#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/

#368 : Shaw Davis & the Black Ties - Tales From the West

2018 – Chin Music Records

By Phillip Smith; Dec. 29, 2018

Tales From the West, the second release from Florida blues-rock trio Shaw Davis & the Black Ties, is an engaging balls-to-the-wall smash hit.  Front-man Shaw Davis coaxes a tsunami of sound from his guitar, culminating in an explosive performance.  The remainder of this killer band is comprised of bassist Patrick Stevenson, and drummer Bobby Van Stone.  

With a taste of Texas blues, “Take My Hand” rocks hard, and begs to be heard loudly.  Davis takes the listener to the cosmos and back with his stellar guitar commandeering.  The psychedelic groove on title track “Tales From the West” is ominous and infectious.  It digs right into my skull, and hangs out quite a while.  “Mamma Told Me” brings more Texas blues back in full regalia.  It sounds fantastic.  Davis takes another jammin’ venture into the cosmos of psychedelia on “Atomic Groove”. 

This band is the first I have ever heard to fearlessly take on Frank Zappa.  When “Willie the Pimp” began, I was not only impressed at the cajones it took to cover a Zappa song, but I was amazed at how great this sounded.  The only other cover on the album, “I Gotta Try You Girl”, from North Mississippi blues legend Junior Kimbrough, is loaded with searing guitar and rock-solid vocals.

Tales From the West is an astonishing forty-seven minute listen. The louder it’s heard, the better it sounds.  It’s just that good of a record.

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

Phillycheeze's Favorites from 2018

By Phillip Smith; Dec 29, 2018

        The Phillycheeze Top 20 of 2018 (in alphabetical order)

• Amanda Fish - Free  : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/09/353-amanda-fish-free.html

• Brother Dege - Farmer's Almanac : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/07/343-brother-dege-farmers-almanac.html

• The Eric Hughes Band - Meet Me in Memphis :  https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/04/331-eric-hughes-band-meet-me-in-memphis.html

• Fantastic Negrito - Please Don't Be Dead : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/06/335-fantastic-negrito-please-dont-be.html

• Geoff Achison - Sovereign Town : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/09/350-geoff-achison-sovereign-town.html

• Ghost Town Blues Band - Backstage Pass : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/06/336-ghost-town-blues-band-backstage-pass.html 

• Kevin Burt - Heartland & Soul : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/12/365-kevin-burt-heartland-soul.html

• Kim Simmonds - Jazzin' on the Blues : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2017/09/kim-simmonds-jazzin-on-blues.html

• Little Boys Blue feat. Kid Memphis - Hard Blue Space : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/06/338-little-boys-blue-wkid-memphis-hard.html

• Mark Harrison - The Panoramic View : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/10/355-mark-harrison-panoramic-view.html

• Matty T Wall - Sidewinder : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/09/351-matty-t-wall-sidewinder.html 

• Michelle Malone -Slings and Arrows : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/01/315-michelle-malone-slings-arrows.html

• Micke Bjorklof & Blue Strip - Twentyfive Live @ Blues Baltica : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/08/348-micke-bjorklof-blue-strip.html

• Ms Zeno the Mojo Queen - Back in Love : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/11/361-ms-zeno-mojo-queen-back-in-love.html

• Muddy Gurdy : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/02/318-muddy-gurdy.html

• Shaw Davis and the Black Ties - Tales From the West :  https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/12/368-shaw-davis-black-ties-tales-from.html

• Sugar Brown - It's a Blues World : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/06/367-sugar-brown-its-blues-world-calling.html

• The Bennett Brothers - Not Made for Hire : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/09/354-bennett-brothers-not-made-for-hire.html

• Too Slim and the Taildraggers - High Desert Heat : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/05/334-too-slim-and-taildraggers-high.html

• Victor Wainwright and the Train self-titled : https://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/2018/03/322-victor-wainwright-and-train-self.html

