CD Review
Reverend Raven Featuring Madison Slim
Live At Blues On Grand
(Nevermore Records, 2002)
by Bill Halaszynski
Review date: May 2005
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Two things drew me to this CD. I always dug the Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys handle, catholic grade school refugee that I am, and, I liked the work Madison Slim did back in the day with the Legendary Blues Band. To me, this screamed short cover, big buckets o’ beer Blues night at the local bar and, that’s a good thing. The music may be elemental and raw, but it’s in no way perfunctory played, there’s passion and wit to spare and therein lies its charm. The right Rev. unleashes rippin’ and a ringin’ guitar licks right out of the gate and keeps the energy level high throughout. This set called to mind the passion and fire of The Red Devils’ King King with a tad bit more polish as well as hard earned experience thrown in. This music requires commitment, it has to be played full out to work and these guys are more than up to the task. Good live Blues brings a smile to my lips when I’m there and this certainly does that, which is saying something hearing it on CD so far removed from the performance.
Reverend Raven is Chicago born and has that Windy City feel embedded in his DNA, Madison Slim sounds as though he couldn’t play a false note with a cocked pistol at his head and the rhythm section of bassist Andre Maritato and skin pounder Kid Panosh shake the foundation, rattle the rafters and roll it easy when called for. These four pieces make a heckuva racket and it’s a divine madness that they deliver. The song selection is fine and features solid Raven originals going toe to toe with covers of some of the best that the Electric Blues’ heyday had to offer from Muddy to the Wolf with some Freddie King and Slim Harpo thrown in for good measure. Things get started with the original “I’m Your Honeyboy,” sung by composer Raven with swagger and conviction. The opener sets a swinging pace before the band settles into a more traditional sounding Chi-Town groove that carries the proceedings from there on out.
Madison Slim joins the fray with Harpo’s “Got Love If You Want It”. His husky voice and overblown harp give the proceedings a feeling of authenticity, the inescapable knowledge that this is someone who’s been there and done that. The interplay between Raven’s guitar and Slim’s harp is what makes this CD work. Freddie King’s “In The Open,” comes about half way through the set and the duo wails full out making a joyous noise and claiming this night all their own. Wolf’s “Louise,” is next with a mesmerizing rhythm that sucks the listener in for good. Everything that follows is gravy and worth the time to track down and make your own. Great stuff if you’re a fan of no holds barred barroom blues and, a good place to start if you wanna try some on for size.
www.reverendraven.com
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