THE FLAME STILL BURNS
  • The Flame Still Burns
  • Just Saying....
  • Rippling Waters
  • Playing With Fire
    • The Listening Room...
    • The Pod
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Gallery

This Stone Keeps a Rolling

9/30/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Harp player and vocalist Rob Stone turns in a fine new album grounded in his love for Chicago blues. Gotta keep rollin’ features twelve tracks, split evenly between originals and covers, which display Stone’s smooth voice and mastery of the blues harp.

Surrounded by Chris James on guitar and Patrick Rynn on bass, his bandmates from the C-Notes, Stone and company strut their stuff, demonstrating the sort of synchronicity that only comes from playing together for two decades.

“Move Baby Move,” written by Billy Emerson seems to define the theme on this release, which feels designed to get the listener on the dance floor. In fact this record would make a great party album for that reason.

While six of the tracks are worthy covers, it is on the original compositions that Stone and band seem to shine the brightest. The new material liberates the band to carry the Chicago style into new territory while staying true to its form. “Lucky 13” features a thumping bass line over which Stone’s smooth voice rides with ease, and sets the stage for harp and guitar solos which complement each other nicely. This is followed by some funky sax work by Eddie Shaw on “Anything Can Happen,” a danceable tune that seems straight out of the 50s. “Wired and Tired” is an excellent picture of a man who “Don’t need hypnotizing, I just need some sleep.” Stone’s protagonist can’t seem to slow down and the only thing that keeps him running is his open tab at the coffee shop. Overall this is a wonderful blues album, and a mighty good time.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    J.M. McSpadden III is a writer and roots music enthusiast who believes every road trip is an opportunity for the full- tilt boogie.
    He is grounded by the love of his wife, Suzanne, and their six children, all of whom have had to listen to their father ramble on and on about the merits of this song or that band until they finally said, "You need a blog!" He currently lives in Richmond, Virginia. And by the way, he also has a BFA in Creative Writing from University of North Carolina at Wilmington. So there.

    Picture

    Archives

    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

This site proudly powered by Delta Blues, Micro Brews, Blue Suede Shoes and Suzi Q.