Blogcritics Author: Rhys Williams

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

An Interview with Devon Allman - Like Father, Like Son

Rhys Williams — Wed, 6 Dec 2006 09:36:38 EST

Since the late 60s the name Allman has been synonymous with great music. The original ‘jam’ band, the principle architects of southern rock, Allman Brothers Duane and Gregg took the world by storm when they arrived on the scene in 1969. Now, almost forty years on, another Allman is set to do the same. Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Devon fell in love with music at an early age, a love that was stoked by his relationship with his father later in life. Throughout his twenties he tried to sound anything but like his father, trying different styles and sounds to distance himself from the obvious comparisons. However, now 31 years old, Allman has realized that the music is in his blood, and he should just play what comes naturally.Devon Allman has a voice reminiscent of his father, Gregg, and a guitar style that conjures images of a young Carlos Santana, yet he blends his influences, and impressive musical heritage into a style that is unique. In his new band, Honeytribe, and with their aptly titled debut record Torch, Devon is taking up the mantle of his forefathers and giving the name Allman a whole new meaning.Just to get us started, could you talk us through how and where Honeytribe came about? Devon: Honeytribe came about originally in the year 1999 as a group that would be something of a throwback band, attempting to re-visit the vibe and feel of classic blues-inspired rock music. Growing up on Santana, the Stones, the Doors, Allman Brothers, etc, it was a pretty natural road to want to walk down. We disbanded for a few years and came back together in 2005 to start Honeytribe's path as a career, making records and touring. Where do you all come from musically within the band?Musically I feel Honeytribe comes from the place that matters most, the heart. From the bluesy guitar, back beat feels and rhythms and soulful vocals; we've really tapped our sound from the source of what we grew up on and the type of music that makes us feel. It's not a cerebral approach at all. If the riff feels good, we work it. If the song can't be sung from a soulful place, we pitch it. Is there a story behind the band’s name?I was driving with my drummer, Marko, one day and we were trying to think of names. A big part of the Honeytribe sound is dynamics. We can be super smooth and delicate and also big, bad, and fierce. I told Marko that we really needed a name to reflect that dichotomy. First thing out of his mouth was "Honeytribe?", and I was like, "Yeah! Sweet like honey, fierce like a tribe, it's perfect!" Obviously, I have to ask the inevitable. What was it like growing up with Gregg Allman as a father? My parents divorced when I was an infant. I actually got to grow up in a very normal suburban American existence. I didn’t meet him until I was in my teens, but we formed a bond instantly. Luckily, I didn't have to grow up amidst the insanity that they went through. He is just one of many heroes of mine... those who sing and play from the heart. Those who overcome insane odds to still do what they love to do. He really lets me do my own thing with no meddling.What effect did your family’s prestigious musical history have on you, musically? Did it spur you on or hinder you in anyway?Musically I really found my own way in at age five listening to the Beatles and Kiss and kind of taking it from there later on to start to learn guitar. Later in life, meeting my Dad and getting to see what was involved definitely inspired me to get better at my craft so that I could have my shot. Although there are moments on the record where you could cite the Allman Brothers as an influence, it is very much your own sound. How did you go about honing this sound and making sure that you stepped out from the shadows of your family’s legacy?Once again it's a very natural approach. There was no making sure that it didn't or did sound like anything. The writing of the songs for this record was a totally organic flow. At the end of the day I'm really happy that the overall vibe, and tones of the record nod to the past while forging ahead into the future. Therefore it's a win/win situation for Honeytribe. I'm proud of my heritage, but also proud that Honeytribe can make a record or hit the stage and totally hold our own.I know that originally you struggled, trying not to be compared, musically, to your father. On the opening track of the new album, you sing ‘I think I’ve found the right way to go’. Is this you finally accepting your roots and just playing what’s in your blood, and what comes naturally? I know this direction and feel, playing and singing from the heart and soul is something I was always meant to do. It's the most effortless and organic version of my music I've ever done. I have embraced my heritage along the way but I don’t feel that there is any cerebral connection to it. I just do what I do now, with no thought process. If I "feel" it I "do" it, regardless of comparisons.The album has been very aptly titled, as you are now carrying on the 'torch' of your forefathers. What exactly does this album symbolise to you? Well really the idea of carrying the ‘torch’ means a little more to me. In a world of corporations running the music industry, it seems there's less and less heart and soul music. I'd like to see Honeytribe perpetuate that music for the next 20 years. We have fans that come up and shake our hands vigorously and say "Thank you! There is hope!" and they mean it. You can see it in their eyes, and that is one amazing compliment.Talk us through the album. For instance, where you recorded it, favourite tracks, what you hoped to achieve with it, the song writing process, etc?We recorded the record in Memphis, Tennessee at Ardent studios. This was the place where the ZZ Top and Stevie Ray Vaughn records were cut. With songwriting, I find every single time is different. I usually just sit with a guitar and riff and practice and sometimes something just comes. Other times I'll get a lyrical concept in mind or hear a one liner that a lyrical concept can embody, it really just depends. My favorite tracks on the record are "Mahalo", "When I call Home" and "Nothing to be Sad About". I love "Mahalo" because I always wanted to write an instrumental and never had a main melody that I thought was worth a