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#353 : Amanda Fish - Free

2018 – Vizztone

By Phillip Smith; Sep. 22, 2018

Free, the latest album from Amanda Fish has a sense of earnest purity in both the writing and presentation.  The music, delivered with the swagger of an outlaw poet, is a heart-stopping head-turner.  Amanda not only holds court as vocalist on this terrific blues-rock record, but she also plays bass (all tracks), acoustic guitar, electric and 12-string guitar, mandolin and piano.  This artist is extremely talented to say the least.  Drummer Glen James backs her on all the tracks.   Also appearing on this disc, are guitarists Dave Hayes, Ken Valdez, Coyote Bill and Lois Nadal, Chris Hazelton on keys, and vocalist Sara Morgan.  Special guests include Alastair Greene, “Steady Rollin’” Bob Margolin, Tyler Morris, and Richard Rosenblatt    

One of the most amazing songs I’ve heard this year is the blues ballad “Anymore”.  Fish’s vocals are heartfelt and soulful.  Hayes’ contagious guitar riff, and Hazelton’s funky keys sign, seal and deliver this wonderful track.  I love the swampy southern twang of “The Ballad of Lonesome Cowboy Bill”.  Like an old Marshall Tucker record, this one sets up shop with a tale to tell and a fistful of fiery guitar licks.  Fish’s powerhouse vocals are nicely framed by Margolin and Morris.  Alastair Greene kicks the door in and takes no prisoners with a dynamite guitar performance on “Going Down”.  This is one bad-ass house-rockin’ song.  The infectious driving rhythm on “Not Again” charges along like a freight train on a mission.  Rosenblatt sweetly accompanies on harp, and Hays on guitar.  “You Could Be” is beautifully played.  It’s got such a robust sound rooted in the wonderful instrumentation of Fish on guitar and piano, Hazelton on organ, and Coyote Bill on guitar.   

Amanda Fish grabs my full attention with Free.  It is one hell of a spectacular listen.  That’s for sure.

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#367 : Sugaray Rayford - Somebody Save Me

2018 – Forty Below Records

Release Date : Mar. 1, 2019

By Phillip Smith; Dec. 22, 2018

My first exposure to Caron “Sugaray” Rayford was through listening to the Double Dynamite record from the Mannish Boys.  Rayford sang lead on nine of the twenty-six tracks on that double album.  Take a listen to any of his music, and it will become so very evident why he was nominated for four Blues Music Awards in 2018.  Written and produced by Forty Below Records founder Eric Corne, Somebody Save Me, the latest from Sugaray Rayford is bathed in the goodness of Sixties soul.  Rayford’s suave and powerful voice is accented quite nicely on this new recording with interesting hooks and a tight-knit band.  It’s much akin to the music of Charles Bradley, which I simply adore. The backbone of the band on this album consists of Rick Holmstrom on guitar, Matt Tecu on drums, Taras Prodaniuk on bass, and Sasha Smith on keys/organ.

The album begins with “The Revelator”, a hypnotic track with an Isaac Hayes delivery that magically beckons me like a porch light to a moth.  The bassline from Prodaniuk was quick to embed itself deep within my subconscious.  “Time to Get Moving” is a blues-soaked adrenalin jolt.  Its heightened pace is fortified with a groovy guitar twang from Holmstrom and topped with a juicy harp performance from Corne.  One listen to “You and I” and the music of Memphis’ Stax Records immediately comes to mind.  There’s certainly a call-back to the Memphis Horns with the sweet sounds of brass from Mark Pender on trumpet, Ron Dziubla on sax, and Richard A Rosenberg on trombone.  Swampy and dangerous, there’s an obvious Howlin’ Wolf vibe radiating off “I’d Kill For You, Honey”.  “Angels and Devils” keeps the atmosphere ominous, and unpredictable.  If ever there was a need for a blues-centric James Bond theme, this song would be on the top of the list.  Sugaray takes it nice and slow like Teddy Pendergrass on title track, “Somebody Save Me”.  His smooth, buttery vocals delicately dance atop a backing of violin and cello.  This definitely sets the mood for a slow dance.  

Sugaray is the real deal and Somebody Save Me is an amazing listen. 

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