The Proven Ones is an aptly chosen name for this rockin’ New England blues band. Every member is a notable act in his own right. Combining their talents for this You Ain’t Done CD makes for further proof as they prove themselves again on every track.
Opening with “Get Love Intro” and “Get Love,” The Proven Ones prove they can construct their own individual sound. The main title track follows the effective sounds of the intro with a powerful vocal belt from Brian Templeton. His husky and heartfelt voice barrels through this hard charging song. Kid Ramos rips through it all with a rippling lead guitar line, one that moves forward with a few ridges of heavy toned phrasing. Anthony Geraci’s hefty organ chords add to the momentum here while the rhythm section of bassist Willie J. Campbell and drummer Jimi Bott urge it all forward with a fast moving groove.
After that exciting opener, The Proven Ones land on “Gone To Stay,” a driving, stomping rocker with a hefty harmony in the chorus. Drummer Bott kicks it all forward as sweeping organ, horns, and harmony vocals envelop the blasting energy above his kit. This song should have been written, recorded, and released in the middle of the classic rock era.
“You Ain’t Done” jumps right in with a Templeton vocal howl and it continues with beastly force. The groove, thick and wide, feels as strong as a steamroller. This steamroller presses out blasts of horn and organ that chug with colorful vibrant swinging sounds. Templeton, with his larger than life vocal aggression, is a perfect match for music with this much breadth, depth, and drive. Did I mention that Kid Ramos’s lead guitar screams out its emotive content, a line that cries out for attention with its bluesy, weeping phrase.
“Already Gone” features another huge male choir type song structure. Wrapped around that chorus of heavies is a groove that seems to whip the upper registers along. Templeton sounds like the toughest honky tonk singer this side of the Mississippi. Kid Ramos unleashes his cool tones, tones that seem to enjoy their own joy ride inside this song. The emotive content of the vocals are tremendous, a lot of force in those voices.
“Whom My Soul Loves” features the inestimable Ruthie Foster on lead vocals. This number can best be described as R&B with an edge. Both Foster and Templeton express a lot of the feeling here as sticks and low end give them a boost, swirling organ and whistling lead guitar lines adorn the soundscape around them. Foster’s vocal coos, amidst simmering organ and blasts of horn, carries the message like a brightly burning torch. It only makes sense that Templeton would come in with his force of musical personality to serve as counterweight to Foster’s blast furnace vocal.
Coming in at a cruising tempo, “Milinda” finds Templeton thoughtfully delivering his tender lyrics about a true love. Written by Ramos and Templeton, this one cruises along a lifted melodic glide. Templeton makes you feel it with his motion filled vocal and Ramos’s guitar plays it as light as birds in the morning.
“Nothing Left To Give” blazes an up tempo trail as Templeton breezes along a lofty height. Beneath his voice is Ramos’s unwieldy, pretty lead guitar line. That line contrasts well with simmering organs and a swelling horn blast. While the guitar, horns, and organ are on fire with relentless notes, Templeton remains above the fray, contrasting well with his soulful exuberance.
“She’ll Never Know” is a down tempo jump blues number. Templeton unfurls his large vocal presence with forceful exuberance. He drives along his entire cast of players with a his wide belt. He opens up space for that Ramos personality-infused guitar line, one that dances inside its meters. Sweeps of organ and horn rise up to meet Templeton half way, maintaining another strong counterweight measure on this album.
Things take a turn toward nostalgia on the old time jaunty jazz story song “I Ain‘t Good For Nothing.” Featuring Kid Ramos on leads vocals to this song he wrote, this track springs with a 1920s dance hall groove. There are parade sounding horns, ragtime piano, and a vocal that sounds lifted from a record from an early time in American music. It marches along with its own special sense of fun.
“Fallen” brings the boys back into a rockin’ vibe. A slapping groove lays the ;platform down for a rocking piano line, a rhythm guitar tightly wrapped around the groove, and a lead vocal that brings to mind all of those epic size lead vocalist from the 1970s classic rock era.
Close out track “Favorite Dress” rocks with deliberate verve. Templeton soars through an atmosphere thick with swaying horns, edgy lead guitar grinds, and a bossy, pushy rhythm section. One can feel this song taking one somewhere. It is thick with attitude and styles and The Proven Ones mesh them all together fine.
The Proven Ones were wise to combine their talents and to create this disc. You Ain’t Done shows what can happen when five talented musicians with strong personalities pool their resources to come up with something that reflects the percolating talents of each. Guest musicians abound. The Proven Ones brought on board trumpet player Joe “Mack” McCarthy, tenor sax man Chris Mercer, famed blues guitarist Mike Zito on acoustic, and backing vocalists Norma Honjosa and LaRhonda Steele.
Recorded at Dockside Studio in LA, Roseleaf Recording in Portland, Oregon, Rear Window in Brookline, Massachusetts, and Space Rehearsal and Recording Studio in Austin, Texas, You Ain’t Done presents many fine moment from each band member and each guest musician.
