PhillyCheeze's Rock & Blues Reviews: Craig Erickson

Showing posts with label Craig Erickson. Show all posts

Saturday, February 11, 2023

#596 : Craig Erickson - Modern Blues (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

2023 – Ferver Records

By Phillip Smith; Feb. 11, 2023

Release Date : Feb. 17, 2023

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

I’m very excited to hear new music from Iowa-based artist Craig Erickson. He always delivers the goods when it comes to high-octane, guitar-fueled blues-rock. I love his funky, cosmic and from-the-heart approach to songwriting. His latest album Modern Blues is a twelve-track journey of finding balance amidst the challenges facing the world today. As a proficient multi-instrumentalist, Erickson takes on vocals, guitar, bass, and keyboards, with Jeff Sipe (Col. Bruce Hampton, Leftover Salmon, Cedell Davis) on drums.

When the world turns upside down, Erickson stares hate squarely in its eyes and unleashes a furious dose of guitar mastery on “Topsy Turvy”. This is the song that sets the stage for the remainder of the record. A buttery rhythm typesets the page on title track “Modern Blues”. With this song, Erickson addresses the unsettling issues which fill our in-boxes with crazy news on a daily basis. A blast of adrenalin surges through my bloodstream with each listen of “Stormchasin’”. Craig absolutely tears it up as he lets loose a barrage of smokin’ licks on this song. On “Narrow Way”, he breaks out the slide. It sounds absolutely wonderful. I dig the greasy funk of “Bring Love Back Again”. The Allman-esque southern rock of “Last Train to Nowhere” is at the top of my favorite songs. Extra points are awarded to the reference to Batman and the Joker. The Hendrix-influenced “Brokedown World” is a wonderfully funky track with a smorgasbord of tones. The emotion poured into masterpiece “Blues River” is thick and intoxicating. A feeling of peace and tranquility washes over me as the album concludes with a joined pair of tracks “Loves Gonna Win” and “In the End”. I really like that this is how he brings the record to its end.

The flow is seamless as each song spills into the next, making for a wonderful album-oriented listen. Craig Erickson has set the bar at a new height for himself with “Modern Blues”. This is a record one will want to listen to from beginning to end.

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For more information about Craig Erickson, visit his website at : https://www.craigericksonsskytrain.com

Check out other PhillyCheeze reviews for Craig Erickson at : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/search?q=craig+erickson

Sunday, January 30, 2022

PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com #540 > 'daBluesapalooza

The Olympic Southside Theater

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

January 29, 2022

By Phillip Smith; Jan. 30, 2022

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

It was a fabulous night of blues last night at the Olympic South Side Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. KCCK Jazz 88.3, is celebrating thirty years of playing ‘da Blues over the airwaves, and marked the occasion by hosting ‘daBluesapalooza, a five-hour blues show to honor Bob DeForest who started spinning the blues on KCCK in January of 1992. John ‘Big Mo’ Heim who hosts The Big Mo Blues Show on Friday nights was also honored.

This special event featured the talents of several local area blues artists, making for a killer lineup of music which started with daBluesapalooza All-Stars comprised of BillyLee Janey, Dennis McMurrin, Nate Hines, Dan Johnson, Tom Giblin, and Eric Douglas. Time seemed to fly as music continued throughout the evening from Craig Erickson Quartet, Homebrewed, Tanya English Band, Johnny Kilowatt featuring Alligator Records recording artist Gloria Hardiman, Molly Nova and the Hawk featuring Bryce Janey, John Resch & Doggin’ Out, and The Evan Stock Band.

It was truly a special night.

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· * All photos by Phillip Smith

Dennis McMurrin, Dan Johnson, BillyLee Janey

Tom 'T-Bone' Giblin

Craig Erickson, Rob Haskell

Al Naylor, John Hall

Homebrewed

Nate Hines, Eric Douglas, Dennis McMurrin

Dennis McMurrin, Dan Johnson

Dennis McMurrin, Dan Johnson, Al Naylor

Tanya English Band

Ed English, Johnny Kilowatt

Johnny Kilowatt, Ed English

Johnny Kilowatt, Gloria Hardiman, Ed English

Turk Krause, Molly Nova

Bryce Janey

Molly Nova

Bryce Janey

Evan Stock

Evan Stock Band

· * All photos by Phillip Smith

Saturday, January 29, 2022

PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com #539 > Grande Revival - Liberty Station

2021 – Grooveyard Records

By Phillip Smith; Jan. 29, 2022

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com ©

Renowned recording artists Craig Erickson, and ‘Dirty’ Dave Osti recently teamed up as Grande Revival to record a hands-down, kick-ass album of guitar-centric blues-rock songs called Liberty Station. Penning five tracks each, Erickson and Osti take turns singing their songs, rocking the sound of dual guitars with Anthony James Tuco on bass, and Cosmo Benz on drums. Having two alpha powerhouse guitarists on each song makes for an amazing listen.

