Ton Of Blues perform an aggressive take on the old school blues format. A driving rhythm section, wiry guitar, and thick, heavy harmonica mark this band in almost every song they play. It is definitely blues, but it’s wild and out of the cage. Ton Of Blues also host the Sunday blues jam, called the Bah Jam, at the Black Sheep Tavern in Sterling, Massachusetts every week. Yesterday’s jam was a hoot. Evan Goodrow was the featured artist, and Fran Dagostino showed up too. But, more on the guests later.
Ton Of Blues kicked off with “One More Mile To Go” with bass player Jeff Lorenzon putting out a nice thick sound that jumps out at you from the groove. Vocalist Spuds Kelly, meanwhile, has a slight rasp that rides well over the this rugged musical terrain.
On a swinging tune “I’m A Lucky Guy” guitarist Scott LeBlanc pressed out an interval of vintage sounding notes that echo with old time authenticity while still sounding fresh and current. Ton Of Blues features probably the best dressed drummer in the local blues scene. Drummer Al Clarkson keeps it heavy but he is also precise. He fills in as much as space allows him, and he certainly makes himself heard.
The first guest called up by Ton Of Blues was Blind Jelly Stu(Mike Stuart). Blind Jelly Stu played a sweet, easy going harmonica melody with a lot of feeling but without ever beating you over the head with it. His vocal approach was mellow too, and his overall presentation was one big inviting personality. He was lively enough to blend in with a high energy house band like Ton Of Blues and smooth enough to let the other players move around him without drowning him out.
Ton Of Blues featured a guest keyboard, Glen Moison, on an authentic B3 Hammond organ, complete with a real spinning Leslie speaker. Moison played a lot of sterling chords. Seated close enough to watch his hands move over the key, I noticed he is very busy, and he never misses a chance to fill a space with something classy.
Nashua, New Hampshire harmonica player Rob Robbins played a speedy blues tempo on “Messin’ With The Kid”, blowing out a lot of racing notes, making it look easy to keep that breakneck pace. It couldn’t have been easy to make a strong impression alongside that monster B3 as it went along at highway speed, yet Robbins pulled it off.
Ton Of Blues went into the Jimi Hendrix tune “Red House” and, of course, guitarist Scott LeBlanc owned that one, controlling it and every other band members’ notes around it. The B3 augmented the backdrop nicely and Robby blew some rootsie blues harp that fit the song well. But getting back to LeBlanc on guitar: Peeling off a lot of hyperactive high notes, LeBlanc made the music soar upward, forcing you to visualize something blasting off and staying in mid-air indefinitely. It probably didn’t hurt that LeBlanc had a pedal board loaded with effects pedals from local company Celestial Effects, as each pedal allows an instrument to go to newer places.
“Got My Mojo Working” found the rhythm section playing one of their heavy grooves in which the vibration under your feet pulled you into the sound. It helps to have a house band that plays together regularly. Everything flowed smoothly from song to song, seldom falling into the rut you find with many informal, unrehearsed jams.
Ton Of Blues charged into their second set with “Midnight Train.” They rocked that one, going up on two wheels rounding the corners of its twisty groove. “Sweetie Pie” was another chance for guitarist LeBlanc to make his guitar cry out some delicious high notes.
The second set gave regional big name player Evan Goodrow a chance to showcase his talents, Eventually, Goodrow made his way up to unleash three riff-filled, high octane melodic phrases. On “Further Up The Road” he also let loose his soulful belt and the room loved his voice. The boy finally got more into his heavier funk territory with fiery notes sparking over the top of Ton Of Blues’ heavy, wide bottom, probably making Goodrow feel right at home during his foray into blues. Goodrow briefly played only self-accompanied on his electric with slight touches on his chords, letting his voice show all of its low down soulful strength.
Around this time Ton Of Blues bass player Lorenzon did his solo thang, nimbly, plucky, twangy notes pouring forth with determined knobbiness.
Next up was Fran Dagostino playing his three songs, with bass player Bryan Bishop and drummer Phil Delaine behind him. Dagostino definitely got a trippy blues melody line going on, and he got a lot of mileage out of it, peeling off intervals of interesting, sparkling high notes that kept climbing higher as they continued pouring out of the speakers.
Dagostino slowed it down a bit and his gravelly, whiskey-soaked voice fit the theme of having problems with his baby early in the morning. Dag also got a bit funky. “Shakey Ground” got a good danceable beat work out from this makeshift trio, with Dag stretching his melodies outside of the box, including a lot of bends and sustains in his fresh interpretation of the melodic phrase.
This Sunday afternoon Bah Jam at The Black Sheep in Sterling, Massachusetts always features notable players like Goodrow and Dagostino and other recognizable names. Last Sunday was a blast of fun and many bursts of talent. Next week’s featured artist the Black Sheep Bah Jam will be David Hull of Farrenheit fame.
Black Sheep Tavern and Ton Of Blues are on Facebook
