Jack Edery &
UltraSuede
"Fried Chicken &
Whiskey"
Peter "Blewzzman"
Lauro � September 2009
I'm definitely not talking about a
breakfast of champions, yet I could be talking about a blues musicians
dinner, however, what I'm really referring to when I say "Fried
Chicken & Whiskey" is the new CD from Jack Edery &
UltraSuede.
The band consists of Jack Edery on
guitars and vocals, Susan Pierce on Keyboards and vocals, Jason McCollum on
bass, and Robert Smith on drums. Special guests on the project
include: Jimbo Mathis on guitars, piano and background vocals; Justin Showah
on background vocals; Eric Carlson on keyboards; Gin Gin Abraham on
Background vocals; and Ken Turner on scrub board and
strings. "Fried Chicken & Whiskey" contains eleven
tracks of which ten are band originals. UltraSuede likes to refer to
themselves as a band that plays "a gumbo of styles with blues as the
roux". Let's go taste some.
Hailing from Beaumont, Texas, it's kind
of natural that the first ingredient in their brand of gumbo is some
rockin' Texas Blues. "Blues Outside My Window" starts things
off with the whole band tearin' it up and kickin' some ass. Just how
good this gumbo is has yet to be determined, but I do know this - it's going
to be hot!
The funk is added with the title track,
"Fried Chicken & Whiskey". With the lyrics pretty much being
the band jive talkin' 'tween themselves and fried chicken and whisky being the
main words, this one is all about the music. It's full of some very
serious rhythm grooves, and heavy on the funk.
"Mr. Ervin" is a song dedicated
to the late Beaumont blues man, Ervin Charles. This one's all about Jack -
and, of course - his mentor. You can't help but feel the
sincerity in his vocals as Jack sings about missing his
friend. This one has all the ingredients of a perfect ballad -
real and heartfelt lyrics, soulful vocals, slow and steady rhythm, and scorching
guitar riffs. This was one awesome track. Well done
UltraSuede!
Man, this band knows how to "Throw A
Boogie Woogie". Whoa! A good bowl of gumbo is nothing
without lots of spice, and this two minute barn
burner provides some heaping doses. This total
free for all is worth a few hits of the replay button.
A pissed off woman with a gun in her
hand is never a good thing. However, it sounds even scarier when she's a
"Blind Woman With A Gun". Susan steals the show on this
one. She wrote the song, sings her heart out on it, and kicks ass on
the keyboards. Unfortunately, that's not all she's kickin' ass on.
Ya see, although she's blind, she's still able to hear her man, with
another women, in her bed.....and then there's that gun. This is some
good old dirty blues as it's best.
"Memphis" is an absolutely
beautiful piece of work. The harmony between Jack and Gin
Gin is a pleasure to listen to, the precise way
the slide, lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars meld together is
commendable and the rhythm is profound. Another extremely well done
track.
It's a proven theory that using good
ingredients, is synonymous with making a good product. From what I've just
heard, UltraSuede has every right to call themselves a band that
plays "a gumbo of styles with blues as the roux". They
actually may want to expand on that and say "a delicious gumbo of styles
with real good blues as the roux".
Other tracks on "Fried Chicken
& Whiskey" include: "Ballad Of Yvonne & Angel",
"Cajun Queenie", "Good At Being Bad", Turn Me Loose In Your Kitchen",
and "Knucklebuster".
You can check out Jack Edery &
UltraSuede by going to
www.myspace.com/UltraSuede409.
Tell him you heard Blewzzman raving about it, so you just had to come and
get some "
Fried Chicken & Whiskey".
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
