Blues Blast Magazine Album Review: D.L. Duncan – D.L. Duncan

Hello!

This CD review was originally published in the November 19, 2015 edition of Blues Blast Magazine. Be sure to check out the rest of the magazine at www.bluesblastmagazine.com

D. L. Duncan – D. L. Duncan | Album Review

15 South Records

www.dlduncan.com

10 tracks / 40:28

You may know D.L. Duncan as Dave Duncan, but no matter what you call him he is truly a fine bluesman, with a beautifully soulful voice and an amazing touch on the guitar. Dave has been on the music scene for more than 35 years, and he has made his mark as a gold-record songwriter for other artists (Curtis Salgado, Lorrie Morgan, and Buddy Jewell), but he also writes songs for his own projects. On his albums he has also been pulling in some first class talent to help him in the studio and the results have been solid, to say the least.

His new album, D.L. Duncan, is no exception. On bass there is David Hood, a famed producer (Willie Nelson and Cher) who has played with Traffic, Boz Scaggs, and The Waterboys. The other half of the rhythm section is Vince Santoro on the drums (Rosanne Cash, Charlie Louvin, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). It would be a dream to have Grammy-winner Delbert McClinton on the harp and Sonny Landreth on the slide guitar for your album, and D.L. made this dream come true. And the icing on the cake is the inclusion of Kevin McKendree on the keys and the amazing McCrary sisters on backing vocals. Duncan was the producer and wrote eight of the ten songs on this disc, plus he took care of the vocals and guitars. There is no question that all the right pieces were in place to make this a wonderful record, and blues fans will not be disappointed.

The band kicks off the set with “I Ain’t the Sharpest Marble,” an easy-going blues song with a touch of boogie and heaps of humorous lyrics. D.L. mostly hangs back on the guitar with just a few pointed leads, but he lays down a nice solo midway through. McKendree delivers a fine performance on the piano, bringing the whole thing together into a neat package. The production values are first-rate here, with good mixing and nothing out of place (courtesy of multiple Grammy-winner Tony Daigle), and this work ethic blessedly carries over to the other nine tracks on the disc.

There is not a bad song to be found on the album, but there are a few standouts. One of these is Jerry Lynn Williams’ “Sending Me Angels,” which has been covered by luminaries such as Coco Montoya and Peter Frampton. This countrified soul song is done Duncan’s way, with some tasteful acoustic and resonator guitar playing, a killer beat, and a chorus that is just a bit sweeter because the McCrary sisters pitch in.

Another favorite from D.L. Duncan is an uptempo rhythm and blues tune, “Orange Beach Blues.” This song is orchestrated perfectly, with a wonderful synergy between the McCrary’s harmonies and McKendree’s Hammond. The backline of Hood and Santoro once again lay down a righteous rhythm and Duncan’s guitar work is smooth and soulful (including an Allman-esque close), which plays perfectly with his growly vocals.

All good things have to come to an end, and this time it is with “All I Have to Offer You is Love,” a sweet country blues ballad written by Craig Wiseman that was previously done very well by both Tanya Tucker and Dusty Springfield. The listener will find this song is built with a nice helping of Hammond B3, plenty of Landreth’s slide guitar and some cool pedal steel from David Pinkston. Duncan’s heartfelt lyrics are poignant, and this was a savvy choice to close the album out with.

D.L. Duncan’s new self-titled CD is a well-written, well-played, and well-produced, making it his best record to date and a must-buy for fans of blues and Americana music. He gets around the country quite a bit, so check out his website for the latest tour dates so you can see and hear his act in person. It will definitely be worth your time!

The Mike Henderson Band – If You Think It’s Hot Here… | Album Review

The Mike Henderson Band – If You Think It’s Hot Here…

EllerSoul Records

www.mikehenderson.com

www.ellersoulrecords.com

11 tracks / 51:32

You are probably familiar with Mike Henderson’s work, even if you have not heard his name before. This three-time Grammy-nominated cat has written songs that were recorded by artists that include The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Kenny Rogers, Travis Tritt, Randy Travis, The Dixie Chicks, Trisha Yearwood, and even Adele (damn, she is popular). Or, maybe you have heard him on albums by folks such as Mark Knopfler, Albert King, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Hank Jr., John Hiatt, Sting, Bo Diddley, Tim McGraw, Lucinda Williams, or Bob Seeger. Then there is his work with his own groups, the SteelDrivers and the Bluebloods, which is truly amazing.

If you still do not know who he is, maybe you caught him during one of the regular Monday night shows he has at Nashville’s Bluebird Café. Then you would know how tight his band is, and it would surely make you want to pick up a copy of his EllerSoul Records debut, If You Think It’s Hot Here…. Producer Kevin McKendree in Franklin, Tennessee’s Rock House studio, cut this set of hard-hitting roadhouse blues live in the studio. It is 50-minute mix of originals and covers that defines the Mike Henderson Band.

