OmniVibe Records artist: Altered Five Blues Band - Cryin' Mercy - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Cryin' Mercy, from Altered Five Blues Band and it's smokey hot! Opening with the slinky Demon Woman, Jeff Taylor leads the way on lead vocals and Mark Solveson lays down a real nice bass line. Jeff Schroedl really steps out on guitar and Scott Schroedl on drums and Raymond Tevich rounds out the band on keys. I'm In Deep is a cool shuffle track and this time it's Tevich that steps out with a cool key solo. Jeff Schroedl isn't far behind smoking the fretboard. Very nice! R&B ballad, Find My Wings, meets all of the criteria for a top player on the airwaves and even includes a smooth melodic guitar solo accompanying Taylor on his vocal outro. Very cool! Stay Outta My Business has a funky twist on the blues with a cool bass line. Jeff S. shows just how versatile his bag of tricks is with a really tasty solo on this number over the keyboard backing of Tevich. Counterfeit Lover is another prime radio style track with mostly strong vocal work from Taylor but with some exceptional guitar riffs from Jeff as well. I Got You has an almost marching drum style setting a unique feel. Tevich sets up some really nice key phrasing and again a blistering guitar solo from Jeff S. is hard not to notice. On blues rocker, Who's Your Lover, I almost feel an Ike Turner rhythm on the bottom. Tevich and Jeff S. trade riffs on this mostly radio driven track. Move House opens with a really hot Albert King style guitar intro from Jeff S. Taylor, sounding more like BB than Albert, grabs this track by the short hairs for one of my favorite performances on the release. The entire band is hitting hard on this track making it my release favorite. Here's Your Hat, What's Your Hurry, is a high stepper with a catchy melody, strong organ and guitar accents. Another funk infused track, Urgent Care, gets you squirming around in your seat. Jeff S. hits with some laser sharp guitar riffs blending nicely with the general feel of the track. Scott S. adds significantly with his precise attack as well. Closing the release is Back Button, a cool R&B style track with a trace of James Brown rhythm. Tevich takes the lions share of soloing on this track but Jeff does hit with a cool riff on the end. This is a cool release with blues, R&B and funk.

 Check it out.

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First Madison-Area Show For Altered Five's Since Release Of Band's Critically-Lauded Gotta Earn It"

FIRST MADISON-AREA SHOW FOR ALTERED FIVE SINCE RELEASE OF CRITICALLY-LAUDED "GOTTA EARN IT," AT THE HODY BAR - FRIDAY, JANUARY 11      (Middleton) - Talented Milwaukee-based blues 'n' soul band Altered Five, riding high on the heels of their critically-lauded new album "Gotta Earn It" (Conclave Records), perform their first Madison-area show since the record's November release at The Hody Bar, 1914 Aurora St., Middleton, Friday, January 11. 9 p.m. Free. Info: (608) 831-1901 or https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hody-Bar-Grill/165219870211648.  Altered Five: Earning Great Reviews For Their New Album "Gotta Earn It:"                      "Original, rib-sticking blues numbers tossed with a little R&B soul...Taylor's voice supplies the sweetness, while guitarist Jeff Schroedl brings the spice."          JOURNAL-SENTINEL "...A hybrid of stomping blues and pure Memphis soul, driven by the powerfully earthy voice of frontman Jeff Taylor..."                                                        SHEPHERD EXPRESS "Mix of traditional blues with a healthy dose of R&B..."                     ON MILWAUKEE.COM "Jaw-dropping, intoxicating cocktail of original blues-rock fusions."            MAXIMUM INK            Proclaimed "a staple of the Midwest's band scene" and "a festival favorite" by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Altered Five's delectable brew of blues and soul has a wide audience taking notice. The group's sophomore album, Gotta Earn It, is a ten-song set featuring seven originals. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, front-man Jeff Taylor's voice is"gloriously gritty." The Shepherd Express simply states he sounds like "a voice from Stax/Volt 45s." Altered Five formed in 2002 and quickly gained a reputation for its inventive arrangements and distinctive sound. Isthmus magazine called the band "a rising blues unit" and OnMilwaukee.com declared, "The group delivers the element of surprise."   On the quintet's new release, "JT" Taylor's powerful voice anchors the sound and drives home the message in songs likethe brooding ballad "Three Wishes," the wistful, burning blues of "Older, Wiser, Richer," and the yearning "Mona Lisa." The rhythm section of drummer Scott Schroedl and bassist Mark Solveson grooves hard and enjoys telepathic interaction with keyboardist Ray Tevich and guitarist Jeff Schroedl. Guitar World raves that Schroedl has "hi-tech chops" and contributes "superlative solo work." The group also puts its stamp on three covers: a driving, blues-ified take on the early Marvin Gaye hit "Ain't That Peculiar"; a revved-up reading of Buddy Guy's 1961 Chess recording "Watch Yourself"; and the cool, sassy groove of another Motown original, "You've Got to Earn It."    It's been said that "the blues is a feeling," so when the Minneapolis Star Tribune states that the band is a "righteous blast," you know they play it right.

Altered Five "Gotta Earn It" CD Release Party At Milwaukee Ale House

ALTERED FIVE "GOTTA EARN IT" CD RELEASE PARTY 

AT MILWAUKEE ALE HOUSE - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14

     (Milwaukee) - Blues/soul band Altered Five presents a CD Release Party for their new album "Gotta Earn It" (Conclave/Cold Wind Records) at the Milwaukee Ale House, 233 N. Water St., Friday, December 14. 9:30 p.m. $5. Info: (414) 276-2337 or www.ale-house.com.

