The Wildcat O'Halloran Band - New York City Chill - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, New York City Chill, from The Wildcat O'Halloran Band and it's cool. Opening with jazz/blues rocker, Van Wyck Expressway the band lays down a real nice instrumental groove. Featuring O'Halloran with strong guitar and sax exchanges with Emily Duff over a solid rhythm section of Mark Chouinard and Kathy Peterson, this is a super opener. With a bit of sizzle, Can't Get It Like That is a romping shuffle with fluid guitar riffs and a driving rhythm.  To really get you up and moving, Cookin' Mama has a funky beat and harp by Wally Greeney leading to some fat fat slide work by Wildcat. Very nice. Louis Jordan's classic jump track, Saturday Night Fish Fry is up next and the band is having a blast with nice horn work by Duff. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Dumb with it's funky rhythm, fiery guitar work and peppery harp. On Muddy Waters' Don't Go No Further, Wildcat is alone on guitar and vocal showing his solo skill and it's solid. Wrapping the release is Waiting Awhile, a rumbling boogie. With poised harp attack and typical Wildcat guitar slaying, they wrap the release in style.

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Doves Nest Records artist; Wildcat O'Halloran Band - Cougar Bait Blues - New Release Review

I have been listening to the new release, Cougar Bait Blues, by the Wildcat O'Halloran Band. This recording has a little bit of something for everyone. First the band is fully loaded with 13 musicians playing drums, horns, guitars and vocals. The recording opens with Too Big To Cry So I Might As Well Laugh, a country cock style track twisted with humor. Bottled Bravery and Canned Courage is a real cool horn track right out of New Orleans. If You Won't Do What I Want gets the funk line going with solid vocals and a slick guitar solo for a very entertaining track. Magic Sam's All Your Fault takes a traditional blues line and the horns take the backseat to a more traditional stripped down blues sound. There are particularly nice sax and guitar solos on this track as well. The title track, Cougar Bait Blues, finds a two guitar solo exchange which is pretty tasty. Sam and Dave's Hold On, I'm Coming gets a more traditional blues/rock run (as opposed to the R&B treatment as original) turning to a fairly nice vocal duet and featuring some smart harp work. Better Luck Next Time finds another trip to New Orleans but this time with more of the NO R&B sound. The track does nicely feature the musicians including guitar and horns. Come In My Kitchen is done acoustically with guitar and vocal duet. A very nice rendition of thie Robert Johnson track. Redneck Woman hits the blues rock sound head on making for a cool crowd pleaser and an opportunity to get that harp back out front again. Daisy Dukes is another blues rock track featuring again some pretty nice guitar work and solid backing from the band. The final track, I Worship The Ground She Walks All Over Me On, again shows O'Halloran's sense of humor and ability to blend great musicianship with crafty lyrics.

This is an interesting recording and one that anyone who likes a variety of blues styles as well as humour in their blues should check out.
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Wildcat O'Halloran Band to share stage with Coco Montoya Nov 1

The Wildcat O’Halloran band has been dazzling New England audiences since way back in 1981, and, with an infusion of new blood, is ready to rock your town. Wildcat, once described as “the Pioneer Valley’s answer to Texas six-string pounder Stevie Ray Vaughn” by the Valley Advocate, has had a storied career including: Honorable Mention, Billboard International Songwriting Contest Stroh’s Superstar Talent Search, second place,NewEngland WRSI Singer –Songwriter Contest Finalist, Seagrams Superstar Talent Search , second place ,New England John Stifler of the Daily Hamp Gazette raved, “ They may not be famous, but they sure are Great!”

	Coco learned his chops as a member of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Albert Collins' Icebreakers. His fiery blues rock has earned him the praise of fans and critics worldwide as well as a W. C. Handy award and numerous nominations. "Blistering contemporary blues...piercing attack, funky, shivery guitar tones and aggressive, soulful vocals" -Blues Revue
	Iron Horse Music Hall (29 yelp reviews) 20 Center St.,, Northampton (Map it)
	Tuesday, November 1 at 7:00 PM
	$20

Other upcoming events at the Iron Horse Music Hall

• 10/27: Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three
• 10/28: Rachael Yamagata
• 10/28: Chadwick Stokes
• 10/29: Caravan of Thieves Halloween Freakfest
• 10/29: Jeff Bujak
• 10/30: Richard Shindell
• 11/01: Coco Montoya

If God Can Make That - Wildcat O'Halloran Band

These guys were just in the Finals of Boston Blues Challenge despite house-rockin' performance. Here's a new song taken from the 2011 CD release "Drinkin' With The Harp Girls"
The Wildcat O’Halloran band has been dazzling New England audiences since way back in 1981, and, with an infusion of new blood, is ready to rock your town. Wildcat, once described as “the Pioneer Valley’s answer to Texas six-string pounder Stevie Ray Vaughn” by the Valley Advocate, has had a storied career including: Honorable Mention, Billboard International Songwriting Contest Stroh’s Superstar Talent Search, second place,NewEngland WRSI Singer –Songwriter Contest Finalist, Seagrams Superstar Talent Search , second place ,New England John Stifler of the Daily Hamp Gazette raved, “ They may not be famous, but they sure are Great!” John Braheny, President of the L.A. Songwriters showcase called Wildcat, “As good a blues lyricist as I’ve heard” Grammy Award-winning drummer Ken Johnson said: “Must’ve gone to a different music school than the other white boys” and Living Blues Magazine, who usually don’t enthuse about New Englanders, called his music: “Innovative without being disrespectful; traditional without being moldy” The Cat has opened for just about every major blues artist to visit here, including Gregg Allman, John Mayall, John Lee Hooker, The Stray Cats, Albert Collins, James Cotton,Charlie Musslewhite, J. Geils, Son Seals, Johnny Copeland, Canned Heat, and Bo Diddley, just to name a few. Cotton and Diddley used his band for backup on occasion. The current sidemen include fabulous young guitarist Nate “Lightning boy” Dana, who younger fans will know from Llama Lasagna, Rod Cummings, and On The Roxx. Also Steve “Junior” Teuton, who held down bass duties for many years with Vast Ed Vadas, and John “Rhythm Rabbit” Coelho, who in addition to previous wildcat stints, spent time with Electric Carnival.

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Buy a Dog - The Wildcat O'Halloran Band

The New York City-born Wildcat has been called "the Pioneer valley's answer to Stevie Ray Vaughn" by local media for years, but now has "Lightning Boy" to push the guitar attack even further. We were second in the New England editions of both Stroh's and Seagrams talent searches, honorable mention in Billboard International Songwriting Contest, and have pushed many many headliners into great shows (or cut them). John Braheny of the L.A. Songwriter's Showcase called Wildcat "as good a blues lyricist as I've heard", Living Blues Magazine called us "progressive without being disrespectful; traditional without being moldy'. And we've just added a 2011 "Top Runner-Up (to go with our 2010 "Runner-Up") in Charlie Daniels drummer Gary Allen's "Best Song in the World" contest to our mantle. But the best quote came from the late Kenny Johnson, Grammy-winning drummer who performed with Cotton, Steve Miller and Kenny Neal. While living in the Valley he appeared with the Cat numerous times and told audiences, "He must have gone to a different music school than the other white boys!". Blues Matters (UK) raved about new CD ("great guitar playing, gritty yet clear singing over bumping bass lines...a great release!) See new videos on our Facebook wall at www.facebook.com/Wildcat O'Halloran