CD Review: DON'T EXPLAIN

DON’T EXPLAIN
Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa

Record Label: J & R Adventures (Joe Bonamassa and Roy Weisman)

Release Date: September 26th UK and Europe, September 27th US

THE BAND
Beth Hart (vocals)
Joe Bonamassa (guitar, vocals on "Well, Well")
Blondie Chaplin (guitar)
Carmine Rosas (bass)
Arlan Scheirbaum (keyboards)
Anton Fig (drums, percussion)


REVIEW:
There’s an old tale that musicians tell about how if you walk on down to the windswept crossroads at the junction of Highways 61 and 49 in Clarksdale, Mississippi right around the stroke of midnight, the devil himself may come and perfectly tune your guitar or give you that sensational voice you want – albeit for a price. I always wondered what would happen if two musicians showed up at those crossroads at the same time - what happens then. Well methinks they call the tune, ramble on and we get a CD filled with amazing cover songs recreated by the immense talents of Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa, titled Don’t Explain.

Joe Bonamassa plays his instrument in an almost unearthly style. His fingers dance over the strings creating sounds of depth as he wrings you dry with spirited emotional finesse. When Beth Hart joins in and sings, the sounds fuse, complement, harmonize and become one. Beth can moan and wail expressing the deepest sorrows of a condemned sinner but just as easily grind with grit about love finding her. These two performers artfully blend their styles and sound giving us old songs, breathed with a new airy light and a touch of the old time sultry, slinky blues.

If Joe and Beth went to those cross roads I don’t think it was to make a pact with the devil but to sing and play, and see what the Mississippi winds blew their way. Also, I think after listening to Don’t Explain, that it was to show that old devil a new thing or two about the blues.


SET LIST
Sinner's Prayer
Chocolate Jesus
Your Heart Is As Black As Night
For My Friend
Don't Explain
I'd Rather Go Blind
Something's Got A Hold On Me
I'll Take Care Of You
Well, Well
Ain't No Way

SONG-BY-SONG REVIEW:

Sinner’s Prayer: This song is crazy-wild and digs deep. The beat thumps hard and the slink-slank of the guitar meshes with Beth’s vocals creating that gritty groove this song requires. “…have mercy.”

Chocolate Jesus: This took a few plays in the player before I started grooving with it. It’s a bluesy gospel with an upswing tempo that I found after a few plays, you start humming and singing right along with it.

Your Heart is as Black as Night: Out of all the tracks on this CD this is my least favorite. Musically it’s great. It has a slow, slinky feel to it and Joe kicks it out of the park on his guitar solo. Beth’s voice on this is well done but it doesn’t have the same panache as the other songs.

For My Friend: I do like the lyrics and Beth’s voice is edgy/spastic on this song. Musically it’s well done, unfortunately the song as a whole really doesn’t do a lot for me.

Don’t Explain: Beth’s voice is sultry and very Billie Holiday-like. Her tone and inflections, the swoop and sway gives one the feeling of “old school” soul. Beth gives her all on this one and it is just beautiful. Joe’s guitar weeps and winds its way in and out throughout the song that is amazing and skillfully done. Perfection!

I’d Rather Go Blind: Another beautifully re-crafted song. Beth’s voice cracks, weeps and moans as she tells her story; then Joe retells the story with his guitar playing during the solo which leads back to Beth to finish it.

Something’s Got a Hold On Me: One of my favorites. I love how the deep soul digging opener segues into almost a gospel sound that appears to have been caught by the blues devil himself then shaken so hard that you feel compelled to shimmy and shake. Yes, IT IS THAT GOOD!

I’ll Take Care of You: Joe’s skills on the guitar really shine on this song. You feel the edge and pain of this song in every note that he sends flying through his fingertips – spellbinding playing.

Well, Well: I gotta say this one should be getting radio play on the stations. It has a phenomenal beat and a hook that just won’t quit. Everyone that I’ve played it for is tapping their foot and humming the song. SIDE NOTE: The opener of this reminded me a bit of Robert Plant’s Takamba – not sure why.

