Peter Parcek - Mississippi Suitcase - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Mississippi Suitcase, from Peter Parcek and it may be his best yet. Opening with The World Is Upside Down, Peter Parcek opens his grittiest and rockinist release, with a driving rhythm and blazing guitar. With a rock modified blues track, Parcek has lead vocal and guitar, backed by Tim Carman on drums, Tom West on keys, and Marc Hickox on bass. Really solid.  With it's march style snare drum rhythm, Everybody Oughta Make A Change has a cool, relaxed blues feel. Parcek's vocals and lead guitar seem to float over the tight drum pattern giving the track a different kind of feel. Very nice. Bob Dylan's, Beyond Here Lies Nothing, has an interesting, easy Latin feel, reminding me of early Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac Blues band with nice slide work and phrasing by Parcek. Followed by The Supernatural, a strong Peter Green composition, Parcek really works the fretboard over with a strong guitar lead composition. Excellent! Mississippi Suitcase, (Slight Return) is a super blues rocker with formidable guitar riffs, a cool organ solo by West, a strong bass line and snappy drums. Parcek's vocals are meaty and the track has guts. Very nice. Slower blues shuffle, Until My Love Come Down, has a real nice pace with soulful organ work by West and with a nice guitar guitar exchange between Parcek and Ted Drozdowski. She Likes To Boogie Real Slow has a cool loping rhythm and Parcek and West trade riffs making the track a real head bobber. Wrapping the release is an interesting instrumental, A Head Full of Ghosts, which I really like. With Carman on drums, primarily on tom toms, a nice stream of keys by West, Hickox on bass and beautifully articulated lead guitar by Parcek, the release leaves you wanting more. Very nice. 

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The Betty Fox Band - Peace In Pieces - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the new release, Peace in Pieces, from the Betty Fox Band and it's hot. Opening with rocker, Green Light, The Betty Fox Band shows soulful radio style. With full organ enrichment by Clayton Ivey and super backing vocals by Cindy Walker, Marie Levy and Fox, a solid opener. Marie is a really strong soul track with a beautiful melody and full horns by Brad Guin on sax, Ken Watters on trumpet over the vocal choir giving the track a rich gospel feel. A real nice guitar solo by Josh Nelms sets off the track but this one is a great showcase for the vocal strength of Fox. Excellent! Let Go Or Be Dragged is another really powerful track with a great rhythm line by Barry Williams on bass and Chris Peet on drums. One of the other promos that I saw compared Fox to Hart or James but I hear the style purity of Winehouse. This girl has real sass in her tone that I rarely hear. Another tight guitar solo by Nelms adds real spice. R&B style track, Sweet Goodnight further shows the depth of Fox's vocal richness with her band supporting her all the way with just the right amount of adornment. Spooner Oldham adds just the right glisten on keys and shimmering chords by Nelms nicely surround Fox's power. Very nice. Staying in the R&B stream but with the addition of tension, Magnificent Hallucination is a really cool. laid back tune where it seems that Fox just lays back and lets the track come to her. It's something that I've enjoyed Eryka Badu do at her best and Fox definitely has it. With strong Latin rhythms, Fox seems to be riding the flow, with her witchy seductive sound. Rhythmic tom toms by Peet and piano rhythms create a smooth bed for smooth guitar lead. Excellent! Rolling into shuffle track, Rising Strong, Fox gets more into a 50's jazz swing she's really cooking. The band is at full tilt and Nelms shows his chops with punchy horns behind. Very nice. Wrapping the release is gospel flavored,  'Til the Storm Passes By. Fox maintains a contemporary attack but Ivey's potent piano and organ work conveys the message and cements this final track. Love the cover by the way!

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Lightnin' Records artist: Peter Parcek - Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven, by Peter Parcek and it's quite good. Opening with Peter Green's, World Keep On Turning, Parcek presents a dark, drum heavy track with flashy guitar. Solid blues rocker. On Blind Lemon Jefferson's, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean, Parcek's guitar chords are shimmery and haunting, his vocal interpretation is excellent and his solo guitar work is eerie. I've heard this track done numerous times by modern players but none as well as this. Very nice. Instrumental, Pat Hare has a country blues flair with modified chicken pickin' and cool harp work from Mickey Raphael. Ashes To Ashes is a really nice contemporary number with strong, ancient bone from Lil' Son Jones with slashing slide work and cool harp work from Raphael. Shiver has a cool mid century surf rock beat lead by Parcek's guitar and reinforced by Marco Giovino on drums. Andy Sanfospago lays in some real tasty lap steel guitar riffs paired with Parcek's own lead work creating a real cool track. Don Nix's Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven is a great track with solid blues treatment. A great 12 bar sound with reverb, slide, pedal steel leading up to an excellent blues guitar solo and great vocals make this one of my favorites on the release. Wrapping the release is Jennie Mae Clayton's shuffle track, Aunt Caroline Dyer Blues. Playing it in a traditional manner with Deanie Richardson and Jeremy Van Cleave on violin, Russ Pahl on mouth harp and Dennis Crouch on standup bass this track has a real rural feel. A solid closer for a strong release.

  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”

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