Bman's Blues Report

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues & Spirituals/Hymn Hustler , by Reverend Freakchild and it's quite good. Opening with traditional, Jesus On The Mainline and the Rev not only shows acute guitar prowess and strong, stylized vocals. Excellent. Blues For No One is a real nice guitar ditty featuring the Rev and his extreme dexterity on acoustic guitar. Very nice. A cool interpretation of Billie Holiday 's, God Bless The Child demonstrates just how smooth the Rev's vocals can be. With only the essence of guitar, jazz chords, this is a strong entry to the mix. A sensitive take on Lowell George 's Willin' is a great closer for disc one. Morganfield's Rollin' and Tumblin' has the Rev digging in deep with lively vocals and excellent acoustic slide work. Another slide delight is Hawaiian Cowboy Lost In NYC. The Rev's slide work is intense and fluid with recollections of John Lennon , street noises. Very interesting...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Bluesman of Sorts , by Reverend Freakchild, and it's a cool blues rocker. Opening with laid back rocker, Green and Brown Blues, with the smokey feel of John Kay, the Rev has the vocal lead and harmonica along with rhythm guitar, backed by John Robinson on bass and Patrick Carmichael on drums. Cool track. On Robert Johnson's Come On In My Kitchen, the Rev sets up a cool acoustic slide and falsetto vocal paring, not unlike Johnson or Skip James adding to it's stark blues feel. Willie Newbern's Roll and Tumble Blues is another track with authentic treatment with primitive acoustic slide work, harmonica and "hambone" carrying some of the best vocals on the release. Original shuffle, A Day Late and A Dollar Short , has a cool groove with bass, drums and organ backing the Rev on vocal.  Chris Whitley's Dust Radio is a cool closer for disc one with slack string guitar giving the track a real ba...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Bare Bones , by Reverend Freakchild , and it's a cool acoustic, blues rocker. Opening with All I Got Is Now , Reverend Freakchild is live with no edits or overdubs, playing his acoustic steel bodied guitar and singing the blues. Solid opener. All Across America , really kicks up it's heels with RF rocking out on his steel body and solid rocking vocals. My favorite track on the release is Amsterdam Blues with RF on rhythmic slide and some of his best vocals on the release. Skyflower is an interesting rocker with a tastes of Lou Reed mixed with The Stones, and articulated nicely on guitar with ringing harmonics. Wrapping the release is Keep On Truckin ', RF's inspired mantra on Blind Boy Fuller's / Robert Hunters compositions. This set also includes an extra disc, Odds, Ends and Interviews. This is a cool, raw slice of Freakchild's performance and very enjoyable.    If you support live Blue...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Songs of Beauty for Ashes of Realization and it's another solid set from Reverend Freakchild . Opening with swamp funky, All I Got Is Now , the Rev on lead vocal and National Resolectric guitar, sets a terrific feel. Joined by Hugh Pool on lap steel and backing vocals, Brennen Schedler on drums, Steve Sirockin on organ and Chris Parker on drums, this is a great opener. High energy rocker, All Across America , has a driving bottom courtesy Jon Robinson on bass and Patrick Carmichael on drums, with Sirockin riding high on organ. Rev drives the track with potent vocals and harmonica, complimented by Drew Glackin on lap steel. The Rev takes to an acoustic track on Amsterdam Blues which finds him showcasing his acoustic slide prowess in compliment to his vocals.  Wrapping the release is laid back blues rocker, Keep On Truckin' with it's distinctive, Grateful Dead rhythm but original sound. With the Rev on lead voca...