   The Milwaukee-based quintet have received positive reviews since Gotta Earn It was released two weeks ago. "Tight, state-of-the-art band, with some of the coolest music to listen to!," says Dave Johnson, host of the nationally-syndicated Blues Deluxe radio show. "A wide variety of groove that are flat-out fun to listen to," writes Blues 411.  "A really strong release from a band I had not been aware of prior to this listening. Grab a copy, I think you'll like it," states Bman's Blues Report. "I love it when I pop in a Cd from a band I've never heard before and get blown away by how good it is. I just had that feeling from the sophomore release from Milwaukee-based band Altered Five," raves Blues Bytes. "Altered Five's delectable brew of blues and soul has caused me to join a wide audience that is taking notice of this highly-talented band," opines Bommerocity magazine.          

 

                               Altered Five - Gotta Earn It (One-Sheet Additional Info.)

  Proclaimed "a staple of the Midwest's band scene" and "a festival favorite" by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Altered Five's delectable brew of blues and soul has a wide audience taking notice. The group's sophomore album, Gotta Earn It, is a ten-song set featuring seven originals. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, front-man Jeff Taylor's voice is"gloriously gritty." The Shepherd Express simply states he sounds like "a voice from Stax/Volt 45s." Altered Five formed in 2002 and quickly gained a reputation for its inventive arrangements and distinctive sound. Isthmus magazine called the band "a rising blues unit" and OnMilwaukee.com declared, "The group delivers the element of surprise."

  On the quintet's new release, "JT" Taylor's powerful voice anchors the sound and drives home the message in songs likethe brooding ballad "Three Wishes," the wistful, burning blues of "Older, Wiser, Richer," and the yearning "Mona Lisa." The rhythm section of drummer Scott Schroedl and bassist Mark Solveson grooves hard and enjoys telepathic interaction with keyboardist Ray Tevich and guitarist Jeff Schroedl. Guitar World raves that Schroedl has "hi-tech chops" and contributes "superlative solo work." The group also puts its stamp on three covers: a driving, blues-ified take on the early Marvin Gaye hit "Ain't That Peculiar"; a revved-up reading of Buddy Guy's 1961 Chess recording "Watch Yourself"; and the cool, sassy groove of another Motown original, "You've Got to Earn It."

   It's been said that "the blues is a feeling," so when the Minneapolis Star Tribune states that the band is a "righteous blast," you know they play it right.       

                          

                                                     

                                                  www.alteredfive.com 

         https://www.facebook.com/pages/Altered-Five/128806336824?ref=ts&fref=ts          

Blues 411 CD Review 

All Access Magazine Interview 

BMan's Blues Report CD Review 

Gotta Earn It One-Sheet

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, -  ”LIKE” ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorite band!

Conclave Records artist: Altered Five - Gotta Earn It - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Gotta Earn It, from Altered Five. This is one of the more entertaining new recordings that I've heard in the past few months. The opening track, Ain't That Peculiar, a song made popular by Marvin Gaye has a definite R&B feel revved up with Albert King like guitar riffs by Jeff Schroedl. What's not to like! Three Wishes, having more of a soul ballad style really showcases leader Jeff Taylor's vocal abilities and gives Jeff Schroedl a nice opening to again showcase his chops on lead guitar. The title track, You've Got To Earn It, has a definite southern soul sound but holding tight to the blues with blistering guitar riffs from Jeff Schroedl and fine rhythm backing from drummer Scott Schroedl, bassist Mark Solveson and key man Ray Tevich. Keep The Best takes a modern uptempo blues shuffle stance with the ever constant great vocals from JT but unexpected ripping guitar soloing from Jeff Schroedl who not only exhibits great chops but really cool tone when subdued. Older, Wiser, Richer is a driving blues track lead off again with Jeff S. on guitar and he sets a pretty nice table for JT to sing from. Tevich gets a chance to stretch a bit on the 88's and Jeff Schroedl again comes in with beautiful guitar riffs that make you sweat. Mona Lisa is a bit more straightforward R&B ballad with the funky back down low. Jeff Schroedl, a name you'll want to remember plays some neck wrenching riffs on this track as well .... bringing to mind Junior Wells' Snatch It Back (oh baby) And Hold It! Tight Spot is constructed along the lines of a more contemporary blues of Robert Cray but with Albert King influenced screaming riffs by Jeff Schroedl (translation, think SRV arranged by Robert Cray and played by the sons of Albert King and Otis Rush). Dynamite has a much more funky base and it's really cool. The vocal treatment on this track is more Eric Gales but the arrangement and instrumentation sticks to it's truth and the band sounds like Altered Five. Hard to do anything but draw comparisons but the sound is really different and enjoyable. Buddy Guy's Watch Yourself has a really straight up rock attach sounding more like a Little Richard arrangement showing even another dimension of this tight band. Tevich plays a nice long piano stretch and sets JT up to keep the crowd jumping with his crisp vocals. This track has a lot of the energy of an early rock n' roll track hanging onto it's blues roots. Oh yeah...and Jeff Schroedl rips this track a new one with some flashy r n r guitar riffs! Bounce Back, the last track on the release has a laid back feeling and seems like the natural airplay track. JT's vocals are more subdued and the band in general more slick. This is a really strong release from a band that I have not been aware of prior to this listening. Grab a copy. I think you'll really like it.

If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE” Sorry that I don't find a current video for the band but better something than nothing.