CD Review
Studebaker John & The Hawks
Howl With The Wolf
(Evidence Records)
by Dick Houff
Review date: May 2001
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1999 KBA Award Winner
Achievement for Blues on the Internet
Presented by the Blues Foundation
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Before I get into this extremely cool debut release with Evidence Records, I'd like to take a minute to talk about ugly looking guitars. John is one year younger than me, and I think he would appreciate where I'm coming from. When we were kids, it wasn't uncommon to have a garage
band. If you were from the other side of the tracks, your band equipment, in all probability, was purchased at a local Sears outlet. The guitars were cheap-usually, a top of the line instrument would run between $50 and $75 dollars: Kay, Silvertone, Sherwood, Orpheum, Stella, and the infamous Danelectro. Now, the Dan's looked like something out of a spaced-out-early 60s cartoon show. They were dirt cheap, but man could they produce some fine sounds. In fact, they're remaking them-and they are still cheap! Listen to John's Danelectro on "Howl With The Wolf!" What it all boils down to is this: "it's all in the hands of the beholder." I really believe this is his personal best. I have a lot of respect for Grimaldi; he prefers his own material and wrote all 12 songs. He is a multi-talented individual with the harp as well as the guitar. If you're a fan, and own some of his Blind Pig discs, than you know what I'm talking about. The first track, "Burned By Love" is the perfect opener for John and the Hawks-tough and in your face-dangerous terrain the way I like it! The following track, "End To The Lies" is one of my favorites. John's guitar and Joe Zaklan's rhythm guitar spark so well together that you don't want the song to end. Listen to John's harp on track three-think fun and jump on this slick number! Track four is the perfect house blues number to stir the crowd-or whoever is in your living room-a total party! On track five, "Nothing for Nothing" John continues with an exploratory harp into another tough, and on the edge turf mode! From track six all the way through to an explosive track twelve finale, "Howl With The Wolf." John doesn't cut you any slack. Hit the CD racks on May 30th, and don't let this one getaway. The next step is to checkout "Studebaker John & The Hawks tour schedule!
This review is copyright © 2001 by Dick Houff, 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.
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