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Bushy's Big Wheel Blues Festival is
a fund raising event for the British Red
Cross. Please give generously.
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Smokestack Release New CD
23rd March 2006
Smokestack - 2006
Click to enlarge
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Smokestack,
who have been to the Island for a couple of very successful visits
to the Festival, have just released a new CD called
"Something on your mind"
and a fine one it is too.
Track One:
Like most of the tracks on the album the first,
"Workin' Man"
is written by the band - Phil Mills (Guitars, Harp), Roger Ferris (Bass) and
Ali Van Ryne (Drums & percussion). The whole album has a mellow feel to it but
this first track sets things going albeit in a very laid back style with a
traditional boogie.
Track Two:
One of the three covers on the CD, this time it's the Blues standard
"I Ain't Superstitious"
written by
Willie Dixon
and this is a highly respectful tribute to this
classic tune. Loads of space and, goes without saying, beautifully played.
Track Three:
"Messin With The Devil"
is another Smokestack original and is so cool it will give you the shivers.
Again there is so much air in this track, despite a stack of subtle touches;
harmonica,
electric, slide and acoustic guitar, vocal harmony etc
Track Four:
A self penned rag style acoustic tune called
"Weeping Willow Tree"
. "I got me a woman they call the weeping willow tree, She lives down by the
river and moves so gracefully." Nice.
Track Five:
"Something On Your Mind"
opens with an homage to the Hawaiian style of slide that immediately set me
to thinking about hot sand, palm trees and scented leis. Lovely stuff, you
could just drift off... and then the electric guitar breaks you from your
reverie, low down and oh so dirty
Track Six:
Muddy Waters'
"I can't be Satisfied"
follows and is a return to the roots of the Blues and the band do this so well
they cannot be faulted.
Track Seven:
"7 Forty 7" opens with an electric riff that put me in mind of
Hendrix but this is a lot less frenetic than that implies and is a very cool,
laid back, shuffle with some lovely touches.
Track Eight:
"Kernow" is the only instrumental on the album. Written by Phil
Mills it is an atmospheric, slide guitar driven paean to the charms of the West
Country's greatest asset - Cornwall. I think it is anyway. And if it isn't it
should be.
Track Nine:
"Mississippi" Fred McDowell
was born in 1904 and grew up in Rossville,
Tennessee (pop. 291), a small farming community just east of Memphis, north of
the Mississippi border and this track, "61 Highway", salutes Fred's
skill, talent and memory wonderfully.
Track Ten:
The last track, "Hep Cat Rag" on this excellent collection of songs is what it
says it is, but nevertheless, more. If this doesn't bring a smile to your face
then you really do have the blues, but bad.
This hard working band are an absolutely bullshit free zone and they wear their
musical virtuosity with a lightness of touch that many lesser musicians could do
well to learn and follow and this, their latest CD, is a worthy addition to
anyone's collection. And yes, I am a big, unreconstructed
Smokestack
fan.
More on
Smokestack
here
More on
Smokestack's
last appearance
at the Festival
here
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Festival Programme
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OTHER NEWS:
-
Festival Licence Granted...
Here
18th March 2006
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Papa George in finals...
Here
16th March 2006
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Concert for Chris Milligan...
Here
8th March 2006
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LLAMA in Devon...
Here
3rd March 2006
-
Stone Creation to play 2006 Festival...
Here
1st March 2006
-
Juliet Turner - Tickets...
Here
18th February 2006
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Guitar heroes in bath...
Here
18th February 2006
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Manx Radio Honoured...
Here
17th February 2006
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Amy Wadge...
Here
16th February 2006
-
W.C.Handy Awards Changes and Nominations...
Here
15th February 2006
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Zoot Money Trio in Town...
Here
14th February 2006
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Juliet Turner for Centenary Centre...
Here
13th February 2006
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Back Door Slam Update...
Here
13th February 2006
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2006 Blues Grammy Winners...
Here
12th February 2006
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John Hammond Interview...
Here
10th February 2006
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John Hammond Discussion...
Here
6th February 2006
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Blues Legend For Fest 2006...
Here
4th February 2006
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Centenary Centre Gigs...
Here
24th January 2006
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Wilson Pickett 1941-2006 RIP...
Here
20th January 2006
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John Adams To Quit Touring...
Here
20th January 2006
-
Robert Johnson & Cream Honoured...
Here
10th January 2006
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For the
2005
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For the
2004
News Archive click
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