Alabama bluesman Dave Gallaher continues to do his bit for the blues. With
his trio, Microwave Dave and the Nukes, Gallaher has been peddling his
music for 14 years. This includes time spent broadcasting on the radio, and
backing fellow Alabama bluesman, the legendary harp player Jerry McCain.
Things get off to a good start with "Shady Muscadine." This one seemed
familiar, and a quick check of the credits reveal that it was co-written by
Billy C. Farlow--ex-Commander Cody--who must have played it on his recent
tours of the UK. The band show themselves to be a tightly knit trio, and
frontman Gallaher has a big rich voice. He is also a flexible guitarist, as
demonstrated by the funky guitar chops of the ensuing "Shot Gun Slim," and
even sounds a bit like Magic Sam on "It's All Right Now" which rattles
along nicely.
Gallaher even plays the LoweBow--a sort of Diddly Bow--on the solo original
piece, "Trail Of Tears." He then does things more conventionally on a
rocking version of Ray Charles' "Mary Ann" before tackling the
enigmatically named hydro-percussion on "Moon Winx" which has the sort of
moody brooding sound that is so beloved of Omar and The Howlers.
The rest of the album is all standard instrumentation, and includes a
stomping version of "Courtin' In A Cadillac," which was originally written
by the aforementioned Jerry McCain. The album eventually draws to a close
with a pretty straight cover of Santo and Johnny's "Sleep Walk" followed by
a rousing Chicago Blues style "Highway 49" that rounds things off in style.
"Atomic Electric" is another fine piece of blues out of Alabama. Although
Willie King has been in the limelight more, bands like Microwave Dave & The
Nukes are well worth checking out. They are a tight unit, and frontman Dave
Gallaher can certainly sing, and write good tunes. They sound like the sort
of band that would put on a cracking live show, but in the mean time, check
out "Atomic Electric."
www.microwavedave.com
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