Jeff Fetterman - Southern Son - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Southern Son, from Jeff Fetterman, and it's a cool blues rocker with some really hot guitar. Opening with I Don't Want To, Fetterman on lead guitar and vocal, backed by Kid Andersen on guitar, Ralph Retinger III on bass, John McGuire on drums, Kid Andersen on B3 and keys, John Halbleib on trumpet, Ric Feliciano on trombone and Doug Rowan on sax, this is a solid opener with a number of time changes. Living With the Blues is a strong, slow blues number with super vocals and explosive guitar soloing by Fetterman. Feels Like Rain is a straight up rocker with a southern flair almost like Outlaws or Skynyrd but without the tell tale signature riffs. Pretty cool actually. Blues For Charlie is my favorite track on the release with it's melancholy melody, easy pace, glistening chords and clean lead guitar not unlike the approach that SRV took with Riviera Paradise. Very nice! Another interesting track on the release is Jimi's All Along The Watchtower with hot, fiery guitar riffs and driving drum rhythm. The release is capped with a few bonus tracks. The first one is called Voodoo Funk with a super funky bass line by Reitinger, B3 by Andersen and scorching guitar jams by Fetterman. The second is Southside Blues, a real nice slow blues, led off by Andersen on B3. The is a strong soulful track, along the lines of the Allman's interpretation of T Bone Walker's Stormy Monday and Fetterman lets it all hang out here with blistering guitar work. Excellent closer. 

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Jeff Fetterman - 9 Miles To Nowhere - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 9 Miles To Nowhere, by Jeff Fetterman, and it's quite good! Opening with funky blues rocker, Somebody Get Me A Doctor, Fetterman on lead guitar and vocals sets a great stage. With a nice groove and solid vocals, backed by Eric Brewer on guitars, Ralph Reitnger III on bass, John McGuire on drums and Judy Kessler on vocal and percussion, this band is rocking. Nice round tone opens Something Just Ain't Right and the stomping woodblock snap is pure magic. Brand New Day has a tight, thumping bottom and a real good blues rock feel. Fetterman's sense for dynamics is nice with compressed neck pickup picking balanced with open bridge soloing. Goodbye John Brown has a snappy drum riff that really delivers for me and Fetterman's slide works nicely with his rugged vocals. The smoothest track on the release is Broken Hearted, T-Bone Walker progression, just set up for perfectly for lead guitar soloing. A real nice track. With the Sonny Boy Williamson or Booker T groove, Early Grave has a super base for strong vocals and kicking guitar riffs. Wrapping the release is blues ballad, These Arms Of Mine, with is warm melody, solid vocals and fluid and well placed guitar soloing. Very nice closer.

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Jeff Fetterman - Bottle Full Of Blues - New release review

I just received the newest release, Bottle Full Of Blues, from Jeff Fetterman Band and it's quite good! Opening with Paradise, influences of Jimi Hendrix and Texas blues guitarists are readily apparent. Strong driving guitar riffs by Fetterman on the intro develop into a cool funky groove with John McGuire on drums, Ralph Reitinger III on bass and Anthony Brown on keys. This track has a lot of fluidity and Fetterman is definitely comfortable leading this groove. Very nice! On Out Of Time a Bo Diddley beat is twisted with a Texas blues funk. I particularly like the bass growl of Reitinger. Brown steps up with a blanketing keyboard solo and a nice opening for Fetterman to lay out his guitar chops and Judy Kessler, Amy Shallenberger and Bea Antonelli sing precise backing vocals. Southbound has a driving blues rock beat with riding harp work from Otis James. Strongly blended lead and backing vocals as well as a strong melody make this on the the prime radio style tracks on the release. Title track, Bottle Full Of Blues, has a smooth, sultry blues feel highlighting Fetterman's vocals. Nicely constructed and executed, Fetterman plays Gary Moore style, melodic guitar solo lines highlighting the tension of the track. Very nice! Funky Candy puts me in mind of old Isley Brothers with it's guitar intro. A nice blend of vocals with Fetterman, Shallenberger, Kessler and Antonelli, a Prestonesque organ solo from Brown and solid bass lines from Reitinger gives this track an extra spark. Devil's Shuffle is a slick and quick 12 bar number with just a pinch of country. Loosely based on Freddie King's Hideaway and with crisp harp work from James, a tight guitar solo from Fetterman, a rolling piano solo from Brown and a rumbling bass solo from Reitinger, this is a cool instrumental. Talk To Me is an easy rocker with a clever hook. With traces of the Doobie Brothers with it's devilish drumming and clean guitar solos paired with warm backing vocals this track has certain radio potential. The intro on Down & Out has a really cool sound with guitar drone notes and James on harp giving it a pure blues feel. Adding on a Skynyrd swagger, funky shoes and blues harp and the track has a whole different dimension. Fetterman plays one of his longer and more stinging guitar solo's on the release making it one of my favorites on the release. Wash My Blues Away is a warm friendly track with traces of Doobies with it's catchy hook. Brown and Fetterman blend nicely instrumentally and Fetterman's lead vocals, coupled with the smooth backing by Kessler, Shallenberger and Antonelli make for one of the strongest vocal tracks. Wrapping the release is T-Bone & The Ghost. This is a smokin' jam between Reitinger on bass and McGuire on drums...I love it!

   

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