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Supramundane Blues , from Reverend Freakchild and he lays down some really nice, old school, delta style blues here. Opening with Son House's Preachin' The Blues , Freakchild has a great feel on vocal and slide acoustic guitar. Excellent opener. Blending country swing and gospel on Crying Holy , Freakchild really gets things hopping with backing from Chris Parker on drums, Matt Rae on lead guitar. Righteous! Romping boogie, Personal Jesus , has super drive with Hugh Pool on harmonica and bass, Parker on drums and Freakchild on vocal. Strong! Contemporary boogie, Factors Of Awakening features Kevin Griffin on lead vocal, guitar and bass. ZZ Tops' Jesus Just Left Chicago gets a total redo with a folksy approach but with with soulful vocals, and harmonica backing. Hot Tuna's version of Good Shepherd is up next with Mark Karan on lead guitar, Malcolm Oliver on bass and Steve Sirokin on keys. Rev Gary Davis'...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dial It In , from Reverend Freakchild and it interesting. Opening with Opus Earth , with it's early delta sound, Freakchild plays National Steel guitar, organ and bass and performs what is described as a chant but really sounds like Yoko Ono, joined by Chris Parker on drums. Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus gets a solid blues rock remake and it's strong, featuring Hugh Pool on harp. Cool. Original track, Hippie Bluesman Blues , has some country overtones and featuring the rev on national Steel guitar and lead vocal, Pool on guitar, Parker on drums, Robin Sylvester on bass and Mark Karan on lead guitar and vocal. With a light funky edge and distortion, Roadtrance is an simple interesting jam with Rev on vocal and NSG, Pool on guitar, banjo and electronic sounds, and parker on drums. Actually fairly cool. 15 Going on 50 is a driving rocker strongly led by Brian Mitchell on piano and featuring Pool on lead guit...

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Preachin' Blues , from Reverend Freakchild and he shows his knowledge of country style blues. Opening with Breathing Blues an instrumental track, the Rev accompanies his harp playing with resonator. Cool. Blind Lemon Jefferson's See That My Grave Is Kept Clean has a rowdy, hooping singing style with pure resonator rhythm and harmonica. Nice job. In My Time Of Dyin' gets an upbeat rocking kind of feel with loose harmonica ride over nice acoustic resonator picking. Son House's Preachin' Blues keeps a lot of House's original arrangement with a more modern attack on slide resonator. Son House is one of my favorite players and I think that the Rev has paid a nice tribute here. All I Got Is Now maintains it's clever hook and with a rock rhythm on guitar, the Rev brings his own personal blues styling. I Wish I Was In Heaven Sitting Down maintains original arrangement and is detailed nicely by ...

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Illogical Optimism , from Reverend Freakchild and it's quite good. This is a 3 disc review so I will try to describe it as I can. Opening disc one is a loose, Lou Reed kind of interpretation of John Lennon's Imagine . It's actually quite different and with a fluid jazzy electric guitar solo, it's quite cool. Next up is The Meters' Hey Pocky Way ... pure New Orleans with nice sax work, a super bass line and vocals and of course snappy drumming. Joseph Pace's I Still Have Joy is exceptional in all of it's spiritual glory. Gospel backing on this track is off the charts. Bill Monroe's Cryin' Holy To The Lord has the gospel feel but with a solid country swing table. This track is clever and a nice addition to the set. Bo Diddley's Who Do You Love has a considerable swampy darkness and a lot of the Diddley rock beat. With underlying guitar melodies from Jimi crossing the Diddley beat and co...

I just received the newest release, Hillbilly Zen-Punk Blues from Reverend Freakchild and it's really quite good. Opening with All I Got Is Now , a groovy blues track, RF lays down a funky beat with great vocals and guitars, joined by Chris Parker on drums, Hugh Pool on lap steel, Tugboat Eustis on bass and the Mulebone Singers on backing vocals. Excellent opener! Angels of Mercy is more retrospective with an understated acoustic guitar melody, nicely paired with Pool on harp. Very nice! Rev. Gary Davis', It's Gonna Be Alright has a country "family" feel with real nice acoustic slide as well as cool lap steel ethereal sounds in the rear. Cool! Keep On Trucking is a country rocker with a cool beat and a real nice acoustic guitar riff. With a catchy melodic hook and and warm slide work, this track has certain commercial potential. Lullaby is a sweet little tune played exclusively on guitar harmonics. Very cool! Moonlight Messages is a light pop track with ...

I received a new CD called God Shaped Hole by Reverend Freakchild . The band here is Rev on Vocal, guitar, harmonica; Jon "Bones Richie" Robinson on bass; "Crazy" Joe Kaplowitz on Hammond B3; Drew Glackin on lap steel; Sara Alden on fiddle; and includes Sean Condron, Mamie, CC and Sal Paradise on vocals. The cd is made up of 11 original tracks. All Across America is a straight rocker and Supersubconcious has more of a soft country sound which could get airplay. My Good Friend Legbe has some really interesting slide resonator work and A Day Late and a $ Short is a cool swing blues rocker. Stupid Motherf#%!er is sure to be a crowd pleaser with it's straightforward irreverence. Don't Miss Nothing closes the set with some cool finger picking and slide work. If you like things a little off the beaten track, this may be your ticket. If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the ...