Johnny Hoy And The Bluefish dropped their latest blues oriented album onto the greater-Boston/New England. Only this time around it’s a live album. Blues Live From The Fallout Shelter. Playing a lot of traditional blues numbers, Hoy and his Bluefish serve up a fun party vibe that might make some wish they hadn’t missed this party at The Fallout Shelter. The Fallout Shelter audience must have felt transplanted back to the chitlin circuit or a corner speakeasy at an earlier time in American blues.
There is so many good things going on with each band member in each song that it is hard to concentrate on a player before another grabs the listener’s attention with their meaningful takes on this earthy genre. The group opens with “Motor Head Baby” to show case the firm harmonica playing of Johnny Hoy, a harp line that rides the groove perfectly.
Guitarist Delanie Pickering takes to the microphone for the group’s rendition of “Stormy Weather.” Pickering lays down some serious chords over this grooving number. Hoy chimes in on harp to play an emotive line that reflects the sorrow of this Chicago blues jive. Keyboardist Jeremy Berlin lays over it all catchy notes from his ivories before Pickering takes over with a greasy lead line. Fun, fun, fun in a foot tapping bluesy kind of way.
Pickering’s guitar riffs pulls us right into “You Ain’t Too Old.” After Pickering leads the band into snappy rhythmic function, Hoy unleashes his gravel voice to make this song even more down and dirty. Berlin steps in with his rippling keys, influenced by barrel house to increase the party vibe.
The group next goes into “It Hurts Me Too,” it’s rocking chair groove thick and gripping courtesy of drummer Cameron Igo, laying down his beat with a feel for sensitive music. Hoy sings it with a flair for the self-restrained brokenhearted before unfurling a moody harmonica line that thickens the appeal. Berlin sprinkles this one with drippy notes that hit with sorrow.
“That Old Feeling,” arranged here by Pickering, showcases her front person ability. Her raspy feel for the vocal keeps it down and dirty while Hoy spreads out a greasy harmonica line. Berlin lays out a butter smooth line of notes to which Pickering adds her spinning top energy phrase around the groove. This one can make you sing along and dance.
Slow boiler “Here I Stand With My Heart In My Hand” lets Pickering show her more tender, vulnerable side. Her sensitive delivery, taking her time, fits the mood set by Berlin’s weepy down tempo piano melody. Pickering ups the emotive ante with by gently applying soft lead guitar notes, notes that fall like soft drizzle on a dreary day.
Pickering really makes a name for herself on this live recording. She also lead vocals on her own “I Don’t Mind Sleeping Outside By Myself.” Her original tune get s a boost from Berlin’s springy chords loaded with lonely tone. Yet, it is Pickering singing her heart out with a raw vocal delivery while playing a brittle, just on the verge of heartbreak, blues guitar. Her snappy jumps and twists and turns in her line make the listener want to dance as much as the rhythm section. Hoy goes on an adventure with his harmonica, a long journey that lets his play a brisk pace of sadness.
Hoy’s gusty vocal infuses “You Don’t Love Me (I Don’t Care)” with his powerful presence. He knocks down doors with his tough attitude before Pickering pays out a blistering blues guitar line, slipping and sliding her electricity this way and that. When the band releases sharp shards of notes ensemble style it can’t be beat. It’s a heavy punch of groove.
Blues thumper “Every Whicha Kinda Way” gets an irresistible pulpy groove from drummer Kevin Medeiros Aside from that juicy thick pulp of drum work, this tune also offers dark tones to suggest Pickering’s level of desire. Her voice gets deeply serious as she phrases her lyrics with considerate pauses in just the right places. Rippling piano notes move through this number like a heated knife through butter which makes a sweet accompaniment to Pickering’s more brittle, twisty guitar work. Hoy’s harmonica caresses its way through the soundscape, adding another layer of allure. This mischievous songs comes together nicely.
The more raucous “Big Road Blues” gets a husky vocal treatment from Hoy. His handsome husk brings a larger than life attitude before using his harp to bring an even wider layer of sound. Pickering grinds out a gruel of a guitar sound, a raw twisty line that drips with cool tone. Igo gallops through this while holding it up with a hoofing beat that keeps people dancing while the workhorses in the upper registers lay down their dirty sound.
Playing the more jump blues by Roomful Of Blues, the group leaps into “She’ll Be So Fine,” a hip Hoy sings in more of a character voice before blowing a horn like thickness through his harp. Pickering’s feisty guitar line practically sings its joyful bliss for the fine lady. A Roomful tune played by a tighter ensemble works because this band knows how to have fun with the idioms, a free spirited romp.
Pickering takes the microphone once again on “He’s My Heart’s Desire.” Her soulful belts and drawling expressions on this slow boiler make the listener pay close attention. Pickering’s voice finds a good home amid Berlin’s slow jam tinkling and Hoy’s easy going spirals of harmonica. She makes a good case for her man with her seriously good refrains.
Bill Broonzy’s “I Feel So Good” makes another fine vehicle for Hoy’s raspy vocal. He also whips up a harmonica force, a muddy line that hits as soulful and gravelly as his voice. Pickering jumps in with a grinding guitar solo, tasteful twists within her boss action guitar gravy, running alongside that voice, Hoy’s depth of feeling and heft of rasp making this song his own.
Close out track “One Of These Mornings” lets the band race each other to a finish line. Hoy nails the vocal phrasing. Pickering pays out a grueling blues guitar line. Berlin plays an aggressive blues piano. Igo injects enough speed fills to make the train feel like it has no way to slow down. The group runs with this and makes it good.
Johnny Hoy And The Bluefish play some of the best known blues songs on this live album. It is missing the startlingly good original Hoy And The Bluefish songs from their previous studio efforts. Yet, what this blues band does here is important because they are playing really deep down and dirty Blues Live From The Fallout Shelter in Norwood, Massachusetts. Additional editing and mixing by Andy Plaisted at Electric Andyland in Malden, Massachusetts and mastered by Chris Rival at Middleville Studio in North Reading, Massachusetts.
