JustJenRocks.com

Interstate Buffalo Live-Listen Review

{Special Note: This band knows what a press kit is, has a good one and sent a CD. Major kudo’s from the beginning. It put me in such a better mood to receive what they offer. THAT is the correct way to approach a reviewer or send links. Please DO NOT tell someone just to look your name up on Youtube. )

CD- One Step Away

Down in a Bad Way - comes in with a strong lead true blues axe followed shortly by a true blues growl of a smooth voice. Have you ever been down in a bad way? YES. Everyone can relate to this song. Steady blues beat being held by a good rhythm section of bass and percussion. This song has an enormous lift of a solo in the middle that is a dying art. I love a great, long solo! Kudo’s to you!! Little Rock to Memphis, been on that long stretch of road so many times it’s a short stretch now but YES, I relate to this song.

Harp On - Now ya know I am hoping that there is some serious blues harp action in here. I will be sorely disappointed if there is not. Lyrics are good, smooth blues voice here, still sounds great. I like the “storytelling” quality of his vocals, it’s leading and oh yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, play that harp boy!! Blues “stories” are the best and this vocalist knows how to tell it. Another good axe solo here. Yow, good one! Prop’s, dude an play. This is a style of his own also. I know an emulation of a great, he’s making his own. Again, another really good, what I cal “jump” blues, kinda sad, kinda happy but you’re going to dance either way, to drown your sorrows or celebrate!

Waitin Blues - Waiting is waiting….he is waiting on his woman. Sun up and no show. So what now? “..it’s time you go on your way..” that cuts into a deep, chopped half chours, then a blistering solo! Yess! In this song the bass and drums are BANGING a bit louder and I like it. Lyrics are all excellent. Total Delta Blues. Another solo, awesome guys!! That so rocks!!

Cousin - This is a curious and unusual name for a song…let’s see what we have here. A good rhythm, bass and drum solid for the lead to start it out with a soulful solo. You hear a lot more of the leads talent here. Rhythm in this song is very reminiscent of an Allman brother’s tune but not, know what I mean? You can hear the “influence” maybe but I think this is coming from this man alone. No vox, just awesome music. I love it. I love a band and singer that is comfortable to do an instrumental. Confidence in all area’s of the musician’s talent and confidence of each other.

Down to the River - Another good blues tune, a bit tamer this time but still a rocking groove. I still am loving this lead axe. I now have a picture in my mind of their stage presence by how this makes me feel. The lead vox puts you at ease with his story, you are hanging on and waiting for that wailing axe again. The blues bass is a steady beat and I see this bassist look like one with his bass. Drums are the backbone, the time keeper, the man! You can COUNT on this drummer, and you can tell his bandmates do. He does not let them down, whether keeping time or jamming into a frenzy leading up to a solo. I can see him smiling and hitting those skins like crazy, that’s what I like to see, a constant smile on a drummer’s face!

St. Peter - Cool little coffee house diddy to start and stay smooth while the vox starts to tell us the story about a friend. This is a good “Curtis Lowe” type of song. I am still waiting for some more mouth harp. I really think it would add a lot to the songs. But, I am real biased on a harp. Nothing at all wrong with the songs without it but when you know someone in the band can, you kinda listen for it, wait, in every song if you are a harp fan.

Old Friend - OK! Here is some serious southern rock!! This song ROCKS! Very much makes me feel like “Molly Hatchet” is out with a new song. I have to give major props to this band. They are doing justice to the genre of blues/southern rock. This is what that description means.

Running After Shadows - First let me say I love the titles as well as the lyrics, that is a very important thing. A lot of people won’t listen to a song just because of a title. Well, LISTEN before you judge. This song cuts in with some great lead axe, rhythm and drums, bass fall right into place for an easy “juke joint” feeling blues’. Again we have blistering lead blues axe in this song. Yes, I like this song. I can very easy see myself sitting back, enjoying myself in a smoky ole juke joint, drinking out of a mason jar.

Camera - Great solid beat from all, good rhythm to dance to. The vox really dominate the songs. They have a great front man to carry these lyrics on the exact wave on chords.

Safety Net - “Momma used to tell me….” now here we go. You have got to have a song about or with Momma in it in the blues. This is a beat and song that can go with many lyrical change ups. And MORE harp! Yessss!! I really miss the harp in most blues acts today. I don’t think it is used enough. That’s me and I think that the harp is hand in hand with the blues. Lil Walter was my favorite! Yes, I do know my blues. The harp brings out so much more! Great!!

#57 - Aha! Here is my train song! Gotta get on a train and outrun the sun and this heartache. Trying to hold my head up and look for the better things. Quintessential for the a blues band is a song about traveling with the blues, running from time and things that could catch up to you. These lyrics are true blues as this band has demonstrated to me in each song.

The only thing I’d like to hear, and this is from all blues bands, is more harp. It makes or breaks some songs. It is one of the most influential instruments from the past that the art needs to be kept alive. If you don’t think it takes skill, you would be very wrong. I have enjoyed this CD very much and am excited about getting to catch a show to do a show review! Hopefully that will be soon!!

Thank you guys for keeping it real, playing from your heart and singing out your tears. I don’t think there is one that I could not relate to in some way in my life and that is what the blues is supposed to be about! Keep up the great work!!!