If flame throwing, fire breathing, smokin' hot, over the edge, hard rockin' blues is your bag, then "Blues Without A Home" belongs in your home.  Just drop what you're doing and go buy this CD - it's as simple as that. 

 

    On his third release, Shawn Kellerman - on Guitar and Vocals - is joined by Joseph Veloz on Bass, Andrew "Blaze" Thomas on Drums and Lucky Peterson on B3 & Clav, with Jason Ricci on Harp, Chelsea Oaks on Backup Vocals, Al Cross on Drums and Alec Fraser on Bass, all joining in on individual tracks.

 

    For the opening track, "Ted's Jam", turn the volume up and quickly strap yourself in for the ride.  In one word, this instrumental is 'frantic'.  Enthusiasts of the guitar will be in their glory hearing Shawn's wizardry over the instrument.  It's absolutely incredible.  You'll also get a further understanding of how Andrew may have gotten the nickname "Blaze".    This one is all about the guitar and the drums. 

 

    You'll surely be enjoying "Good Times" while listening to this one.  To fans of Lucky's, it isn't much of a secret that sometimes.....errrr.....make that most of the times.....he can be a wild man, and on this one he's just that.  Great keyboard work, and real tight rhythm highlight this one. 

 

    "Give Me The Blues" could very well be called Shawn's musical autobiography.  It's a lyrical explanation of how he plays the blues........"It may not sound like you do, but I know that it ain't wrong".  I gotta agree there - especially on this track.  Shawn's awe-inspiring on guitar and vocals.

 

    Soft and slow are words you won't here too many times while describing a Shawn Kellerman track, but they do fit "Love Is Sweet".  With the rhythm guys in a mellow groove on this six and a half minute instrumental, Shawn and Lucky toss the lead back and forth between the guitar and the keyboards.  The outcome equals 'perfection squared'.

 

    Having already used the word frantic to describe the pace of a previous track, I guess I'll have to use the word frenzied to describe "Big Mama's Door".  This is more of what these guys do best, and that's give their all...very fast and very hard.  Shawn and Andrew are out of control on this blazer.

 

        OK, I'm starting to run out of adjectives here.  Let's see, I think the perfect one to describe "Burrito Brain" would have to be unrestrained.  That's exactly what Shawn, Jason and Lucky collectively are on guitar, harmonica and keyboards on this one.  Blues purists may have a hard time here, but then again, as Shawn Kellerman says on a previous track....."I play my music the only way that I can - some people really dig it, some just don't understand".  Amen!

 

    Other tracks on "Blues Without A Home" include" "Counterfeit Man", "Love Of Mine", "Pretty Women" and "Jellyroll" and collectively the disc totals nearly sixty-five minutes of hard core rockin' blues.  With "Best Rock Blues Album" added as a new category at the 2009 Blues Music Awards, "Blues Without A Home" has '2010 Nominee' written all over it.

 

    To grab yourself a copy of "Blues Without A Home", stop in and see Shawn at www.shawnkellerman.com.  Please make sure you tell him that he blew away the Blewzzman.

 

Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro

Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com