CD Review – The Homemade Jamz Blues Band – “Pay Me No Mind”

Blue Barry – Smoky Mtn. Blues Society

July 2008

The Homemade Jamz Blues Band is out there with their new CD called “Pay Me No Mind.” So what you say. Well here is a little background for you. I know they’re new to you but they played the WC Handy festival last July and B.B. King said “In my 82 years, I’ve never seen something musically...so remarkable.” They won the 3^rd annual Delta blues Society of Indianola’s Blues Challenge in 2006. They were the youngest band to compete in the International Blues Challenge in 2007 taking 2^nd out of 157 bands. Now here is the revelation. Ryan Perry is playing guitar and vocals at age 16, Kyle Perry at 13 plays bass, and little sister Taya Perry plays drums, and backup vocals at age 9! That’s right, 16, 13, and 9. Only trouble is, they are fabulous. You can’t believe it. Ryan can blast that guitar, and his vocals are way older than he is. There are just incredible. You would never think people this young could have the blues, much less play them, but here they are. It just must be in their DNA to speak the language. This is good music my friends. Kids or no kids, their blues are real. There are 11 cuts on the CD including a 6 minute cover of John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom.” You need to get on line and give them a listen. I know it’s hard to believe, but you will. One of the coolest things about the CD is a picture of these two electric guitars made from car mufflers. I mean pickups, whammy bars, it cracks me up man. I saw a homemade dobro one time with a Studebaker hubcap for a resonator, but this is just too much. A great addition to your collection. Oh yea, they’ll be around for a long time. Listen up. www.homemadejamzband.com & www.northernblues.com Have a great summer, your friend.....blue barry