2017 – Vizztone Records
By Phillip Smith;
May 20, 2017
I’ve been a fan of Nick Schnebelen since hearing Wrong Side of the Blues, a 2011 release from
his band Trampled Under Foot, which was
cofounded with his siblings, Danielle
Nicole and Kris. That album was one of my favorites that year,
and I was fortunate to have reviewed it for Blues Review Magazine’s online magazine, Blues Wax. Nick now leads his own band, a high-energy
power trio with Cliff Moore on bass
and Adam Hagerman on drums. Live in
Kansas City captures a riveting concert from this band who took the stage at
Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City
on December 3, 2016.
Leading off this killer ten
track album, is the spectacular “Fool”. Schnebelen’s vocals, soaked in the
blues, are powerful and smooth. The captivating
sound of his guitar rings with spirit and emotion. I love the funk-infused rhythm on “Herbert
Harper’s Free Press News”. Catchy riffs
and high-octane drums fuel this one. The
guitar mastery demonstrated in “You Call That Love” is second to none, and sounds
absolutely amazing. Chills shoot up and down my spine when they break into a quite
superb cover of Johnny Winter’s “Mean Town Blues”. Schnebelen
takes no prisoners as he plays this wonderful piece on slide. The album closes with “Conformity Blues”, an
exquisite instrumental guided by a propelling rhythm and intricately laced up with
an exhilarating guitar performance.
Nick Schnebelen
Live in Kansas City is an outstanding
album of fortified electric blues which hits the ground running and plows
through right to the very end.
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