MudSlide Charley
MudSlide Charley
Genres: blues, blues rock
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About MudSlide Charley
How sweet is it to see a band live up to its promise? Think Los Lobos' Kiko, or the Georgia Satellites' The Land of Salvation and Sin. Locally, witness the ascension of MudSlide Charley. Marco Littig - Guitar and vocals, Emi Kodama - vocals, Tahj Kjelland - Bass and vocals, Roger Moquin - Drums and vocals and Phil Hamilton - Harmonicas and saxophones MudSlide Charley creates a powerful and seminal expression of 21st century blues. With our soul firmly planted in the dirt of the Mississippi Delta, we weave together Blues, Hip Hop and early R&B into the fabric of our sound, to write and perform songs that exude emotional fervor, and joyous spontaneity. Simultaneously brash and playful these blues tell vital stories full of danger, longing, sexuality, and hope. Loaded with groove and Inspired by the patchwork of American roots music, MudSlide Charley’s brand of gut-bucket blues and ramshackle soul is as authentic as it is original and will surely make you dance. It would be easy to say that all the band lacked was a hot chick with killer pipes, and when Emi Kodama joined the band, she definitely helped Charley reach a higher musical plateau. But the musicians on New and Used roar out of the chute with the bare bones elements that drive all the best rhythm and blues: gritty electric guitar, elastic bass and a backbeat that punches you right in the sternum. The album was recorded by Shmed Maynes at his studio, and the mix is clean and strong, with detail that rewards repeated listenings. Blues, like so many other genres, can tend to be monotonous if the players lack feeling or an understanding of the music. No such problem here. Missoula rock/blues kingpin Phil Hamilton mixes in raw harp and smooth sax like potent seasonings in a complex stew. Phil and bike-to-the-gig drummer Roger Moquin bring an assured confidence, which allows the other players to stretch out and feed the groove. Emi's voice is ballsy and bluesy, somewhere in the tonal neighborhood of Susan Tedeschi and Etta James, providing an excellent counterpoint to guitarist Marco Littig's Delta gutbucket growl, which, like a good character actor, is most effective in measured doses. As bassist Tahj Kjelland closes the album with his patented keep-it-positive rap on "Living For Another Day," it's hard not to shake your head at how these Missoula blues hounds keep getting bigger and better, using every tool in their extensive collection.
Taken from Last.fm
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