The Smoke Wagon Blues Band — The Ballad Of Albert Johnson
Formed in 1996, The Smoke Wagon Blues Band are a seven-piece outfit with seven independent album releases and three Independent Blues Awards for their previous record Cigar Store. The title track kicks things off with Corey Lueck (vocals, harmonica) providing a punchy harp solo whilst Memphis Soul is driven by Jason Colavecchia funky bass riff with a Stevie Ray Vaughan Double Trouble influenced organ solo.
Brandon Bruce’s saloon bar piano showcases the band’s softer side on ‘Ain’t Gonna Be Your Fool’ which sounds like a Beth Hart and Randy Newman duet to this writer!
‘The Fat Man’ feels like it is trying to be Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Built For Comfort’ and ‘Lay Say Lay’ is a real earworm. ‘Mescaline’ glides with a lovely flute and ‘Sacrifice’ is probably a set-opener to get the crowds on their feet. ‘Poor Man Blues’ is competent but unexciting and ‘Matapedia River Blues’ features Gordon Aeichele on saxophone making it a full sound. ‘On The Road Again’ leans more towards the country side of country blues which is no bad thing but blues purists may not like the crossover.
Closer ‘Steaming Comrades Harp Boogie’ sounds like a live recording and The Smoke Wagon Blues Band sound their most comfortable on this number. In conclusion, this band are not reinventing anything but that’s not what they are trying to do – it is blues music by people who have cut their teeth on the live circuit and have done a fine job at constructing a listenable body of work.
The Smoke Wagon Blues Band’s new album ‘The Ballad Of Albert Johnson’ is out now. For more information visit www.smokewagonbluesband.com
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