FLATHEAD VALLEY BLUES SOCIETY

BEST OF AUSTRALIAN BLUES & ROOTS

"BLUES AND ROOTS" VOL 3

BAR RROMOTIONS

BY PETER "BLEWZZMAN" LAURO

BAR PROMOTIONS obtained their moniker by simply borrowing some of the alphabet from the product they promote - B A R - BLUES AND ROOTS. Australian Blues And Roots to be exact. From the way I see it they seem to be a PR firm that puts out promotional discs containing a track from a bunch of down under blues bands. This particular disc "BLUES AND ROOTS" VOL 3 is a compilation of fourteen original tracks by thirteen different Australian bands/artists.

In order of appearance, the songs and the performers are:

"THE BEST PART OF MIDNIGHT"...................THE OTHERS

"VOODOO KIND"............................................ANDY COWAN

"MAD MAN"....................................................TOBY

"YOU CAN'T CHANGE"...................................SMOKESTACK LIGHTNIN'

"WATCH ME WORK IT"..................................ANDREA MARR

"EVERY HOUR EVERY DAY".........................BLUESTONE

"SEEKER".....................................................MEN IN BLUES

"HOLLY"........................................................RICHIE PAVLEDIS

"SWEET BABY JANE"...................................BLACK AND BLUES

"DOWNSTREAM BLUES"...............................CRAIG SINCLAIR

"PRAYIN' FOR RAIN".....................................JACMAC

"THE SURRENDER OF JOHNNY VANE".........THE OTHERS

"HAMMER THESE TONGS"............................PUGSLEY BUZZARD

"WALK A MILE".............................................BLUE SHADDY

With all due respect to all of the wonderful musicians and good music on this disc, since the names of individual band members were not listed, I'm unable to give everyone their fair share of mention. Additionally, time and space do not allow for a synopsis of all fourteen tracks so I'll just go where my ears lead me.

The opening track is a song by THE OTHERS, off of their "THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT" CD, called "THE BEST PART OF MIDNIGHT". If you like growling, raunchy vocals and rough blues featuring amazing slide and lots of scorching guitar riffs then this ones for you.

SMOKESTACK LIGHTNIN' slows things down a bit with a beautiful, mellow and very bluesy track called

"YOU CAN'T CHANGE", off of their "FIRIN' RANGE" CD. The guitar pickin' on this one is stunning. I swear these old ears of mine heard a bit of classical and flamenco in there somewhere and yet it all sounded so delightfully bluesy.

ANDREA MARR livens things up with a dose of soulful blues on a track called "WATCH ME WORK IT", off of her disc with the same title. The well written lyrics are a serious match for her shoot from the hip singing style. What you hear is what you get with this gal. The high level of confidence she projects is clearly heard in her vocals.

Acoustic blues is outstandingly represented on "HOLLY", a track off of the same titled disc by RICHIE PAVLEDIS. This one features a perfectly produced blend of finely sung vocals, excellent guitar pickin' and just the right amount accompanying harmonica and very tight bass. At 2:39, this gem is all too short.

PUGLSEY BUZZARD serves up some hot, hard driving blues on "HAMMER THESE TONGS", off of his same titled CD. This one features a smokin' rhythm section and some serious blues guitar playing. Once again however, just as I was rockin' and PUGSLEY was peaking, this short track came to a disappointing end.

Closing out "BLUES AND ROOTS" VOL 3 is "WALK A MILE". This is a relentless, high energy track off of a disc by the same title from BLUE SHADY. This one's fueled by high octane harmonica and guitar injectors powered by a turbo charged rhythm section.

Unquestionably, "BLUES AND ROOTS" VOL 3 did it's job. While introducing me to over a dozen bands/artists that I'd never heard of, it teased me just enough to want to go out and hear more from each of them. Nice Job! Please keep me in mind for VOL 4.

For more information on B A R - the music and the company - check out www.bluesandrootspromotions.com