R.B. Stone - Some Call it Freedom

2016 – Middle Mountain Music

By Phillip Smith; Mar 26, 2016

Veteran musician R.B. Stone brings a big ol’ plate of delicious downhome blues to the world via his new album and seventeenth project, Some Call it Freedom.  This eleven track album of all-originals is seriously great.  Stone takes on guitar, vocals and harmonica, while supported by Larry Van Loon on B3, B2 and piano, bassists Randy Coleman, Josh Fairman, and drummer Terrance Houston.    

I love the swampy slide guitar Stone plays throughout “Hill Country Stomp”, the first song out of the gate.  Howard kills it on drums, as he amps up this ramblin’ stomper.  Stone lays down more rippin’ guitar licks on title track “Some Call it Freedom”.  Stone’s fearless fuzzy licks are smoothly blended together with Loon’s brilliant piano boogie for “35 Miles to Mobile”, a definite stand-out track.  

Things get a little ominous and dark with “Another Thief”.  With Howard’s pseudo tribal Native American beat behind Stone’s wailing, both on guitar and vocally, this badass song rocks pretty damn hard.  “Nickajack”, although only two minutes long, keeps the energy flowing with plenty of swampy hill-country blues and fine picking.

My ears perk up even more when “Standin’ on Top of the World” kick in with harp playing that rivals that of John Popper.  This is a feel-good song for sure, and puts me in my happy spot when I hear it.

This album comes highly recommended to everyone who appreciates The Blues.

Andy T. Nick Nixon Band - Numbers Man

2015 –Blind Pig Records

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 3, 2015

Taking in the cool blues-lavished sounds of the Andy T. – Nick Nixon Band’s latest release, Numbers Man makes me smile from ear to ear. The band is guitarist Andy ‘T’ Talamantez, vocalist Nick Nixon, Larry van Loon handing the B3 and piano, drummer Jim Klingler, and bassist Sam Persons. Also along for the ride is The Texas Horns (Kaz Kazanov: tenor sax, Al Gomez : trumpet, and John Mills : baritone sax).

A blast of horns and a wave of B3 lead the way for a swinging R&B treat in “Shut the Front Door”. Andy T. delivers classic rock guitar, Chuck Berry style, as Nixon belts out his commanding vocals. The band nails down a splendid rendition of Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown’s ”Gate’s Salty Blues” in which Klingler’s precision drumming rolls out to greet the sweet twang of Andy T’s guitar.

Infatuation with a 6’-3” tall gal is the inspiration for the fun and spirited, “Tall Drink of Water” in which special guest, Christian Dozzler takes the boat out for a little Zydeco fun. Dozzler also adds a nice taste of barrelhouse blues to “Sundown Blues”, which mixes nicely with the lush B3 sounds of Van Loon. This extraordinary track features Kim Wilson from the Fabulous Thunderbirds on harmonica. When that is joined with Nixon’s gravelly vocals, everything gels perfectly and culminates into a flawless performance.

It’s very obvious that Andy T. and Nixon take their music seriously. Numbers Man is the proof in the pudding.