Rockin’
Johnny Band - Grim Reaper (Delmark)
Apparently AWOL for the last ten
years, Rockin’ Johnny returns in style here with a timeless collection of
highly original but defiantly old-school blues that showcase both his own
individuality and the blue-chip quality of his band. From the excellent title
track ‘Grim Reaper’, a dense and darkly brooding opener with an aptly haunting
quality (and whose foreboding threat of ‘Rockin’ Johnny going to hell’ is
played along by church bell aping chimes on the guitar and a menacing ‘played-backwards’
solo that could see them end up in court), via the gently smouldering ‘Window
to Your Soul’, to the gutsy Little Walter cover ‘Everybody Needs Somebody’, the
playing is consistently relaxed, confident and compelling.
Although it’s characteristically
peppered with top class guitar playing and understated singing from the main
man throughout, a deserved special mention should go out to harpist Davin ‘Big
D’ Erikson for his significant efforts on ‘Lousy Dimes’ and his self-penned ‘Brand
New Boots’.
Neil B.
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