In his Press Kit, RUSTY WRIGHT uses a short paragraph to explain what "RUSTY WRIGHT BLUES" is.  As a way of explaining the bands untraditional style of blues, he compares using one crayon to using all the colors in the box.  Hence, a more diversified, cutting edge, and unconventional, assortment of blues styles should be expected.  Hmmmmm......"more diversified", "cutting edge" and "unconventional".....isn't that normal for Detroit area bands?  So why the disclaimer?

 

    Now that you know about what "RUSTY WRIGHT BLUES" is, let me tell you who they are: RUSTY WRIGHT, lead and slide guitar, lead and harmony vocals, songwriter and arranger; LAURIE LACROSS-WRIGHT, lead and harmony vocals, rhythm and harmony lead guitar;  STEVEN HIMES, keyboards and vocals;  RANDY MCENTIRE, bass guitar; DAN MATA, drums and vocals; BRANDON MATA, tenor sax; BRENT MATA, alto sax. 

 

   "AIN'T NO GOOD LIFE", the title track, proved to be one of the discs most traditional tracks.  It's a soft ballad which introduces RUSTY's magnificent voice and offers a tease of some great slide and lead guitar.  The opening track has left me exactly where it's supposed to - I'm already looking forward to more.

 

    "I AIN'T FROM MISSISSIPPI" is fast, funky and furious.  On this one RUSTY and STEVEN take turns losing control on guitar and organ while the rhythm section - behind Mr. & Mrs Wright on vocals - is keeping up with them.  This one's hot!

 

    "THE FOOL WILL DO" is one of those songs that you just can't do anything while listening to - except boogie that is.  As soon as it came on, my foot started tapping the floor, my hand started tapping my knee and my head started bobbing. Then, as soon as it ended instinct led me to hit the replay button and the process started all over again - without missing a beat.  The combo of STEVE on keyboards, RANDY on bass and DAN on drums is one hell of a rhythm section. 

 

    With all of the great guitar work and the constant groove that this rhythm section is in, this next statement may be debated, but "DO IT AGAIN" is all about the vocals.  RUSTY AND LAURIE are amazing together.  Not since the early years of the great Jefferson Airplane have I heard such good male/female vocal harmony.

 

    All I can say about "SUMMERTIME" is to add LAURIE to the long list of female singers that have done an excellent job belting out this tune.  Just make sure she's near the top of that list. 

 

    "MISSIN' YOU" is similar to "DO IT AGAIN".  Musically the whole band is in a constant jam while RUSTY and LAURIE sing their hearts out.

 

    In the discs notes, RUSTY refers to "HELL ON MY HEELS" as four minutes of pure blues guitar mayhem in the tradition of the "Crossroads".  Let's just say that's the ideal description of this track and leave it at that.

 

    Other tracks on "AIN'T NO GOOD LIFE" that were not mentioned are: "HANG DOG", "NASTY REPUTATION", "LONG TIME COMIN", "SOMETHING MISSIN", "DON'T NEED YO BAD MIND" and "TOPPY".  And, since I'm one of those blues fans who doesn't mind all the crayons in the box not being used, these tracks are more than likely the one's that RUSTY makes reference to. 

 

    The band is off to Memphis as the Detroit Blues Society's representative in the IBC's.  Regardless of how they fare, those in attendance will certainly remember RUSTY WRIGHT BLUES.  Stop by their website at www.rustywrightblues.com and wish the band some luck.  And, as usual, ya gotta tell them the Blewzzman sent ya.