BOB
LEVIS
"BARSTOOL
BLUES"
BIG PAW
RECORDS
By now, I don't
think it's a secret to many that my favorite type of blues is good old straight
up Chicago Blues. There's no discussing it - there's nothing better.
Which is exactly why I fell in love with "BARSTOOL BLUES" by BOB
LEVIS. Being a member of the OTIS RUSH and LONNIE BROOKS bands and
having over 30 years of experience in the genre, makes it very unnecessary
for any reinventing. Just assemble a killer band and play some kick
ass Chicago Blues.....and that's just what BOB did on his first solo
release.
The BAR STOOL BAND,
if you will, consists of: BOB LEVIS on lead and rhythm guitar; BROTHER DAVE
KAYE on bass; MARTY BINDER on drums; DENNIS "LINK" LEARY on drums; DAVE
WOOD on lead guitar; TED LAWRENCE and WESTSIDE ANDY LINDERMAN on harmonica;
JIMMY VOEGELI on vocals, piano and organ; STEVE DITZELL on vocals and
lead guitar; BIG JIM JOHNSON on vocals and lead guitar; LARRY
PENDLETON on vocals and lead guitar; and special guest LONNIE BROOKS on vocals
and lead guitar.
"IT TAKES
TIME" takes absolutely no time at all to slip into a real
nice groove. From the opening notes, on this opening track, there's no
question as to what you're in for from here on out. The rhythm's tight as
hell and BOB, STEVE and JIMMY are all getting' down on guitar and
organ.
"CANT HOLD OUT
MUCH LONGER" has more highlights than ESPN after a full day of
football. This one's got LONNIE singing his heart out and joining BOB on
some scorching guitar licks, great harp work from WESTSIDE ANDY and JIMMY
putting out what just might be the best piano work on the disc. Good stuff
right here.
Have you ever heard
a blues song about a train that didn't have a harmonica on it? Of course
not. And on "MYSTERY TRAIN", the harmonicas of BIG JIM and
TED and the guitars of BOB and DAVE have this train smokin' along at a real nice
speed.
In spite of some hot
rhythm behind them, BOB, JIMMY and ANDY all shine on
"BARSTOOL BREAKDOWN". When featured, they tear it up on guitar,
organ and harp on this all out furious instrumental.
There's no
questioning LARRY when he says "I'M COMING DOWN WITH THE
BLUES". His gritty vocals and scorching lead guitar will have
you coming down with the blues as well. This one may very well be the best
track on the disc. As a matter of fact, according to liner notes,
after LONNIE BROOKS heard the playback of the track he asked LARRY if he wrote
it. Responding "no" and asking why he asked, LONNIE then told LARRY that
he sang it like he wrote it......need I say more?
Harp heads will be
in their glory listening to "SHUFFLE-ISKO". This one is all about TED
and his instrument. It's a tribute to JOE FILISKO, the harmonica maestro,
instructor, historian and technician and it's written by quite a harp player
himself - DENNIS GRUENLING.
JIMMY tells us
something we already know on "NOW I'M GOOD". On this smoker, he
isn't just good, he's phenomenal. While tearing it up on piano, he seems
to be enjoying himself on his only vocal duty on the disc. This one's also
one of the few tracks that has BOB doing all the guitar work and it gives you a
chance to appreciate his ability.
At the bottom of the
disc is the track with all the bottom. "GETTING OUT OF
TOWN" is the last of thirteen outstanding tracks and highlight is
the rhythm. BROTHER DAVE and DENNIS are right in the zone on
bass and drums on this one. BIG JIM'S vocals and DAVE'S guitar
are two more reasons this is one of the discs best.
Other tracks on
"BARSTOOL BLUES" include: "WHY ARE PEOPLE LIKE THAT?", "DOUBLE
TROUBLE", "THREE TIMES A FOOL", "JUST TO BE WITH YOU", and "BLUES
BEFORE SUNRISE".
If you want
to check out BOB - and you really ought to, ya gotta look for him on My Space at
This review has been complimentary written for your newsletter by
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro, a contributing writer for BLUESWAX and the Blues Editor
at www.Mary4Music.com where you can
read many more CD and live show reviews, view lots of blues photographs and find
an abundance of blues material. I can be reached at
Blewzzman@aol.com
