Bird Dog Bobby Band
"Time To Live In"
Lakehouse Records
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © July 2011

A very good three piece blues band that plays original music. Now that's original! Especially for a local Central Florida band. Oh I'm sure they get their share of requests for "Red House" and "Mustang Sally" at their live shows, but there'll be none of that here. "Time To Live In" - created from equal parts of talent and creativity -consists of thirteen topical, clever and very well performed band originals.

The Bird Dog Bobby Band are: Bob "Bird Dog Bobby" Rhoads on vocals and guitars; Reno Mussatto on vocals and drums; and Gary Whitehead on bass. Additionally, it's Stacy Q, Sheri Gregoire and Jann Childers helping out with the backup vocals.

The opening track is musically hard driven and lyrically hard hitting. It's sort of a protest song that, unlike it's folk style predecessors of the sixties, is a rhythm fueled smoker. The protest centers around the question "Who Told This Joker He Could Drive"? Not me Bird Dog, I was on the McCain train.

For a good time log onto "Moesha.com"......just don't let your wife, your kids and your boss all catch you. Oddly enough, bizarre lyrics and all, the chorus on this one is a catchy sing along. With a power trio like this, I'll be hard pressed not to sound repetitive but once again, another incredibly rhythm driven track with great vocals from Reno and the gals, and guitar leads from the Bird Dog.

From the very first time I ever went, right up to the very last time I went, there's always a feeling of excitement as I'm "Headed To Memphis".......sounds like the Bird Dog Bobby Band feels the same as they embark on the trip. However, from the way it sounds, they may not make it, but it's going to be a good time trying. As a matter of fact, they're having a rockin' time just singing about it.

"Oh Baby", this is one hell of a smooth shuffle. As a matter of fact, it could very well be the best of the batch. Perfect groove, perfect rhythm, perfect vocals, perfect deliverance. I just wish it were eight minutes long instead of three.....then it would have been perfect length, as well.

Living just about two hours south of the band, I can relate to their complaint about it being "So Damn Hot". As a matter of fact, you can feel the toll the heat's taken on the band right here on this track. The appropriately relaxed and lazy tempo, along with the way Bird Dog seems to be struggling just to get the lyrics out created a perfect performance of the song.

"River Of Life" is a wonderfully performed, lyrically spiritual, Reggae style, song. The band musically nailing the style, along with the perfect harmony between Reno, Sherri and Jann, make this one of the disc's best.

Other tracks on "Time To Live In" include: "Get Outta Town", "You're Gonna Be Mine", "Breakfast Time", "Dog Bite Blues", "Beggin' For A Broken Heart", "You're Either On Or You're Off" and "Time To Live In".

Unfortunately, for the time being, the Bird Dog Bobby Band pretty much stays local to the central Florida area, so that means you'll have to buy the disc 'cause you really gotta hear this band. You can do that, plus tell him the Blewzzman sent ya, at www.birddogbobbyband.com.