Phil Gammage and Kevin Tooley, best known for their work in Certain General, are in the incredible new band, Adventures In Bluesland that have been receiving glowing reviews for their first release such as this one in Brittans music mag, Bucketful of Brains: Phil Gammage first seared himself onto my brain thirty years ago with his masterful psyche-surf guitar in New York post-punk unit Certain General. A native of Houston, Texas who grew up immersed in the music of local heroes the 13th Floor Elevators and Lightnin’ Hopkins, Gammage’s electro-shock, reverb-drenched lines lifted his band’s dramatic art rock head and shoulders above most contemporaries. Gammage left the Generals after recording 1984’s debut album ‘November’s Heat’ and has spent the intervening years exploring the lost highways, dirt roads and backwaters of American roots music in all its hues, first with his band the Corvairs, through a trilogy of solo releases and then with Voodoo Martini and the Scarlet Dukes. Now firmly back in the Certain General saddle, Gammage has also returned to the scene of arguably his finest moment. In 1990, New Rose released his debut solo album ‘Night Train’ - a set of sparse, spooky Americana that harked back to the early blues greats, Hank Williams and lonesome cowboys singing around camp fires. It was a terrific record but with the No Depression and alt.country scene yet to find it’s feet, ‘Night Train’ undeservedly fell through the cracks. ‘Adventures In Bluesland’ revisits the ‘round midnight mood and music of Gammage’s lost classic in a hopefully more receptive climate. Across thirteen tracks of tastefully chosen covers and originals that don’t falter in their company, Gammage has delivered an album that is an infectious, perfectly paced and varied exploration of the most American of musical forms. The sleeve depicting a blurred neon street scene evokes the Village of the early 60s and sets the mood before his rich Presleyish baritone sucks you into a world of desperate romantics, spurned lovers and lonesome drifters. Like the blues and country artists he so admires, Gammage has always known the value of a well chosen cover. As well as signposting where his heart lies, they provide an access point for the casual listener and allow him to explore the form. Here we kick off with Elvis’ ‘Trying To Get To You’ and on the journey take in Sonny Boy Williamson’s ‘Help Me’ and the traditional ‘In The Pines’ (also covered on ‘Night Train’), ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ and a rousing ‘Baby, Let me Follow You Down’. Gammage also pays homage to his schoolboy, hometown heroes ZZ Top with their classic ‘La Grange’. His originals fit in seamlessly, kicking up a driving blues rock storm on ‘Kills Me When You’re Gone’ (check out the period video on YouTube) and then reigning it back on the almost jazzy slow burn of ‘Ain’t That Something’. The playing is exemplary with Don Fiorinos lap steel and banjo flourishes acting as a nice foil to Gammage’s rumbling licks and haunting harp. Long time Certain General comrade Kevin Tooley sitting in the producer and drummer’s chair, captures a band that sounds like they’ve been playing in smoke-filled basement joints since the age of the Beats. It’s an intoxicating brew and in a just world, ‘Adventures in Bluesland’ would finally see Gammage get the dues he richly deserves. For details on ordering the magazine/ subscription: bucketfullofbrains.blogspot/
Posted on: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 17:55:41 +0000
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