Album Review ~ Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band ~ Goin' Home

Hello, 

Welcome to this weeks main post, I'm going to be reviewing blues band Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band and their latest album "Goin' Home" that came out this April. This album delves deep into Kenny's inspirations as he re-creates some of his favourite songs by his heroes. The album features original songs from the likes of BB King, Bo Diddley, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Lee Dorsey. 

The album starts off with a track called "Palace Of The King". An upbeat Freddie King number to get the record off to a positive and exciting start. Keeping in the style of Freddie King the guitar tones are noticeably similar in this record to how Freddie played. The horns are a great edition to the track and this whole recording sounds very full.

After that is a classic sounding Walter Jacobs (Little Walter) track that goes by the name of "Everything's Gonna Be Alright". Its got that real blues drive and shuffle that the genre is so famous for, it never gets old. This is the first track we really get a flavour for Kenny's guitar solo's and its certainly one to really get your ears listening. His tone makes it sound like a vintage guitar, but is recorded with the clear quality we have today. Kenny's voice suits this song perfectly. 

Moving onto a Willie Dixon number called "I Love The Life I Live", again that real nice blues shuffle, but with a real blast from the harmonica. The tone from that harmonica has a real delta blues background to it, it sounds like its a recording from the 40's. I personally love a harmonica that sounds as bluesy as this, its one of my favourite instruments when played in this way. Though I found it a shame the harmonica wasn't used in the previous song being a Little Walter number. Though I can't complain too much with some classic blues shuffle done very well. 

The track "The House Is Rockin'" is a fast-paced Stevie Ray Vaughan song with a lot going on in the complexity of the blues straight groove. A neat little number that is certain to get anyone up and dancing to at a live show with a nice little ending too. "Breaking Up Somebody's Home" demonstrates more of the groovy side to the Shepherd band and really getting the chance to hear the power Kenny puts into his voice. At times it overwhelmed me with the raw power he puts in, likewise with how Albert King does the same with his songs, a great cover. 

To me, when "You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now" starts, you just know its a BB King track. It has that essence about it, that feel and the guitar solo at the start that Kenny nails. This is one of the stand out tracks on the album, the guitar licks are done to perfection and has one of the best piano solo's I've heard for a very long time. Throughout the first few verses you can hear the piano in the background with a few licks that are noticeable, but that solo...damn. As well as Kenny's impressive solo, this is the perfect homage one of the great blues legends. 

"You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover" goes into more of the country/blues scene with a great Willie Dixon cover that again will certainly get your head boppin' and your feet tapping. I've found that each song on this album doesn't sound the same as the last song. This album proves that blues can be a very creative genre, a lot of people speculate blues to be just a 1,4,5 chordal system with a shuffle. Each song has been different in its own right which is great to hear and keeps the listener entertained with Kenny's impressive blues band. 

Photo Credit: Mark Seliger (All Photos)

"Looking Back" is as cool as you can get with a cover. A really nice simple blues structured song with a lot going on in the song, but with a great guitar solo's. Kenny's tone for his guitar solo's make them sound authentic, nobody else can get the sound he is getting from those guitars. His solo's are note for note perfect with each note clean as a whistle for the listener to hear. 

"Born Under a Bad Sign" was another personal favourite because its one I play in my own blues/cover band 'The Delta Sons'. Singing away and I was really trying to see what Kenny had done with the song that was different from the original. The one thing I noticed is Kenny's laid back approach on how to sing the lyrics. He presents the lyrics how someone like BB King would, coming into the lyrics at any point, but still finishing off at the same point. Singing some words longer than others and really belting some notes out. 

Kenny's reason for creating this album was to pay homage to some of the artists he grew up with and whom inspired him to start playing guitar. He and his band have done this and more. They have recorded some excellent covers, some of which really show off what those legends were about. Taking their presence in songs and re-creating them in the song, but in Kenny's own way. Some with grunge, shuffled blues or a simple 4/4 groove, each song has its own identity and can give a listener a real understanding of how diverse blues actually is. 

