Neon Blue Records artist: James Day & the Fish Fry - Southland - New Release Review

I just received the newest release, Southland, from James Day & the Fish Fry and it's hot! Opening with New Orleans style R&B track, Chain of Pain, Day leads the way on vocal with it's modified twisting beat complimented by Dave Young on bass and John Meriglano on drums. Ron Baldwin hammers out a great piano lead and Day slides the fretboard on guitar. Very Nice! One of my favorite tracks on the release, Next New Thing is a hot Chicago style track with a twist of New Orleans from Baldwin on accordion. Stilladog ... listen up! The harp work on this track is cooking (Think Hoy Hoy Hoy)! Mark Shewchuk lays down a really meaty swing blues guitar solo topping of a really great track! Muscadine Wine has a simple rhythm reminiscent of the Coasters' Idol With A Golden Head. A cool party track with solid organ and unusual guitar riffs. Time & Money is a straight up blues track with nice piano runs. I particularly like Day's vocals and Mark Hummel's harp work on this track. Nice romp! Nat'chel Man has a light Gypsy Jazz club feel with Bill Nixon on fiddle, Rich Delgrosso on mandolin and Wally Bechtold on clarinet. Great tune! Fish Fry Jump is another hot boogie lead by Massimino. Day is really having a blast on vocals here and rips into his chromatic harp for a killer solo. Excellent! Country Woman really has a lot of the feel of Keith Richards playing the country music of the stones. Still has a rock edge but no polish and all feel. Cool! One Step Des Chameaux really gets that Zydeco sound with the French vocals and Baldwin on accordion. Nixon hits the cajun fiddle for a solid party track. Don't Bruise The Melons, another track with a sound of early rock/R&B featuring Carl Crabtree on sax and Day on vocal and harp. Keli Vale and Alisa B Anderson warm up the back with some tight vocals. Weather Blues is delta blues track for the release with particularly cool vocals. Day plays slide cigar box guitar on this track and Mark Hummel throws down fart harp riff after riff. Great track! Zydeco Boogaloo is likely the one track that comes to most everyone's mind when you say Zydeco. Nicely executed and rockin'. Festival Time digs deeper into the New Orleans bag featuring Richard Orr on clarinet, Jimmy Parker on trombone and Troy Corley on sax. Boneman Larry Toft pulls off a hot trombone solo opening up the traditional New Orleans jam held tight by Mark Thornton on percussion. Money Smarts & Charm is a blend of New Orleans and Skiffle. Shewchuck cuts loose some chicken Pickin riffs giving it a country twist. Day wraps it all up nice with a rolling harp solo! Title track, Southland has the definite sound of rural south with slide guitar, acoustic bass, fiddle and jaw harp. Vocal harmonies enforce the rural feel of this track with anchors it in it's rural roots. This is a really tasty release with strong writing, hot riffs and clever turns. Check it out!

  If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! -  ”LIKE”