| While judging a blues talent competition one time, a fellow judge commented that she looked for music that came from the head, not the heart. I was amazed. I told her I not only liked blues from the heart, I liked it from the gut. Blues is about passion and soul. It is something that comes from deep inside a person and can only come out through music. I've only met a handful of people I can say truly embody that spirit. Two of them are on this record. I met John Scalici and Billy Gibson in the same week. I was amazed how much they thought alike. Each had a passion for music that couldn't be contained by a "normal" life. They were destined to play music-and, it seems, destined to play music together. BlueSpeak brought them together to form a band for a pre-Handy Award party in 1997. We like to think this was the moment that spurred them to partner, but that was in the works long before the party. When they added Jesse Hoggard on guitar and Kevin Sheahan on bas! s, the results were extraordinary. Listen carefully, and you'll hear all the influences each brings to the music. John's roots with the blues/rock band Gravy; Billy's love of jazz and his schooling from Johnnie Billington in blues; Jesse's years of touring experience; and Kevin's jazz background and experience. It all adds up to a beautiful mess of junk. It rocks, swings, and, most of all, cuts right to the heart of the matter. Legendary Sun Records founder Sam Phillips once told me he loved music with "gutbucket fundamentalism." I've never been able to explain what that means to anyone, but I can make them listen to songs that embody that spirit. The junkyardmen make those kinds of songs. And we're better for it. -All original songs, including 2 cuts with legendary barrelhouse piano player and Beale St. legend Mose Vinson.-
listened to a couple of the teasers on Amazon and decided to take a chance on the CD. Turned out to be a super move. I just love this CD, and I haven't got tired listening to it almost daily for the last couple of months. My kids even rock out to this CD. The CD features first rate, gutsy vocals, funky rhythms and really tasty solo work on the harmonica and the guitar. The tunes are well written and well crafted. Junkyardman is a catchy, funky blues tune. Skip to #3, and you get the bouncy Full Moon Tonight--a song that will make you want to get out of your seat and boogie. It uses a one note harp saw riff to set the rhythm for the song, and it is hard to get it out of your head. Change has more of a rock feel to it. It bites out with crunching Wah-Wah guitar riffs with some great breaks that really give the song some zip. And then Jammin' in the Jungle is just a great old time bluesy R&B tune. The harp rips out some great riffs and the throaty vocals make you want to get up out of your seat. I have got to say this is one of my favorite blues CDs right now. It is just a really fun listen that doesn't get boring. Buy it. You're gonna dig it for sure.
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