Hailing from the Madison, WI, area, Cadillac Joe & The Blind Wolf Blues Band are a tight, four-piece, Hammond B-3 outfit featuring a young Aaron Williams on guitar. Fronted by Cadillac Joe Anderson, who takes all the vocals, and plays smartly throughout, this CD is a fine outing and shows plenty of future promise. Anderson's vocals are less those of a singer, leaning closer towards a conversationalist's approach, as he tends to discuss his way through the proceedings, and while his range is somewhat limited, on the plus side, he knows his limitations and stays where his voice is better suited. Their 10-song, self-produced CD runs for just over 45 minutes, sporting some good, if sometimes uninteresting moments. Tracks like "Break Song #29" and "Creepin' In" may work well in front of a sweaty, Saturday night crowd, but lacing a CD with four instrumentals tends to sound more like filler. Musically, everyone is on target, especially Anderson's fat, deep-toned Hammond stylings, which are understated, and obviously influenced by McGriff/Smith school. Aaron Williams' guitar playing is something to keep an eye on, and with Jimmy Thackery naming him the "brat with the Strat," you should hear more from him. The rhythm section is anchored by Kent "Dice" Hamele and Mike Morganthaler, on bass and drums respectively, and high honors go to them for maintaining some solid underpinnings which allow Anderson and Williams room to strut their stuff. Winning the 2001 Isthmus Magazine readers' poll, Cadillac Joe & The Blind Wolf Blues Band were voted as the best blues outfit in Madison, and are currently holding down the 'house band' duties at Luther's Blues, a frequent stop for touring heavyweights. While "The Adventures Of" CD doesn't break any new ground, it offers a good look at what every major city shares in common; hardworking, journeyman blues players, determined to keep a tradition strong and growing. www.geocities.com/blindwolfband/music.html has touring dates, a guestbook, and more, and email contact is Aaron Williams at: stratman22@hotmail.com
This review is copyright © 2001 by Craig Ruskey, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved. Copy, duplication or download prohibited without written permission. For permission to use this review please send an E-mail to Ray Stiles.
|
We build websites