LivinBlues- CD reviews - StoneCrazy and the Livin' Blues Band

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LivinBlues CD Reviews by Gary Tate - Blues Got Me StoneCrazy! - back to archive

STONECRAZY: SELF-TITLED (INDEPENDENT)
StoneCrazy is a contemporary Blues band from Boston, the nucleus being brothers Babe (vocals, harmonica) and Ken (lead guitar) Pino, erstwhile known as the Babe Pino Blues Band. Its latest incarnation StoneCrazy also features the veteran rhythm section of Danny Klein (bass), founding member of the J.Geils Band, and Mark Hylander (drums). With added clout from Seth Justman's tasty keyboards, and produced by J.Geils himself, StoneCrazy aptly juggles varied influences with flair and style.

Most of the covers are culled from the pens of several Blues greats the guys have toured with. The material is BOSS! Ken Pino held 2nd guitar duties during a 10-year stint with Johnny 'Clyde' Copeland. Enough said! That the 4 Clyde covers contribute so much lifeblood is no mystery, given Copeland's reputation for passionate soul testifying, heart-stopping lyrics, and "take-no-prisoners" axework. JC's memory is honored repeatedly, as 'Blues Ain't Nothin', 'Born All Over', and 'Nobody But You' are totally steeped in intensity. StoneCrazy tautly combines the contemporary and the conventional in their hard-driving Blues blend. This assured mixture of the modern and traditional is especially evident on Otis Rush's 'Homework'.The originals are rock-solid too. 'Fooled Myself' is as "in-the-pocket" as a cleared pool table. 'Mr. Blue' is a melodically engaging rumba, with a nod toward Santana. MP3- Mr. Blue | Homework |

LIVIN BLUES BAND: GOT ME CRAZY (INDEPENDENT)
The Livin' Blues Band are well traveled veterans of the Canadian music scene, averaging over 30 years of experience apiece, while also performing on stages throughout North America and the world. Lead guitarist, Larry Goodhand, for example, has worked and toured with harmonica giant, Carey Bell for 3 years, and has also done stints with the great Willie Dixon, Jimmy Witherspoon, Joe Turner, Sonny Rhodes and Sunnyland Slim. Bill Speer, on vocals and keyboards, amply demonstrates his wizardry on the 88s,

His gravelly singing style that cranks up the attention meter on all the 13 original cuts on Got Me Crazy. 'Say A Prayer' is a driving, horn heavy (Jan 'Rocky' Verweel/trumpet and Simon Wallis/sax) soul-shaker Horns are prominently featured on this and every track. Any musician who's ever been mistreated by a club owner has to identify with the aggravations enumerated in the lyrics of 'All We Get', a super funky offering with a grinding pulverizing beat. 'Enough For Everyone' neatly encapsulates all the strengths of this formidable quartet in a nutshell. It features ivory-tickling by Speer, solid bottom from drummer Mike Fitzpatrick and bass player Bill Lyons, transfixing guitar lines from Goodhand's deft right hand, the real lynchpin behind so much of Got Me Crazy. It's surfeit layers of ideas, all honed from many years of experience, that transforms Got Me Crazy into a real winner. MP3- Nevada | www.larrygoodhand.com