Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Gate C23 , by Chad Rupp and the Sugar Roots and it's strong. Opening with Fresh Suits , a strutting blues rocker, features Chad Rupp on lead vocal and guitars, joined by LaRhonda Steele, Arietta Ward and Ms. Vee on backing vocals Ken Scandlyn, on guitar, Jimi Bott on drums, Timmer Blakely on bass and Ken Brewer on organ. Sassy opener. Title track, Gate C23 , is a deep blues track with Rupp and Ms. Dee on vocal and excellent guitar work by Rupp and Kenny Blue Ray, Brady Goss on piano, Gene Ermal on drums and featuring Joe McCarthy, Bradley Ulrich and Pat Pepin on horns. Smoking! Super shuffle, Blues City Cafe , really rolls with solid guitar lead and vocal by Rupp and excellent harmonica work by Mitch Kashmar. Soulful, You'll Be Singing My Songs , is rich with vocal lead and harmonies and excellent harmonica work by Kashmar and a stinging guitar solo by Rupp. Very nice. Fat Kid Boogie is a cool change up with a hot...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Savage's Life , from The Sugar Roots and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Going Nowhere Fast , a solid boogie, Chad Rupp on lead vocal and harmonica really pumps it up with excellent guitar support from JT Thomas, Samuel Gendler on piano, Timmer Blakely on bass and Chandler Bowerman on drums. Excellent opener. Title track, Savage's Life is really impressive with Rapp laying down some of the most supple vocals I've heard in quite a while. I've always been partial to Bobby Tench (Jeff Beck Group) and Rupp, who's voice is cut from the same cloth is great. With only the minimal of backing instrumental, a tight little guitar solo by Blakely and great backing vocals by Melanie Owen, Lisa Mann, Karen Lovely and Rae Gordon, I love this track. Funky, Rain Checkin' , is really cool with a bouncy bottom courtesy of Blakely and Bowerman and Lloyd Jones really shines on guitar with hot horn backing ...