Root Nine Records artist: Revelator Hill with Ron Holloway - Live By The Creek - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live By The Creek, by Revelator Hill with Ron Holloway and it's a smoking blues rocker. Revelator Hill is back with another super release and this time with Ron Holloway and live! Opening with Bad Luck Goodbye, front man Bobby Thompson sets the pace with fat guitar tones, rocking rhythm and solid vocals. backed by Seth Morrissey on bass and vocal, Wes Lanich on keys and Gary Crockett on drums these guys rock the joint and guest artist Ron Holloway adds some real hot sax. Great opener. Gets Me Over is certainly a crowd pleaser with it's warm melody, Cream like vocal harmonies, ultra solid drums work reminiscent of Ginger Baker and fat sax work by Holloway. Very cool. With it's driving bass line by Morrissey, excellent slide work by Thompson, articulate drums work, a super understated bass line, Look At You Now is another solid entry which of course also includes rich sax work by Holloway. Lightly funky ballad, Consider Me changes the pace up a bit featuring mostly vocals by Thompson and the cool organ work of Lanich. Holloway, always ready on the trigger of course contributes nicely here as well. A cover of Howlin' Wolf's How Many More Years is one of my favorites on the release. I know I have said this before on an earlier review but Thompson's vocals are very similar to Jack Bruce and that's a heavy endorsement from me. His own excellent guitar riffs, chasing his vocals, boiling in the pot with strong organ work by Lanich make this track stand out large. Until We Shine is a formidable track with a wealth of slide guitar work and a driving rhythm. Lanich takes a nice organ interlude and this band presses right at the edge of being a formal jam band (like Govt Mule). Very nice. Wrapping the release is Eric Clapton's Bottle Of Red Wine using mostly his original arrangement. Thompson and Morrissey blend vocals nicely and Lanich's piano work is tops. Holloway adds really nice sax work to top to close out this really enjoyable release. 

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Rootnine Records artist: Bobby Thompson - Live At IOTA - New Releae Review

I just received the newest release, Live at IOTA, from Bobby Thompson and it's quite good! Opening with Good Things That We Have, a solid R&B style track with nicely blended vocals, a full bass line from Seth Morrissey and a super keyboard curtain from Wes Lanich, this is a really nice opener. Bobby Thompson, who isn't shy as a guitar player rips a pretty dynamic solo to back up his vocal work with Morrissey and Jeff Mills keeps the bottom tight. Nobody's Fool is a straight up pop rocker with a smooth melody and a minimal instrumental ornamentation. Again really has radio track written all over it with a super melodic hook making it a track that I would expect to get multi genre play time. Down To Here is one of my favorites on the release with complex vocal harmonies and a heavier bottom. Playing stinging blues based guitar riffs, Thompson has a really strong voice actually reminding me quite a bit of Jack Bruce. Thompson lets the dog off the leash on this track and has it squealing. Very cool track! Elmore James' Look Over Yonder's Wall gets an almost Freddie King treatment with a funky bottom and loose guitar riffs. With a cool bass line and nicely phrased vocals, this track hits just right. Lanich takes a nice extended organ solo on this track showing his chops and Thompson does a nice job with extended guitar soloing himself. Very nice! On boogie track, Setting Sun, the band hits a cool groove and with vocals that remind me quite a bit of early Grand Funk Railroad, this track is a cool jam. Clocking in at over 7 minutes, Thompson and Lanich both take extended solos. Very nice! With it's Hendrix style swagger, Hard Road really lumbers hard. This is the least vocal track on the release and carries itself nicely on shear rock strength. (Think West, Bruce and Laing). Driving boogie rocker, Look At You Now is a real showcase for the driving drumming of Mills and bass of Morrissey. Sure, Thompson still has this great voice leading the way but this track is deeper than that. Nice to hear the guys let it fly. Very cool! Wrapping the release is funky, On Her Wings Again, with Mills and Morrissey leading the way. Thompson shows his funky side with some smart funky riffs of his own. With this rhythm section, it's hard to keep your feet (seat) still and Thompson paces himself nicely on vocals. This is really a nice conclusion to a very solid outing.

 

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