JOHN EMMS MUSIC REVIEWS

When your wife likes a blues artist that you pop into the cd player and your neighbours say “who is that playing?” it’s all good.

Joel Johnson is one hell of a blues axe man and vocalist.

To top it off, I can’t say how many new young blues players I enjoy from first listen.

It’s not a big number, but Johnson is one of them.

This is a modern blues recording. Punchy big sound but with traditional feel.

If you think of Albert Cummings or the groove of Guitar Shorty you will get the idea.

From the start Johnson rips off impressive lead solos on Out of My Mind, the funky Raise Your Wind, and the slow blues horn infused I’ll Be Just Fine, where he really lays down an impressive lead vocal to go with the exciting chops.

An instrumental nod to Luther Allison and covers of Crossroads and Little Wing are included but Johnson works best on his own tracks.

A little more variation on the song-writing side in the manner of Tommy Castro, and Walter Trout’s work would be cool but Johnson rocks hard and true.

The backing band of keyboard man Wayne Dagenais, drummer Mike Fitzpatrick and bassist Steve Pelletier are flexible and always in the pocket, and give a big boost to the overall band feel on the tracks.

Your going to like this cd a lot!!!

JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, radio host and singer-songwriter with Canadian Blues Rockers

THE SHAFTMEN

http://www.theshaftmen.com

You can check out John and the band worldwide on Youtube, Amazon and iTunes

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/the-worlds-gone-crazy/id673101570

JOHN’S BLUES ROOTS RADIO

http://emms.podbean.com/

The easiest thing you can do is listen to solid musicians play for the joy of it.

If you mix in a tribute to Muddy Waters, his music, his son Mud, Kim Wilson and the groove these cats put out it’s a no brainer.

This album is a winner, because you can’t fake real blues feel.

On tracks like Gone to Main Street, I Want You to Love Me and Nineteen Years Old it’s clear the organic nature of chops by guitar man Billy Flynn, and piano man Barrelhouse Chuck just kill at every turn.

That is the key to the whole entire cd in a nutshell. It’s Mud’s convincing vocal work and Kim Wilson and the band just rolling and tumbling.

Nobody is saying that on the 100th anniversary of Muddy Water’s birth young blues fans should not check out his entire catalogue, but by god these guys nailed this session.

Slip this cd on, grab a drink, and turn it up!!

JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, radio host and singer-songwriter with Canadian Blues Rockers THE SHAFTMEN http://www.theshaftmen.com

Check out the music below

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/the-worlds-gone-crazy/id673101570