Storm Warning
Something Real
A second album from this lineup following the well-received ‘Breaking Out’ set, with the classic drums/bass/guitar/keys/harp instrumentation to draw upon ; inspired by rock and blues master figures (bassist Derek White runs a roots cd supply firm) the best thing about this band is that they are not modelled on a particular artist or band and furthermore they write a lot of own material.
Harp and vocal man Stu Maxwell was kind enough to co-star at my band’s tribute to Junior Wells earlier this year, alongside John O’Leary and if you want an example of his skill on the reeds try his take on ‘Nothing But Smoke’ included here, as cool as the modern blues can get. There is nothing on this disc that the band cannot deliver live on stage, which is often down to the nimble rhythm section (Roger Willis on drums) ; Ian Salisbury could pass for John McVie but plays keys in this lineup. Bob Moore plays fluid guitar but rarely sounds like a Clapton imitator – hear his steady lines on starting cut ‘On The Road’, a blues travelogue if ever there was one. Hear them skip into ‘Blues 101′ with Maxwell using a dirty harmonica tone, what a great jazzy feel and unusual chord changes. A soulful cruisin’ sound rolls ‘Something Real’ along like a riverboat, the guitar sings and leaves plenty of spaces, beautiful ! ‘Long Ride’ has a very cool keyboard part and an edgy beat.
This group sounds pro, looks pro and completely avoids sterility by taking care with their material – how easy it would be for them to do all the cliched numbers that every band does. But they have their own style which has the potential to take their appeal way beyond a ‘blues audience’
Pete Sargeant www.fairhearing.co.uk
