It seems that with the first guitar lick Doyle Bramhall II nailed on the Harmony Rocket guitar given to his father by Lightnin' Hopkins, he was destined to make his mark on music. He quickly went from playing in Northern California club bands to touring with The Fabulous Thunderbirds to co-founding the Arc Angels with Charlie Sexton, Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton, to his self-titled solo release in 1992
His father, Doyle Bramhall, was a hard working drummer & singer/songwriter around Texas, playing with such bands as The Chessmen and with a pair of young guitar slingers Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan. Doyle II grew up watching his father and the Vaughan brothers, eventually getting a chance to sit in with SRV, and joining Jimmie's Fabulous Thunderbirds when he was just 18.
While he started his career on the road, it was the 1992 offering from the Arc Angels that gave him his recording debut. The band played sold-out shows across the United States and quickly made a name for them. Four years later Bramhall released a self-titled album that established his individual voice and style.
Joining the excellent vocalist Bramhall on "Jellycream" is Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman (who co-produced his solo debut), drummer Charlie Drayton, Mitchell Froom and Jamie Mahoberac.
Lovers of Texas blues/rock, who haven't gone out and purchased this one, should do so right away. It's a keeper.
This review is copyright © 2000 by Matt Alcott, and Blues On Stage, all rights reserved.
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