damn. The melody came to me literally in a dream, I called my cell phone and sang the melody onto a message to myself, then worked it up in the morning, the whole time saying "Thank you". Mahalo means thank you in Hawaiian."When I Call Home" is just a really fun song to play lead guitar on, very much of a creeper song with great dynamics. I like "Nothing to be Sad About" simply because I never really thought I'd be able to write a simple, throwback, ‘old timey’ song like that… kind of surprised myself. The overall goal when we went into the studio was to make a quick record that would introduce Honeytribe to the planet. "Hello, here we are, heart and soul based rock music is not dead and we'd like to perpetuate it by burning the Torch for the new generations!" What was it like to record in a studio as steeped in history as Ardent studios? For example, it’s where The Allman Brothers recorded Shades of Two Worlds. Recording at Ardent was in fact an amazing experience. If those walls could only speak... I was actually living in Memphis as a teen when the ABB made that record there. I would come every day to watch them. I was enthralled, I remember Tom Dowd at work very well. I remember taking my acoustic guitar into the atrium to work on songs and having Warren Haynes come out and tell me it sounded good. I swore I would someday make a record there. It's really meaningful to have come full circle and be able to make Torch there.You’re obviously very passionate about the music, what is it that you love about music? What inspires you, both in and outside of the musical world, to create the music you do?Wow, that's deep! I really don't know... there’s melody, groove, rhythm, expression, the way it can make you feel... there is just so much! I think life experience and emotion are at the forefront. Pain, joy, anger, epiphany, etc can get you in a head space to pull music and lyric from the ether and breathe life into them. Hearing music from artists that play and sing from the heart and soul also inspire me... but so does everyday life.Although I’ve yet to catch the band live, I’ve heard great things about the band’s live show, and I know you spend a lot of time on the road. How do you approach a live setting differently to a studio performance, and do you have a preference of the two?I equally enjoy making records and playing live. The obvious edge to playing live is the energy you share with the crowd. That is the one thing that is like no other. You send out the vibrations and you get them back and there really isn't another feeling on the planet quite like that. We tour a lot! We are in the middle of our Torch tour right now. We've hit over 30 states in the U.S. and are going well into 2007 and hopefully into Europe as well. Life on the road is fun for me... I love living out of a suitcase and being in hotels. The food sucks, but you learn to get around it. The waiting sucks but it is made worth it by the 90 minutes on stage. It's a blessing to be able to wake up everyday and play music and I thank my lucky stars constantly. We just go out there and try to make those 90 minutes really count for something every single time we take a stage. The band seems to have come a long way in a relatively short space of time. What would you put this down to?We’re a dedicated hard working group that decided it was time to go out and work every single night on this band, first and foremost. Also it is attributed to a phenomenal team that I've assembled around us. From our booking agent, to our record label, our publicist, and so on. Everyone working in the Honeytribe world is dedicated. They feel what we are doing and are completely behind the band and for all the right reasons. They work just as hard in their offices as we do out on the road and on stage.What’s been the highlight in the band’s career so far, and personally for you?The respect factor has gone way up! Even if the music isn't someone's cup of tea, you can't say we are here because of my family. We are here because we have busted our asses to be here! Don’t get me wrong, we’ve loved every single minute of it. Having our first, sold out in advance shows has been a major highlight as well as the first time people starting to sing along to the lyrics of the songs.Similarly, have there been any low points?I'm an optimist to the core... it's hard to really pinpoint a low point. Running late and running ragged can be tough on the road, but we still look at each other with a lot of love and mutual admiration after a show and just go, "Man... this band! This is a special band!"You’ve said before that you’re in this for the long run. What are your plans for the future, both with Honeytribe and otherwise?Honeytribe is a career band. I have a 25 year outlook for this band. It is a marriage and the players in my band are my brothers and my musical warriors. We plan on making solid records at very cool and historic studios and playing live for the next 25 years. Next step is album number two to be recorded at Compass Pointe in the Bahamas... and it will have a totally different feel than Torch. We look forward to every step we take in our career. I’d like for the 'Tribe to someday be viewed in the same manner as the ABB or Santana or the Stones... a long tradition of heart and soul music. I try to just concentrate on what's going on right now. One final question the. If there was one record that you could cite as the definitive recording that has influenced you and inspired you, what would it be, and why? Wow this is really, really hard. I guess I would have to go with the Derek and The Dominos Layla record. Although it's not straight blues, it's obviously dripping with soulful blues guitar. Layla has always appealed to me because you can really really ‘feel’ what Clapton was going through. That man was straight up in love. It brought out a burning passion in his throat and fingers that is undeniable, and it obviously soaked into the other players on the record. My uncle Duane just sounds like a bird on it as well! It has so much raw energy and passion that it sounds ultra fresh every time I put it on. Front to back, one of the few records that can bring me to tears if I let it. Thanks very much for all your time Devon , it’s been a real pleasure. I’ll look forward to meeting you for another chat, when you get over to the UK in the near future.Man thank you for the coverage and the love! Long live the blues and rock... May the force be with you!