"Goin' Home" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band is out now and I advise you all to have a listen if you want to get into blues. These are all classic tracks from legendary blues artists and its a great album to really understand what blues is all about. 

If you enjoy Kenny's album then he has just announced a April 215 tour too. These are the dates:

Salisbury City Hall                                             Friday April 10^th  

Holmfirth Picturedrome                                Saturday April 11^th

Glasgow O2 ABC                                               Sunday April 12^th  

Aberdeen Lemon Tree                                  Monday April 13^th

London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire        Wednesday April 15^th

Thank you very much for reading and until next time. 

Lewis

Live Review ~ Joanne Shaw Taylor ~ Shepherds Bush Empire 19/11/2014

The evening started out in anticipation from Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marnsden. He graced his presence on stage and was performing acoustically to start the evening off. He was welcomed by the crowd with a huge round of applause. Has a great stage presence that had the whole venue intently listening. 

Halfway through his set Bernie brings out a lovely looking velvet red double necked guitar. He said 'I've owned this for 40 years' and the tone that came from that guitar couldn't be re-created, it was a mesmerising sound. One stand-out song for me was his rendition of 'Dragonfly' by Fleetwood Mac. A beautiful rendition of which was one of Bernie's favourites to play. 

In-between songs he was cracking jokes and telling stories from his adventures on the road. He dedicated a few songs to certain people like Bobby Bland and Gary Moore. Before the song 'Dragonfly' he amused us with his attempt to bring Peter Green into the studio to record this song with Bernie for his latest album. As he played his final note of the set, the audience erupted in applause and before he left the stage he said "thanks for listening". 

Photo by MHP Studios

After a short interval, Joanne Shaw Taylor came onto the stage with her band and blasted into 'Mud Honey', the latest single off her new album 'The Dirty Truth'. The three opening songs were fast-paced and packed full of solo's from Taylor. Though at times were hard to pick out every note, you could see from her expressions she meant each one. 

The song "Jealousy" brought the high energy down to a slow number. This was the song that everyone could really start to hear the emotion Taylor puts into each song as the band were playing at the very minimum and let Taylor sing out the lyrics. In the solo she managed to muster up the highest notes on her guitar possible which was very impressive and a show in itself. 

With the gig in full swing, Taylor is bringing out top level blues for each song. At one point she introduces one of her band members on keys and the lighting focuses on him. Preparing myself for an epic keys solo it was cut short to carry on the song which was a slight oversight for the evening. She even added some comedy about her song "Wrecking Ball" and a comparison to Miley Cyrus that had the hall erupt with laughter. 

Coming into the latter end of the gig, Bernie Marnsden was re-introduced back onto the stage that was accompanied by another huge round of applause from the audience. They played two songs together that were "Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues" and "Let It Burn". In the second song Taylor and Marnsden battled it out with a call and response both constantly smiling as they pick out their best work to demonstrate to each other. It was great to see both having such a good time. 

The whole performance seemed to have notched up a gear after Bernie left the stage once again. The whole band seemed to be pumped with energy and really getting into each song. Strong and grungy guitar melodies were the essence of the final few numbers from Taylor's set. 

Photo by John Bull

Joanne's solo in "Going Home" was the best of the evening. Each note engraved into her fingers to be blasted out to the audience. It was a real spectacle of true emotion played into just one solo. Out of all the solo's she performed on the night, this was one the stand-out even if the others were just as spectacular.

After her final song she left the stage and was asked back for more by the audience with continuous clapping and foot stomping. She came back to end the show with "The Dirty Truth". After she finished her encore everyone was applauding her as the house lights came on to end the show. The gig was a success for all and the audience left with smiles on their faces. 

In conclusion, Joanne Shaw Taylor put on a show and pulled out all the stops in her performance. Each song had its own identity and was executed with style, grace and power. I would recommend going to her live to anyone who enjoys seeing some impressive guitar solo's and hard-hitting blues. After the show Joanne seemed happy with herself and said how much she enjoyed this evenings event. I'm sure I will be back to see one of her gigs next year.