

PhillyCheeze's Rock & Blues Reviews: Sena Ehrhardt live at Campbell Steele Gallery - Feb. 11, 2017 (phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com)

 

PhillyCheeze's Rock & Blues Reviews: Sena Ehrhardt - Live My Life (phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com)

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For more information about the artist, visit this website : www.coleallen.net

Sena Ehrhardt live at Campbell Steele Gallery - Feb. 11, 2017

Marion, Iowa

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 12, 2017

Saturday, February 11,  The Sena Ehrhardt Band gave a superb performance at the Campbell Steele Gallery in Marion, Iowa.  This Minneapolis-based blues band is fronted by singer/songwriter Ehrhardt, her husband, guitarist Cole Allen, drummer Wayne Allen, and bassist Crosby Williams.  Prior to Ehrhardt taking the stage to sing the wonderful “Things You Should’t Need to Know” off the 2014 Live My Life album, Cole Allen warmed the audience up with a serious dose of instrumental electric blues. His talent on the guitar runs deep.  

Ehrhardt’s strong and powerful vocals sounded so good on the slow and swampy “Last Chance”, from her first record. Cole’s ripping guitar performance, an added bonus, is such a treat.  The band blessed the crowd with the house-rocking Chicago blues fave “Little By Little”, which ended in an audience participation sing-a-long. I was happy to hear them play a personal favorite, “Buried Alive”. It is an outstanding number.  For the fabulous finale, Ehrhardt closed out with “Rock Me Baby”, dedicating the song to B.B. King, Johnny Winter, and Smoking Joe Kubek.  It was a terrific show for sure.

Sena Ehrhardt - Live My Life

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.