Mike took care of the lead vocals, guitar, and harmonica for this project and his band certainly meets his high standards. The roster includes McKendree on piano and B3, Michael Rhodes on bass, and Pat O’Connor behind the drum kit. First up on the track list is “I Wanta Know Why” and this original has a bit of a southern rock flavor to it. The most notable thing here is Henderson’s guitar tone -- it is full and meaty, and this sound is a major contributor to the anxious tone that the band was looking for. Mike lays down an awesome slide solo, and McKendree has a killer touch on the piano keys here, making for a solid opener.

Then there are a couple of Hound Dog Taylor covers, “Send You Back to Georgia” and “It’s Alright,” and there is no doubt that these fellows have the shuffle figured out. O’Connor is one hell of a drummer, and his timing really pulls these tunes together.

There are plenty of other extra cool covers on this album too. Muddy Waters’ “Mean Red Spider” is very catchy with nice snare work from O’Connor and a slick walking bass line from Rhodes. The classic “If I Had Possession” from Robert Johnson features (appropriately) lovely guitar work from Henderson; this song never gets old no matter how many artists cover it. Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Unseen Eye” features Chicago style guitar licks galore and very tasty barrelhouse piano from McKendree. And the traditional, “Matchbox,” is a romp that is just plain fun. There is not a dud in the bunch!

These covers are neat, but the standout song of the album is the original title track that is already a certified crowd favorite. Henderson has been playing “If You Think It’s Hot Here…” for years in his live shows, and this ode to our place in the afterlife has wonderful lyrics and a solid melody. McKendree’s piano work is very powerful, and to add a little more depth a few guest musicians were brought in: Don Underwood on guitar, as well as Chris Stapleton and Morgane Stapleton on backing vocals. This is a song that can be listened to many times without getting stale, and it might just make you think about what may be in store for you when the pearly gates close. Or not.

If You Think It’s Hot Here… has a live gig vibe with the benefit of studio refinement, and the end product is an entertaining set of roadhouse blues that is very listenable from the comfort of your own home. The originals and tributes mix well together and the Mike Henderson Band play all of them with skill and passion. Be sure to check out Mike’s web page for his gig schedule (still playing on Mondays!), and think about picking up a copy of this disc for your collection!

Andy Poxon – Must be Crazy | Album Review

Andy Poxon – Must be Crazy

EllerSoul Records

www.andypoxon.com

www.ellersoulrecords.com

13 tracks / 58:00

Folks like Andy Poxon are the future of the American music scene, and that is a good thing. Just barely into his 20s, he has three albums to his credit, each one has showed marked improvement over the previous, and they are all entertaining. Must Be Crazy, from EllerSoul Records, is his latest release and it is a must-buy in my book.

Andy comes from a musical family, and has seriously devoted himself to the guitar and mastering the art of writing and performing American music: blues, rockabilly, soul, rhythm and blues, and even a little jazz. He cut his first disc when he was 16, using this as a springboard to play even more shows around Washington DC and up and down the east coast.

Must Be Crazy features Andy on vocals and guitars, and he got a killer band together to back him up at the Rock House Studio in Franklin, Tennessee. The crew included Kevin McKendree on keys, Kenneth Blevins on drums, Steve Mackey on the bass and Jim Hoke on sax. Oh yes, and the fabulous McCrary Sisters and Chloe Kohanski on backing vocals! This disc was produced by Poxon and McKendree, and Kevin’s son, Yates, sits in on one track behind the organ.

A lot of hard work was put into this album, and it comes with 13 tracks, all of them written by Andy, with co-writing credit going to a McKendree on five of them. The title track is first up, and Poxon channels a little Elmore James with his big guitar and his swinging vocals. McKendree’s piano and Hoke’s sax make “Must Be Crazy” complete and give it that big city sound. This is followed up by the soulful “Living Alone,” which looks at the brighter aspects of being newly single, as he found out “how little he had to lose.” He does a nice job of punctuating his lines with smoky little riffs as necessary. There is not enough space here for a rundown on every song, but here are a few other highlights:

- This album is not all guitars and glory, and on a soul song like “Give Me the Chance” it is wise to let the piano and organ lead the way, at least to start things off. Poxon’s voice is smooth and the McCrary Sisters deliver the goods in a big way here. This is one of the standout tunes on the album, and shows how far Andy has come with his songwriting skills.

- “Harder Everyday” is a lovely R&B ballad that also features the McCrary Sisters, and very tasteful organ work from the elder McKendree. This song has a lot of neat textures, in particular a few layers of Hoke’s sax really help to make the mood and add a little drama where needed.

- Songs of love and loss are pretty common here, and “Already Gone” really dials things back and lets Andy lead with his vocals. Chloe Kohanski does a good job of matching her voice to Poxon’s, and the end result is another lovely bit of rhythm and blues.

”Rebound” closes out the set, and this instrumental features 14-year-old Yates McKendree on the organ. Andy flirts a bit with jazz on this lighthearted and funky piece, and it turns out to be a mellow way to end the set.

I hope that we see more albums from Andy Poxon, as Must Be Crazy shows a maturity in writing and musicianship that goes far beyond his years. My biggest worry is that some big name act will suck him up as a hired gun for his guitar, and that he will fade from the spotlight. I think he has a lot to say and it would a shame if we do not get to hear it!