#386 : Sam Price & The True Believers - DragonFly

2019 – Sam Price Music

By Phillip Smith; April 13, 2019

It’s been a couple of years since Sam Price, bass player for Honey Island Swamp Band, has released an album with the True Believers.  So, the time has come for a new one.    His latest album, Dragonfly, is a superb follow-up to its predecessor.  It’s a delicious blend of blues, jazz and funk simmered in kettle of soul.  Produced by Papa Mali and written by Price, it’s such a laid-back listen, I just love it.  The True Believers is comprised of drummer Ethan Shorter, vocalist Whitney Alouisious, guitarist Alex Mallet, keyboardist Phil Breen, and percussionist Conga Mike, as Price drives the bus on bass and vocals.       

“I’ll Meet You There”, with its charming southern soul, delightfully kicks off the album.  I dig the short instrumental “Stand Up”.  With Breen behind the keys, and Conga Mike’s groovy beats keeping everything aligned, Price fills out the funk-filled rhythm with his buttery bass.  The title-track, “Dragonfly”, is a soothing, rich and amazing listen.  The accompanying percussion from Michael Skinkus is remarkable.  Guitarist Todd Duke, trumpeter Gregory Davis, and Andriu Vanovski on electric piano, join the band for “Old Jim Crow” a socially-conscious New Orleans-style blues track which is plumb great.

From dreamy to funkified, the songs of Sam Price and the True Believers run the gambit of southern Americana, and makes a striking impression.  Dragonfly is indeed a superb listen. 

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#329 : Long Tall Deb and Colin John - Dragonfly

2017 – Vizztone Records

By Phillip Smith; April 14, 2018

Dragonfly, the second disc from Long Tall Deb and Colin John is a superb album to sink ones teeth into.  This eleven track album explores a variety of worldly genres while anchored in American roots, blues and soul.  Deb Landolt aka Long Tall Deb fills each song with her enchanting vocals, building a connection to the listener every time, while Colin John wondrously plays guitar.  The main core of musicians on the album consists of drummer Jimmy Castoe, bassist Melvin Powe, and Nate Hofman on organ.  Produced by Michael Landolt (Coldplay, O.A.R.) the album also features several noteworthy guests such as Mick Kolassa, Jeff Jensen, Michael Hill, Jo El, James Cunningham, Bill Ruffino, Cliff Starbuck and Chris Stephenson.       

There’s a sense of attitude and fearlessness on the head-banging blues-rocker “On the Way Down”.  From John’s searing guitar riffs to Deb’s powerful vocals the song rides the wave of Castoe’s thunder and sticks the landing quite nicely. John breaks out the sitar to add a taste of India to the spaghetti western ballad of no regret called “Remember Why (It’s Good He’s Gone)”.  The brutal honesty of the lyrics in “Pull The Pin” cuts through like a broken beer bottle.  It’s an amazing song of self-reflection and metamorphosis.

With the exception of an intoxicating cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “Lungs” off his 1969 self-titled album, all songs on Dragonfly are original compositions.  “Lungs” is a little extra special in that it features a different configuration of musicians than the rest of the album.  For this poignant and beautifully played cut, Long Tall Deb and Colin John enlist drummer James Cunningham, guitarist Jeff Jensen, bassist Bill Ruffino, and organist Chris Stephenson. 

The word, “Dragonfly” as mentioned in the liner notes, is a symbol of transformation and change, and is the definitive theme to the record itself.  The album’s title track, full of adrenalin-pumping surf guitar is cloaked in the shadows of an ominous and forbidding atmosphere.  This twangy masterpiece is most interesting and has a strong presence, much akin to the songs Quentin Tarantino hand-picks for his films. It’s a brilliant song indeed. 

The flowing continuity of Dragonfly smoothly weaves its eleven songs into one very enjoyable listen.   

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