I just had the opportunity to review the most recent live release, Backstage Pass, from Ghost Town Blues Band and it's a good party. Opening with the Beatles, Come Together, Matt Isbell leads this hill-country take of the British pop classic which is more morphed with the addition of Suavo Jones on trombone and Kevin Houston on sax. With it's driving beat by Preston McEwen on drums, romping bass line compliments Matt Karner, Tim Stanek on keys and Taylor Orr and Isbell on guitars, this track which weaves through Norwegian Wood and Whole Lotta Love is a great opener. new Orleans flavored, Tip Of My Hat has a great feel and Stanek's piano work is tops. A salty sax solo by Houston is up first and I'm always a sucker for trombone work and Jones lays it all out. Givin' It All Away is a funky horn heavy track with solid sax work and Betts like guitar riffs giving the track an Allman like feel. A well developed trombone solo by Jones really sets this track apart. Boogie woogie track, Big Shirley is horn heavy and has super rock 'n' roll guitar riffs, even venturing off into Led Zep's "Rock and Roll" but the spotlight here is on the super piano work of Stanek. Very nice. A new, laid back take on the Allman's Whipping Post is actually quite fresh but does progress into a full blown 15+ minute blues rock jam with B3, rolling bass lines and adventurous guitar jazz/rock leads. Very cool. The Meter's, I Get High, has a terrific groove and the band rides high for almost 10 minutes exploring solo and dual guitar leads and Lou Reed. Smoking! Shuffle track, One More Whiskey is certain to be a crowd favorite with it's bouncy beat and sing along chorus. Wrapping the release is Robert Randolph's I Need More Love giving the entire crew a chance to stretch starting with a dynamic solo by Jones, followed by Houston. Blending a bit of Spencer Davis/Winwood in, Stanek takes the track full swing. Isbell and Orr tear it loose a bit and then Karner steps out on bass, followed by McEwen on drums. Isbell blows harp starting the final onslaught, making this a powerful sliding closer for a super new release.
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