Cleopatra Blues artist: Tom Killner - Live - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live, from Tom Killmer ind it's a straight forward blues rocker with a lot of horsepower. Opening with Danny Kirwin's I Like It This Way, Killner on lead vocal and guitar is backed by Jack Allen on guitar, Oliver Tallent on bass, Jake Ashton on drums and Wesley Brook on keys. This is a powerful opener and a solid sign of what is to come. Slim Harpo's King Bee gets a really heavy driving bottom and a low slung guitar rhythm. Very cool. Freddie King's Have You Ever Loved A Woman (also made popular by Derek and the Dominos) is up next and Killner really digs in with some gritty riffs. A lighter solo on keys by Brooks eases the tension but Killner comes back with heavy firepower blowing your hair back. Very cool. Killner breaks out a few Jimi Hendrix tracks in Crosstown Traffic and Foxy Lady exhibiting the dynamics that Jimi intended. Super tracks. Warren Haynes/Govt Mule's classic Soul Shine is up next and Killner again shows exceptional feel both vocally and with his own guitar. The Allman Brothers' Whipping Post gets a driving revisit and stays fairly true to their original Fillmore recording but in a condensed 5:09 timeframe. Very cool. The Band's The Weight is nicely covered as well. Killner not only exhibits his talent as a skillful guitar player and vocalist, but also exhibits an excellent taste and knowledge in some of rock's best music.  Wrapping the release is Lennon/McCartney's With A Little Help From My Friends which was really remade big time by Joe Cocker on one of the best rock releases of all time. Killner does a great job on this track and it's a super closer for this blues rocking release. 

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Cleopatra Records artist: Tom Killner - Hard Road - New release review

I just received the newest release, Hard Road, from Tom Killner and it's quite good. Opening with Dallas Green's, Coming Home, a stompin' blues rocker, featuring Tom Killner om lead vocal. Nigel Killner on bass, Jake Ashrom on bass and Jesse Courts on backing vocal. I really like this track with it's Delaney & Bonnie sensuousness and southern rock swagger. Ain't No Rest For The Wicked is a stiff poke in the face of American bands trying to do real southern rock. I mean, this band does really nicely what hasn't been done since RVZ died in the fatal crash of 1977. Very cool! Showtune, Feeling Good, made popular by Nina Simone, is a temperamental track with a nice blues edge, accented by Killner's vocal and guitar style. Extended lead soloing is certainly nicely executed and rhythm guitar has great tone. Excellent! Seether track, Fake It maintains it's pop rocky feel but with tasty guitar interpretation. Red Arnall song, Cocaine Blues gets an ethereal makeover, Killner using nice guitar tones with his solid vocals to deliver the goods. I really like this track and it's simplicity. Title track, Hard Road is a strong ballad with super potential for radio play with some of the best lead vocals and strongest melody on the release. Melodic guitar solos by Killner sits nicely in the mix. Lifting Me Higher is a real basic rocker with clever guitar riffs and solid vocals. Whisky Haze has a jazzy overtone... almost a Good Rats feel. The track is light on it's feet but kicks some serious dirt when it opens up. Killner lays out some real nice guitar riffs and his gravelly vocals work really nicely. Do It Again has a real country rock swagger with it's rhythm guitar vamp and driving drum rhythm. I particularly like Killner's vocals and guitar attack on this track ... a solid rocker! Taking It's Toll takes cues from Skynyrd (Simple Man) on this track. With simple quiet guitar accompaniment with drums and bass behind his powerful vocals, Killner slowly builds this track to a stalking killer. Very nice! Wrapping the release is Midnight Call, with a lot of movement and cockiness. With wah wah blazing Killner leaves the release blazing just as he opened. Nice job!

   

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