#718 > Big Earl's Electric Witness - Get Up Off The Ground (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Dick Earl Erickson

By Phillip Smith; Dec. 7, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

I find a genuine affinity to the intoxicating sounds of Get Up Off the Ground, the second release from Utah-based blues-rockers Dick Earl’s Electric Witness. Taking third place at the 2023 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, this family-centric band certainly grabbed my attention with their masterfully crafted songs, smooth vocals, searing harmonica licks, and tight rhythm section. With Dick Earl Ericksen at the helm on guitar, banjo, harmonica, jaw harp, and vocals, he is joined by his son Isaac Ericksen (co-producer/bass guitar), his wife Alice Ericksen (co-producer/backing vocalist), Mari Ericksen (drums/percussion/backing vocals), Zoe Ericksen (backing vocals) Thomas Anderson (guitars/kalimba/charango/backing vocals), and Matt Green (organ/keys).

The album opens with title track “Get Up Off The Ground” which emits a very cool spaghetti-western/down-at-the-crossroads vibe. Topped with deliciously twangy guitar and a fiery harp performance, this is an absolute treat. Following up right behind is an ode to hitting the open road “Black Lines and White Crosses”. This call-back to the trucker songs of the Seventies has an infectious hook and strikes me with an instant familiarity. The Electric Witness serves up a big fluffy platter of funky blues with “Eggs”. I love the jam-band friendly approach they take with this track. It reminds me of one of my all-time favorite bands Phish. A thick groove, a pounding beat and thick bass guitar opens up the Latin-infused “Vinyard” for Dick to deliver a bone-crushing dose of scorching harp. This one is a downright amazing pozole of sound. Dick delicately balances his troubadour vocals and extraordinary harmonica prowess on “On Her Heart”. It’s a wonderful track.

Get Up Off the Ground hits like a classic Steve Miller Band record, as blues, rock, western, and Latin sounds merge together for big sound. Dick Earl’s Electric Witness has sure won me over with this record.

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For more information about Dick Earl’s Electric Witness, visit the website @  https://dickearlselectricwitness.com/

 

Find Dick Earl’s Electric Witness on Bandcamp too.

Tas Cru - Simmered & Stewed

2016 – Vizztone Records

By Phillip Smith; Jan. 21, 2017

As New York blues artist Tas Cru explains, he is returning to his ‘acoustic-ish’ blues roots on his latest album, Simmered  & Stewed.  He breathes a delightful new life into a handful of his older recorded material with the use of his acoustic, resonator and cigar box guitars. 

Cru gets a spirited and running start on the outstanding “Dat Maybe”, revving up his resonator through the driving beat supplied by Andy Hearn, a juicy wall of harmonica from Dick Earl Ericksen and a soulful organ accompaniment from Guy Nirelli.  It’s impossible to escape the gravitational pull of the trance groove Tas embeds in “Feel I’m Falling”.  Distant backing vocals and Ron Keck’s spacy ominous percussion add to the haunting vibe in this brilliantly psychedelic cry for help.  David Liddy’s rollicking barrelhouse piano playing shines bright through the saucy and manic blues of “Biscuit”.  Shout outs to the legendary Delta Blues great Robert Lockwood Jr. and the voice of KFFA’s King Biscuit Flour Hour ‘Sunshine’ Sonny Payne also bring a smile to my face.

Simmered & Stewed is chock full of all original tunes, with the exception of one song.  As the only cover on the album, the 1967 Jackie Wilson hit song “Higher and Higher” deliciously and slowly builds to a fast boil in the uplifting form of a southern gospel ten revival session. This is a nice treat indeed.  Thus the album comes to its finish, and I say, Amen brother!    

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