Rhys Williams is a journalist and musician from Wales, UK. He is a avid blues and rock fan and an authority of all things music. He writes for a number of magazines, including UK's 'Blues Matters'.

Blues Bash Music Review: Derrin Nauendorf - The Rattling Wheel

Rhys Williams — Wed, 8 Nov 2006 19:54:40 EST

The Rattling Wheel is the fifth CD release from Australian singer-songwriter, Derrin Nauendorf. This came as a surprise to me from the moment I heard Derrin’s resonant guitar tones on the album opener, "Universe Demands." How had I not heard of this guy before?Derrin’s story is a long and interesting one. He has been working relentlessly for the past five years. Since arriving in the UK, he's been booking all his own gigs, living in an old Post office van, and selling over 12,000 albums without any backing from a record label, manager, or agent. All the hard work now seems to have paid off with the music world finally beginning to wake up and pay attention to the noise Derrin Nauendorf is making.The album is a blend of foot tapping, gutsy, blues acoustica and melancholy folky ballads. Nauendorf’s voice is reminiscent of fellow singer-songwriters, Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan and, surprisingly, at times, Bruce Springsteen. Yet, he possesses a raw, explosive intensity that is unmistakably his own. Another of his trademarks, is his poetic, emotionally-charged lyrics. Some of the most affecting and fascinating I’ve heard in a long time, placing him in the same league as Neil Young, Tom Waits, and arguably even Dylan. The Rattling Wheel is Derrin’s first release with a full backing band, and this lends his songs an extra dynamic, complimenting each one perfectly.The majority of the album is comprised of songs from Derrin’s back-catalogue, rearranged to better suit a full band sound, and re-invigorated so they almost seem like new tracks. There are only two new tracks on the album, and they stand up well against Nauendorf’s previous efforts. My personal favourites are "Universe Demands", "Shipwrecked", and "Queensland", but there is no weak link here and the album moves from strength to strength until its end. Then you play it again.I really cannot praise this CD enough and if you are looking for the kind of songwriting sensibilities the current music scene is lacking, then look no further. The answer is Derrin Nauendorf.

Rhys Williams is a journalist and musician from Wales, UK. He is a avid blues and rock fan and an authority of all things music. He writes for a number of magazines, including UK's 'Blues Matters'.

Blues Bash Interview: No Questions Asked, They Are The Answer!

