#709 > Scott Weis Band - Live in Europe (PhillyCheezeBlues.Blogspot.com)

 

2024 – Scott Weis

By Phillip Smith; Oct. 12, 2024

Original source : phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com

 

Live in Europe, the eighth release from Scott Weis Band packs the raw essence of his live shows into a bootleg-type recording made with four microphones and a two-track board from performances across four different cities in Germany. This Pennsylvania-based blues-rock band has been on my radar for just over four years now, and have very much enjoyed each of the studio albums I have reviewed. This is an interesting disc.  It reminds me in ways of John Mayall’s Live in 1967 discs featuring Peter Green, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood in a kind of way. With Weis standing front and center on guitar and lead vocals, he is joined by Robert Kopec on bass guitar, and Roger Voss on drums.

This fourteen-track release begins with hard-driving title-track off his most recent studio album called “Raise Your Hands”. Weis’ guitar performance is searing. Their smoking cover of ZZ Topp’s “Jesus Just Left Chicago” sounds best at high volume. I love their cover of Chris Stapleton’s ‘Tennessee Whiskey”. That is such a beautiful song, and Weis sings it with a soulful delivery. “Pride and Soul” off the Simmer Me Down album surfs a heavy-rockin’ Texas-style blues riff and is topped with an amazing guitar solo. The way he plays that swampy slide on “Motherless” takes me right to the Mississippi Delta. They attack “Right Where It Belongs” with flash and fury and it sounds great. They bring this record to an end with “Have You Ever Loved a Woman” which runs just a little over ten minutes. Lyrically it is different from the Freddie King version but the essence remains as Weis makes this his own with amazing licks and runs.  

Live in Europe captures the energy of Scott Weis Band’s live shows and brings it directly to the listener.        

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Visit Scott Weis Band online at https://scottweisband.com

 

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#455 : Scott Weis Band - Simmer Me Down

2020 – Scott Weis Band Production

By Phillip Smith; July 25, 2020

Simmer Me Down, the sixth release from Scott Weis Band, is a ten-track delight of electric blues.  With Weis on lead guitar and vocals, his trio also consists of Robert Kopec on bass guitar, and Roger Voss on drums.  Dedicated to the memory of Ben Elliot, who mixed and mastered the album, the record was recorded at Showplace Studios and features guests Cindy Mizelle on vocals, John Ginty on keys, Bashiri Johnson on percussion, and Phil Silverberg on keys.   

The opening track “Pride and Soul”, delicately awakens to a hard-driving blues-rock gem.  Filled to the brim with the lush sound of keys and a crashing pulse, the song also contains a bodacious dose of slide guitar.  It’s a stellar way to get the album started.  Weis breaks out a little Cajun funk topped with side of harmonica on title track “Simmer Me Down”.  It’s such a fun listen.  Surrounded by a wonderful infectious rhythm, and accompanied by Mizelle on backing vocals, Weis sings “Helpless” with a soulful John Hiatt swagger.  The song is pure excellence.  Weis, Voss and Kopec absolutely rip it up on “Right Where It Belongs”.  This is blues-rock at its best.      

Out of ten tracks on the recording, two are covers, and they are both terrific.  Weis performs Sam and Dave’s “When Something is Wrong with My Baby” with a mountain of heart and soul.  I love their take on ZZ Top’s “Jesus Just Left Chicago”.  Weis keeps this Texas blues favorite intact, while throwing his own spin into it.                 

The album closes with an amazing instrumental called “Transendence”.  It’s so reminiscent of the work of Tommy Bolin, it leaves me with a smile in my heart.  There’s no weak link in Simmer Me Down.  This album is about as solid as it gets.      

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For more information about the artist, visit this website : scottweisband.com