Showing posts with label Wooden Nickel Lottery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wooden Nickel Lottery. Show all posts

Saturday, January 5, 2019

#369 : Wooden Nickel Lottery - Long Time Running



2018 – Violet Isle Records

By Phillip Smith; Jan. 05, 2019

Wooden Nickel Lottery, a four-piece band hailing from eastern Iowa, continues their tradition of producing a unique blend of rock, country, and blues with their third and latest release, Long Time Running.  The pairing of Rick Gallo’s soulful vocals with Rich Toomsen’s high energy guitar sounds great as bassist Jessica Toomsen, and drummer Delayne Stallman forge the pulse of a groovin’ rhythm section.  Of the nine tracks on the record, eight are notable originals written by Rich.       

Steeped in southern rock and paved with a Bob Seger vibe, title track “Long Time Running” is a badass tune evoking images of a cowboy on a mission.  I love listening to Rich rip it up on “The Right Man”.  This song is a true showcase for his guitar mastery.  A funky rhythm and a groovy contagious riff blows the doors open on “Drive By Love”, laying out the red carpet for Galllo’s signature voice.  “East to West” is a stellar favorite.  Rick’s smooth vocals take the reins, as the song energetically gallops in to an amazing listen featuring more blazing guitar from Rich and a hypnotic bass and drum backing from Jess and Stallman.    

With guest performances from Gerald Estella on organ and David Arnold on sax,  Long Time Running comes to a spectacular close with a stirring and beautiful cover of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come”.  This song is definitely worth checking out, and so is the album.     


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Other PhillyCheeze articles about Wooden Nickel Lottery : 


#325 : Tinsley Ellis / Wooden Nickel Lottery live @ The Redstone Room

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/03/325-tinsley-ellis-wooden-nickel-lottery.html


Wooden Nickel Lottery - Down the Line

https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2016/07/wooden-nickel-lottery-down-line.html

      


For more information about the artist, visit this website..  https://www.woodennickellottery.com/


Saturday, March 17, 2018

#325 : Tinsley Ellis / Wooden Nickel Lottery live @ The Redstone Room



Tinsley Ellis w/ opening act Wooden Nickel Lottery
Live @ The Redstone Room      
March 16, 2018
Davenport, Iowa
By Phillip Smith; Mar. 17, 2018


Tinsley Ellis blessed a full house at the Redstone Room in Davenport, Iowa with an amazing night of guitar blues, this past Friday, March 16th.  Performing with Ellis as his rhythm section was new touring bassist Kevan McCann and drummer Erik “Jazzy Skins” Kaszynski. 

Eastern Iowa blues-rockers Wooden Nickel Lottery opened for Tinsley with a powerful forty-five minute set.  WNL is comprised of lead singer Rick Gallo, lead guitarist Rich Toomsen, bassist Jess Toomsen, and drummer Delayne Stallman.  WNL kicked their set off with “Morning Heartbreak” off their 2015 debut album On My Way and proceeded to play through favorites from their latest album Down The Line, such as “Can’t Be Wrong”, “No Second Chances”, “Bad Gone Good” and “Nickels and Dimes”.  They closed out with a tight delivery of Sam Cooke’s “Change is Gonna Come”.  Gallo’s vocals were on the mark and the band’s performance was magnificent.

Tinsley did what Tinsley does best… and that’s play the Blues with his amazing arsenal of guitars.  He covered tons of favorites right from the get-go, hitting on “Saving Grace”, “Cut You Loose”, “To the Devil For a Dime”, and “Quitter Never Wins”.

My favorite moments occurred with Tinsley's Dobro in hand.  Before playing “Can’t Be Satisfied”, Tinsley explained Bob Margolin taught the song to him, and Muddy Waters had taught Margolin the song.   It was spectacular. He spoke about meeting many of the blues masters as a youth, and then tore into a breathtaking “Little Red Rooster”.
    
Before the evening was over, Tinsley let loose on “Highway Man”, “The Last Song”, and “Pawnbroker”.  It definitely was a marvelous night for music. 

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all photos by Phillip Smith



Wooden Nickel Lottery





Wooden Nickel Lottery

Delayne Stallman, Jess Toomsen, Rick Gallo

Rick Gallo

Rich Toomsen, Delayne Stallman, Jess Toomsen

Delayne Stallman, Jess Toomsen

Rich Toomsen

Delayne Stallman

Rick Gallo

Rich Toomsen, Jess Toomsen

Rich Toomsen, Delayne Stallman


Tinsley Ellis

Kevan McCann, Tinsley Ellis

Kevan McCann

 Erik “Jazzy Skins” Kaszynski.

Kevan McCann

Tinsley Ellis


Tinsley Ellis

Tinsley Ellis

Kevan McCann, Tinsley Ellis , Erik "Jazzy Skins" Kaszynski

 Erik “Jazzy Skins” Kaszynski.

Kevan McCann, Tinsley Ellis

Tinsley Ellis

 Erik “Jazzy Skins” Kaszynski.

Tinsley Ellis

Tinsley Ellis

Tinsley Ellis

Tinsley Ellis

Kevan McCann, Tinsley Ellis

 Erik “Jazzy Skins” Kaszynski.

Kevan McCann

Tinsley Ellis, Kevan McCann

Tinsley Ellis

all photos by Phillip Smith

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Wooden Nickel Lottery - Down the Line


2016 – Violet Isle Records
By Phillip Smith; July 9, 2016


There’s something kind of special about Wooden Nickel Lottery’s latest album, Down the Line.  The songs take me back to the late Seventies, when rock music relied on well-written songs, and radio stations still played a mix of genres.  That’s exactly what these Eastern Iowa musicians have to offer, as they skillfully combine splashes of rock, blues, country, funk and soul to create their own special blend of homegrown tunes.  The band is composed of lead vocalist/guitarist Rick Gallo, guitarist/tunesmith Rich Toomsen, bassist Jessica Toomsen, and drummer Delayne Stallman.

Gallo soulfully belts out “Can’t Be Wrong” with a power and smoothness which reminds me of Foreigner’s Lou Gramm.  I dig the funky bassline Jess lays down on “No Second Chances”.  It puts a smile on my face with every listen.  It’s easy to get lost in the bluesy melody on “Yesterday’s Rain”. It’s nice and slow, with an Allman Brothers vibe.  Hearing this one played live with an extended jam would be a treat for sure.  WNL kicks out the jams in hoedown fashion for a downright bodacious and intense instrumental, “Throw It Down”.  They keep the fire burning with the rocker “The Open Road”, staying on course with a driving beat from Stallman as Rich sweetly rips it up on guitar.   


For a cool-as-hell finale, the album closes out with a swampy homage to the working man in the track “Nickels and Dimes”.  Wooden Nickel Lottery scores big with Down the Line.  It is such an enjoyable album, I anxiously await their next.