“Scars on the Road”, kicks the saloon-doors open as Dirty Dave fearlessly rips it up on guitar keeping the riffs infectious and the licks hotter than hell. Smothered generously with his whisky-soaked vocals, this one fully grabs my attention. The mellow groove Erickson weaves through “Cabin in the Country” pulls me right in. The tones he harvests from his guitar bring to mind those of Tommy Bolin’s “Wild Dogs”. Osti’s vocal styling topped with harmonizing guitars instill a huge Black Oak Arkansas vibe in title-track “Liberty Station”. This southern-rocker is ear-candy for the guitar-lovers soul and features guest guitarist Stavros Papadopoulos from Greece. “Gypsy Southern Highway”, another Osti song, immediately follows, breaking free of its gentle, melodic beginning and evolves into a phenomenal, fierce, hard-driving jam. “Sweet Comfort of Love” embraces the sounds of Seventies southern-rock in an Allman Brothers kind of way, as Erickson sings about searching for love. “Big River Moon” brings the album to its close in a grand way. Osti and Erickson sound great together.

Liberty Station is a terrific debut album from Grande Revival. I hope to hear more from these guitar masters in the future.

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Available at Grooveyard Records :

http://www.grooveyardrecords.com/granderevivallibertystation.html

Sunday, August 4, 2019

#402 : Prairie Dog Blues Festival - 2019

Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin

July 26-27, 2019

By Phillip Smith; August 3, 2019

I had an absolutely amazing time during the two days I spent at the Prairie Dog Blues Festival this year. Besides the spectacular music, there was an amazing comradery between the blues fans. Upon first arrival on Friday evening, I staked out some prime territory within the beer tent to see one my favorite acts Ghost Town Blues Band. They tore it up on four separate sets that evening, playing all the songs I wanted to hear. Their covers of “Come Together”, “Whipping Post”, and “Statesboro Blues” were superb as always. It was great to catch up with those guys again. Between the GTBB sets, I made sure to shimmy over to the main stage to see more outstanding performances from Tas Cru, Reverend Payton’s Big Damn Band, Toronzo Cannon, and Nikki Hill.

Tas Cru and Mary Ann Casale teamed up to dazzle me with delight on “Heal My Soul”. Casale cowrote this one with Tas for his acclaimed Memphis Song album. It was cool to hear “Dirty Swerve” from Reverend Peyton. That one definitely put the fans in dance mode. Toronzo Cannon brought some of the best blues Chicago has to offer, and Nikki Hill commanded full attention for her powerful for her set of rockin’ soul. She even busted out a little AC/DC with a nod to Bon Scott on “If You Want Blood / I’m a Rocker”.

On the second day of the festival, I headed directly to the main stage to hear Craig Erickson and the Roadhouse Rockers. The man is a powerhouse when it comes to playing guitar, and it is always a pleasure to see his band play. ZZ Top tribute band Eliminator from Chicago lit up the crowd with nearly ninety minutes of dazzling showmanship and spot-on covers. They were so fun to watch and hear. I was so glad to have finally caught Eliza Neals in concert. She has been on my radar ever since reviewing her 10,000 Feet Below album. This is another act which I highly recommend. Neals definitely puts the ‘rock’ in blues-rock, with her amazing vocals. Popping over to the beer tent to hear The Kris Lager Band was a lot of fun as well. The tent was filled to capacity, as they played their unique style of funky blues. The evening was capped off with a searing performance from Anthony Gomes. The first time I saw Gomes, he was opening for the king of blues himself, B.B. King. This my third time seeing him, and he keeps upping his game every time.

Prairie Dog Blues Festival, which is held annually on the historic St. Feriole Island in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, is very organized and cuts no corners when it comes to booking talent. I will definitely make a point of returning.

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* All Photos by Phillip Smith