Mukthiland Records artist: Fred Hostetler - Blues Back Pages - New Release Review
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues Back Pages , by Fred Hostetler and it raw and gritty. Opening with Hey Corporate Vandals , Fred Hostetler lays down a blues rocky kinda JJ Cale feel. Backed by Eric Troyer on keys this has a magnetic groove. Delta style , Taming The Wolf , weaves back and forth through different primitive blues concepts. This is an interesting track with nods to ole Howling Wolf himself. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Orphan Blues with just a taste of Morganfield under the gritty exterior. Raggedy slide work by Hostetler adds to the track nicely. A cover of Bill Withers ' Ain't No Sunshine is a bit more polished but what really stands out is the Hooker like timing, giving things their own time and space. I like it. Wrapping the release is solid ballad, You Found Me , featuring Hostetler on vocal and guitar with backing vocals and keys by Eric Troyer. Solid closer. If you support live Blues ...