If you don't live on the west coast you may not be familiar with Bubba and the Big Bad Blues, I think this CD may change that. Bubba's inaugural CD is a real eye opener, or should I say, ear opener. Bubba and the band have all been around the music world for some time, each member has a long and impressive resume, in their current form Bubba's band has been playing together for 10+ years. This band consists of Christopher "Bubba" Clerc on lead and vocals, Shawn Nourse drumming, Mike Berry thumping the bass and Rick Solem on keyboards, (both piano and B3). All of them do a real fine job, they sound great.
Bubba and the band's style is a blend of many styles from many artists. You can hear the influence of others with out hearing a cover tune, you can get a feel for where this music comes from, and who it honors, but it sounds new and fresh. Listening to this CD I hear several tunes that remind me of the styles of Robert Cray, SRV, Freddy King and some rockers too. Half the songs on this CD were written by Bubba, one was written by Rick, they both did good a good job. The title track "Big Bad Blues" has a Texas blues /rock feel with a guitar rhythm that gets you going and ready for what follows.
"I Got The Loving You Need" has a nice groove and a fine guitar solo, just easy to listen to. "Black Clouds" has that old time smoky bar room sound, a real slow grooving song, you get guitar and piano playing off each other, real nice. My favorite is "Down To The Ground", it's a real thumping an rocking number about a woman who "can tear you right down to the ground". This song qualifies as a "power shuffle". It's like a cross between SRV and ZZ Top, what a great sound! I like this one too, because it has some vintage blues lyrics injected in a new song, I like a good blast from the past.
You get a trip to New Orleans for Mardi Gras on "Gimmie Some Beads". It's really hard to believe this is a new song, it has that old time "Narlins" sound, real easy to listen to and hard to stay in your seat when you hear it. "Fat City" has modern blues lyrics for a modern world, it's about hitting the big time and remembering your ex girl, and the fact that if she hadn't left you, she could be there in "fat city" with you. "Just Lucky I Guess" (written by Rick) is a fine tune that has a sound like Robert Cray with a Latin twist, this one really gives the drummer and bass man a work out, great guitar and piano work too.
Bubba and the band also do some old classics, but in their own way. You get great versions of "It Hurt's Me Too", "Big Leg Woman", "Built For Comfort" and "Stranger Blues". All are done well. "Built For Comfort" was always a favorite of mine, and they do a real nice job with it. If you like raw blues with a distorted sound then "Stranger Blues" is for you, it rocks and rolls along, it seems as if it will never stop, like it can't, it's got a great groove.
This CD has a great blend of new and old sounds, all done in a classy blues style, If you like your blues with big bad flavor , Bubba and the Big Bad Blues should satisfy your hunger. I think this one has something for everyone.
Visit Bubba and the band at www.bubbablues.com
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