The latest album from Dan Lawson Band, Soldiers Of Fortune, is, as can be expected, another collection of hard rocking songs built by muscular talent. Lawson’s guitar work spearheads the way through these sonic joy rides. His phrasing ranges from smooth, high pitched melodies to more rhythmic-melodic lines. Lawson’s voice still has the hefty expression of a man who is going to get things off his chest whether you like it or not. The album cover, though, takes more of a turn toward the artsy. It was conceived and drawn by Michael Ornstein, an artist-actor many know as Chucky on Sons Of Anarchy.
Lawson has a strong personality that shows in his vocals and guitar work. You can feel his vibrant presence in every moment. Opening track “Lied To Me” finds Lawson unleashing a bevy of notes that range from sprightly to fiery. His chord progression pushes the song forward with the strength of an 18 wheeler. He croons this one with understated sincerity that makes the emotion real. Lawson is ever more effective in the vocal department during the chorus, which he widens with a more assertive, emotive belt. Eventually, he reveals a smooth, flowing melodic phrase, making it run like a river on a predetermined course only he can control.
Lawson and his men have fun with Peter Bell‘s “I’m Funky But I’m Clean.” Like the song implies, the song is loaded with funk guitar riffs. Lawson also plays them clean, clarity and purity highlighting the infusion of phrase that stabs its way into the groove even more than it plays with it. Lawson has a natural instinct for when to inject his swaggering riffage, right in between the beautiful spaces left open by his rhythm boys. For a seemingly simply rhythmic piece, this tune gives the listener a lot to get jiggy with, a hard rocking tune you can dance to while also following the master’s guitar technique.
Lawson and company slow it down a little to express a more bluesy emotional appeal on “Miss Me.” It’s the tremendous expression of feeling that makes this one work so well. Lawson’s guitar work is tastefully understated here, letting only as much feeling as appropriate in each part of the tune. He tunefully sings of all that a woman will miss out on after he leaves her. His voice is full of raw emotion, and he expresses it with the mature, seasoned rawness of a man who has been around the block a few times. All the while, Lawson is emitting some of his most simmering guitar notes. He builds up the tension just below the surface until you can feel the energy of this one ready to burst.
“Roadkill,” an instrumental Lawson has had under development for a while, moves up on you as aggressive as a fighter in the ring. The guitarist fires a salvo of rapid fiery notes, each one having a life of its own as it sparks against the palpable rhythmic brace holding it steady. If you like your power blues-rock trios with a lot of fire in the belly, this is one you’re going to want to play over and over. Guitarists will likely be inspired to strap on their axes and learn this one.
The Doyle Bramhall/S. Piazza composition “Goodtime” allows DLB to strut their stuff with a thumping groove that can knock you over. Above the groove, Lawson offers his fun, funky riffage. He locks right into a groove so tight with his rhythm boys that sunlight couldn’t get through. Then, the guitar man ignites the oxygen in the room with frenetic phrasing that makes you picture his fingers on fire as they press down on the fretboard
“Gimme No Reason” jumps out at the listener with flinty riffs and a pushy bass line, pushing its way forward with a purposeful stride. Lawson states his case with vocal gusto that he never unleashes in anything but measured amounts. He lets his guitar do a lot of the talking for him. His penetrating guitar line offers an abundance of notes that set off sparks every time he rubs them briskly against the rhythmic backdrop.
DLB close out with their title track Soldier Of Fortune. This foot stomping, rhythm pushing, greased up guitar, anthem belted number takes no prisoners. The rhythm boys drive it forward with the momentum of a Mack truck while Lawson launches dizzying guitar lines in multiple directions within one powerhouse melodic phrase.
Lawson and his boys have more sponsors than most local bands could ever dream of. They’ve got on board to support this album Mesa/Boogie Amplifiers, Ernie Ball/Musicman, Eminence Speakers, Baldera Pedals, Gig-Fx, Trem King, Seven Kings, King Blossom Guitars, Sonuus, Dimarzio pickups, Peterson Tuners, Guitar Restorations, Basscentral, Twisted Tea, Wimmer cycle, and Rick Larrimore’s Dreamland studios. DLB have much to be proud of here. These tracks kick with the energy of their older material while possessing a Jack Daniels smoothness that will likely make them palatable to newer audiences. There is nothing like a power trio that can make the whole world rock like one great big biker rally.