Ain’t No Way: Ok, I’ll admit it, this song made me cry. Joe’s opening guitar playing leading into Beth’s soulful voice is tender and sweet. The lyrics are heart-wrenching and Beth weaves and wraps her voice around them making you bleed with her. If the voice wasn’t enough Joe’s guitar notes silhouette’s, harmonizes and shoulder’s Beth’s voice, like a best friend listening and helping her carry the pain. Beth and Joe pour the emotion out in this song, so beautiful. Kudos! SIDE NOTE: The opening notes have shades of In the Light by Led Zeppelin in it

For another review on this CD go to: Blue Bird Reviews

For more music reviews visit my website: Rock-it-Write

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION

Black Country Communion
Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH
June 17, 2011

With the love of two songs (“Save Me” and “The Battle for Hadrian’s Wall”) I made a spur of the moment decision and found myself at the Casino Ballroom awaiting entrance to see a band that I only just heard about. As a fan of Jason Bonham I wondered about these other musicians - Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes and Derek Sherinian - that Jason had hooked up with. After some internet research (and many, many You Tube videos later), I gleaned information about these other three men and found I couldn’t wait to see what the Black Country Communion had up their sleeves. This newly formed group held much promise of only good things to come, and I wanted to be there to see the power and magic unfold. They didn’t disappoint - it was all that and so much more.



I arrived early as I had general admission seating, and found myself on the stairwell above the ticket office. It was in that moment that I had a glimpse of what the evening held in store. The group was doing a quick sound check and what I heard blew me away. I was itching for the doors to open so I could find a great spot in which to watch them. Upon entering I made my way through the table and chair labyrinth to the side of the stage. Colin, the friendliest guitar tech I’ve ever met, was tuning numerous guitars and chatted with me for a while. The show didn’t start till 8:00pm and it was only 6:30pm.

Colin let me take numerous pictures of Glenn and Joe’s guitars, and he gave me one of Glenn’s guitar picks and let me snap a picture of the night’s set-list. While chatting I spied Jason Bonham. I waved and beckoned him over. He smiled, waved back and promised he’d be back in a minute. His drum tech walked by and said Jason would definitely come out in a minute. I really didn’t think he would but lo and behold he was ever so gracious and true to his word. Jason autographed a paper for me, and another person that was standing nearby. With personal matters to attend, a show starting in less than an hour - for Jason to come out and speak briefly with me and sign an autograph – what a truly warm, friendly gentleman of his word he was. Thank You Jason!!

When 8:00pm rolled around the venue was packed, the magic wand waved, and Black Country Communion hit the stage with a vengeance. From the opening song, “Black Country” to the very last encore song of “Burn”, these four men gave it everything they had and then some. Joe Bonamassa played the guitar like the amazing,brooding genius he is. Derek Sherinian’s finesse on the keyboards shined brighter than the lights hitting them from above. Jason’s skill and heavy beat are reminiscent of his father but with this band, he has found and reinvented himself exceeding the Bonham name. What can one say about the maestro in blue velvet, Glenn Hughes, other than he owned the stage. From his flamboyant flair and strut he challenged the audience to cheer and we did -over and over again. This is a group that works (and plays) together, gives all but takes no quarter.

From “One Last Soul” to “Save Me” to “Cold”, to my favorite, “The Battle for Hadrian’s Wall” the BCC never stopped rockin the Ballroom. A melting pot of heavy metal, blues, funk, soul, stirred with heavy and eclectic drum beats, Black Country Communion managed to take decades of musical genres, fuse it with a fresh modern sound creating music that breathed with a life of its own.

Black Country Communion delivered musical magic; a wild ride that you didn’t want to see end, but with the last notes of “Burn” still humming and wafting through the ballroom, the final bow happened. Black Country Communion bid New Hampshire a good night, applauding and thanking us, the audience, for coming.

Black Country Communion fulfilled and exceeded my expectation of a new group. Their magic and power unfolded in every song making the night a very memorable one. If you have the chance to see them…GO! You’ll be glad you did.

Rock On and Thank You.

Side Note: I heard from a friend that after the show each band member came out individually and signed autographs, took pictures, etc with fans. BCC truly loves their fans and we them. Again, their awesomeness shines!!!

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