Rhys Williams — Thu, 2 Nov 2006 07:58:10 EST

We’re at a point in time where art seems to play second fiddle to financial gain. People want to be famous; people want to be rich. We applaud mediocrity and watch as the transient players in the music industry come and go. Isn’t it about time there was a change? Could it be that this change is here in the shape of four young Irishmen?Hailed as the biggest British name to hit the music scene this decade, and aptly dubbed The Answer, these Downpatrick natives are taking the U.K. rock and blues circuit by storm, and rest assured, there is nothing mediocre about this band. An overnight sensation that’s been brewing for six years, the band first got together in the Spring of 2000. Lead singer, Cormac Neeson, tells the story of the remarkable circumstances in which the band came about.“Mickey (Waters) and Paul (Mahon) had a few songs together and were looking to put a band together, and I was recommended to them. I was working in New York at the time, and got a letter saying if I was coming home anytime soon, they wanted me as their singer,” explains Neeson.Although tempted by the initial offer, Neeson was busy in New York and nothing more seemed to develop until a twist of fate saw him enroll in an ethnomusicology course at college. “The first morning, I was handed this Brazilian guitar called a cavalcanto. Not knowing how to play the thing, I turned to the dude next to me and asked him if he’d swap instruments. It was Paul!”Now properly acquainted, Neeson, Mahon, and bass player Waters began rehearsing together. Soon, with the addition of drummer James Heatley, The Answer was ready to pose the right questions. When asked about the origins of the band’s name, Neeson smiles fondly at the memory and nostalgically explains. “The name has become a kind of emblem that means something about this band, and gives us the drive to always push ourselves to becoming a better band. Originally, it was nothing more than just needing to find a name we all agreed on. We were just sitting around, trying to decide on the name, asking ourselves ‘What’s the answer? What’s the answer?’ Then James, our drummer, suggested we call ourselves The Answer, and it just stuck.” Neeson laughs at the memory, then more seriously goes on. “It was also kind of a reaction against the whole indie scene at that time. We just wanted to say, here’s rock and roll, in your face; if you don’t like it, that’s tough.”The state of the modern music scene is obviously something the frontman feels passionate about as he talks about the band being part of the new rock renaissance, rebelling against the current trend of manufactured music. “I think something the music world really lacks these days is substance, you know, bands the kids can really hold onto for longer than an album and a couple of hits. It’s important to us as a band that the music goes deeper than your Radio One pop charts.”Currently on a headline tour of the U.K., The Answer is a band that works hard in all aspects of their music, but there’s no doubt they are predominantly a live band. Having honed their craft playing the Belfast club and pub circuit, they have gone on to play much bigger stages supporting some of their heroes such as The Who, Deep Purple, and Whitesnake. Most recently, they played with Paul Rodgers at a memorable gig at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Neeson’s eyes light up at the mere mention of that evening. “The Albert Hall gig was a dream come true for me personally. We’ve supported some great blues and classic rock bands, but Paul Rodgers just meant that little bit extra to me. I still rate him as probably the best living rock and blues singer; he’s just got the soul.” Free is obviously a band that have been a big inspiration in creating the group’s sound, as are other blues rock giants Led Zeppelin and Black Crowes, yet The Answer melds influences together in a way that leaves their music sounding fresh, as though they’ve just invented rock and roll for the first time. Neeson talks through how the band gets its sound. “We’re all quite individuals in our musical taste, with our influences ranging from Metal bands such as Tool, to a lot of the old blues stuff, Howlin’ Wolf, John Mayall, Peter Green, and so on. But where we all meet in the middle is the music that we play, and it’s a music that we’re all very passionate about.”This passion for the music and a love of playing is a major factor in the band’s appeal, with the band’s enthusiasm always transferring to their audience and reflected back at them. When asked where this passion comes from, Neeson puts it down to the songs. “There’s no set structure in the band as to who writes the songs, and usually everyone’s involved. Generally, we just jam and let the tapes roll, then develop ideas into a song. Because everyone has put ideas into every song, they’re a part of that song and I think when we’re playing them, live and in the studio, everyone’s equally involved, equally passionate about the music they’re playing.”The band’s debut album, Rise, has received worldwide critical acclaim. They are obviously very proud of what they’ve achieved in such a short space of time. “I’m proud of everything about the album,” says the frontman. “There’s quite a variety in the songs, but all of them seem to represent the band well. If I had to choose two of my favourite tracks from the record, it’d be ‘Under The Sky’ and ‘Memphis Water.’ ‘Under The Sky’ because it just represents where the band is at this point in time, and maybe points toward the band’s future and where we might take the sound. I’d choose ‘Memphis Water’ because it was recorded after the rest of the album, in a small studio in Northern Ireland. It was written the evening before we went into the studio and recorded the next morning. It was recorded completely live with no overdubs, so it has this natural, live feel that’s just so hard to capture in a studio.” Neeson goes on to sum up their debut effort and the message behind it. “We’ve made what is essentially a snapshot of where we are at the moment. We’ve made an honest record, representing what we believe in.”The record was recorded at the legendary Olympic Studios, London; a place so deeply rooted in rock and blues history, with legends Led Zeppelin, The Stones, and Hendrix all having recorded there. “There was no shortage of inspiration,” admits the lead singer. “You’d be sitting in the cafeteria and Eric Clapton would walk in. You just get this feeling that you’re in this historic centre of the rock and roll world, and it was impossible not to feed off that.”The band has come a long way, but the last six months have really been a roller coaster ride for Neeson and company. They’ve gone from being relative unknowns to being the most talked about Blues/Rock band since the Black Crowes emergence on the scene in 1989. “The band’s been together six years, and we’ve worked really hard in that time,” states Neeson. “But we got our record deal about a year and a half ago, and things have really kicked off from there.”The band has obviously proven their abilities through their performances, both in the studio and on the road. When asked if he has a preference between playing live and the studio, Neeson pauses, weighing them both up in his mind. “I find that the two act as antidotes to each other. Ultimately, we’re a live touring band, and we love being on the road. But at the end of three or four months touring, it’s nice to get into the studio, just for a change and a bit of normality.”The Answer has been on their current headlining tour since the beginning of October and have met with enthusiastic audiences all over the country. “We’ve done three gigs so far on this tour, all of them sold out,” states Neeson proudly, “It’s quite gratifying to finally see the fruits of our labors.” Having supported a variety of musical legends, The Answer are now making a steady move to step out from the shadows of their heroes and are rapidly building a dedicated fanbase throughout the U.K. “It’s important you don’t get labeled as the eternal support band. It’s important to get out there and do your own shows, and that’s what tours like this are all about. Plus it’s a great feeling knowing the crowd came down to see you and not the band that’s on after you.” The band has remained humble and true to their roots throughout their rise, and Neeson cites his proudest moment and a highlight in the career of the band as a recent gig in Belfast. “It was essentially a homecoming for the band; that’s where it all started for us. So to get back to Belfast, and see faces that have been with you from the start, and then latch on to the hundreds more people who’ve come down to see us, it was just a really nice experience.”As with any hard working band’s rise to the top, there are inevitably going to be some low points as well as highs. However, when asked about the band’s down times, the lead singer grins sheepishly. “There haven’t really been any to speak of. It's all been great, really. Though, naturally enough, I really don’t ever like to read a bad review about our band. Even though ninety-nine out of a hundred reviews have been great, it’s the one bad one that sticks in your head. It knocks the wind out of you for a while, but I’ve since learned to become thicker skinned. It’s all just part of the job and if you put yourself in the public eye, anybody has the right to say whatever they want about us. You just have to put up with it.”This optimistic approach highlights the band’s love of playing their music, and as Cormac says, “We’re making a living playing music we love and it’s something we’ve always wanted to do and dreamt about. You can’t complain about any of that!”If there’s one thing that strikes you about these Belfast rock n’ rollers, it’s that they are a band that does not conform to the current commercial music scene. Providing the contemporary Blues/Rock scene with the soul and power of traditional Blues/Rock, as well as relighting the way for future Blues based Rock bands, The Answer are obviously destined for great things.If they can continue with the tremendous work ethic and traditional sensibilities they’ve displayed so far, they could become one of Britain’s leading Blues/Rock acts, and in years to com,e Rock and Blues fans alike may view Rise as a modern landmark in the genre. Neeson, however, is very down to earth about his band’s potential success, stating that they are just focusing on the tour at the moment and spreading the word about the new album. But beyond that, who knows what The Answer have in store.

Rhys Williams is a journalist and musician from Wales, UK. He is a avid blues and rock fan and an authority of all things music. He writes for a number of magazines, including UK's 'Blues Matters'.