Taking Blues to the people and bringing people to the Blues......

(Contents A. Album Reviews, B. Gig reviews)

A. Album Reviews

Review of ‘Lonesome Highway’ Album (Blues Revue - USA)

Texas Thunder
‘Lonesome Highway’
Bladerunner (UK) CD 001

Despite the name, Texas Thunder hails from England, not known here in the States for producing new blues talent, Otis Grand excepted. This band will change that perception with Lonesome Highway, an assured, red-hot collection. Liner notes from the band cite Texas as their “main area of influence.” The album does not sound like Albert Collins, T-Bone Walker or Bobby Bland, so on finding a dedication and thanks to Stevie Ray Vaughan for inspiration, one might expect a cloning job like that perpetrated by Kenny Wayne Shepherd. But producer Terry Wisbey, who handles the songwriting, vocals and guitars, has pushed the band toward the contemporary Texas blues of the Crawl, the Smokin’ Joe Kubeck Band, or Anson Fundeburgh and the Rockets, groups that have synthesized their influences into a tough ensemble sound. Stevie Ray at times surfaces in the mix, but his style does not dominate.

Wisbey’s singing is clear and avoids affectation; there’s not much grit here, but he sounds sincere. This natural approach extends to pronunciation, and with none of Mick Jagger’s Slim Harpoisms in evidence, American ears are likely to hear echos of John Mayall. His terse, only slightly overdriven Stratocaster lines, featured in one or more solos in each song, show melodic content and thematic consistency as well as considerable skills. Echoes of SRV are apparent in some, but by no means all, of the solos. Rock influence is not much apparent, and though Wisbey has a wah pedal, it’s heard far less here than on some Earl Hooker albums.

The songs are all blues, and apart from a faithful Albert King derived “Crosscut Saw” and Willie Dixon’s jumping “I Make Love,” all are Wisbey originals. Most are mid-tempo or fast, as in “Drive My Car,” which sings the praises of a purple Olds with “surreal” speed and spotlights sharp chordal work in the solos. The more moderate “I’m on the Road Again” has a Mayall melody and a Stevie Ray edge to the guitar break. The instrumental title track, full of stinging lead work, is a slower shuffle with a minor feel similar to a Magic Sam number. “Lost Blue and Lowdown,” the only truly slow blues here, has a 1950’s Chicago feel to it (Little Walter’s “Blue and Lonesome” perhaps?) and spare, elegant guitar along the lines of Sammy Lawhorn, which gradually introduces more Albert King-isms as it works up steam.

With songs, chops and attitude (the message from the band takes a poke at Eric Clapton), Texas Thunder should soon be leaving the pubs to tear up colonial roadhouses and juke joints. Until then, Lonesome Highway serves as advance word and comes as a recommended debut and a welcome return for the British blues scene. TOM HYSLOP

[ This review appeared in the July ‘97 edition of Blues Revue, the no.1 selling blues magazine in the USA and worldwide.]

Summary of track-by-track review comments of 'Bolt from the Blues' album by Bruce Iglauer, Head of Alligator Records (USA), the top contemporary blues label in the world

Old Man Blues - A strong straightforward blues. The vocals are workable in a talk/sing sort of way and they're unpretentious. A solid performance.

Cold Shot - Nice vocal vibrato on the stop times.

Sugar Coated Love - You do a good job with the song; the guitar solo is very confident and has some good aggressive attitude, and the vocal though kind of plain, is very believable (the most important thing in blues singing).

Love Me with a Feeling - Your best vocal performance so far plus good dynamics and nicely restrained performance.

Hey Now Woman - an original, you should do more. This has good drive and attitude.

Jook Joint Woman - I like the Leslie sound, and the solo is honest and to the point i.e. tasteful.

Just a Blues Man - Good solo.

I Wanna Hug Ya, Kiss Ya - Done with good energy and attitude. One of your best solos to my ears.

Killing Floor - An overdone song but you do bring your best vocals to it and your playing is good and aggressive. For a song I don't normally want to hear again, I really enjoyed your version. The band seems particularly strong here too.

BBK - pleasant jazzy instrumental with a good keyboard

Review of 'Bolt from the Blues’ Album (Blues Revue Issue No.85 - USA)

Bolt from the Blues (Texas Thunder 002) marks the return to the studio of England’s masters of Lone Star sounds, Texas Thunder. Worth the wait? Absolutely. Tony Mearing (bass) and Will Learmonth (drums) shuffle so right, while guitarist, songwriter, and singer Terry Wisbey has much to say — and play — over low-down, Lightnin’ Hopkins-style blues (“Old Man Blues”) and slinky grooves (“Bad Bad Woman”), boogies (“Hey Now Woman”), and shuffles (“Soap Creek Shuffle”). Covers include a pair recorded by Stevie Ray Vaughan (“Cold Shot” and “Hug Ya, Kiss Ya”), but Larry Garner is represented too, underscoring the fact that Wisbey’s bends and rhythms are inspired by, but not imitations of, SRV.

Gig Reviews

Terry Wisbey's TEXAS THUNDER @ The Red Lion, High Wycombe - 5th April 2005

Terry Wisbey-Vocals/Guitar, Tony Mearing-Bass, Matt Cowley-Drums. A first time appearance for Texas Thunder here, and what a great night it was. Although there was only a small crowd in at the start, more people arrived later after the football. The band played two excellent sets of both originals and covers. As the name suggests they are heavily influenced by the Texas blues sound, and their original material blends in well with the covers. Terry plays the guitar well, without trying to be too flash and it works well, with solo's full of feeling that suit the songs without overplaying. Tony and Matt keep the rhythm section very tight and it's great fun to watch Matt as he is a jazz drummer and puts a lot of feeling into his playing. There were a number of Stevie Ray Vaughan songs, 'Pride And Joy', 'The House Is Rocking', amongst others as well as 'Jook Joint Woman' by Larry Garner, 'Love Her With A Feeling' by Freddie King, 'Stop Breaking Down' by Robert Johnson, just three amongst a fine list of covers. The bands own material such as, 'Hey Now Woman', 'Soap Creek Shuffle' all worked well and went down very well with an appreciative audience. I have to say that although we have had some superb blues nights here already, this was probably my favourite so far, it just hit the spot, and bearing in mind the bands that have played here so far, that is something for the band to be proud of. When they return, as they surely will, be sure to catch them.CDL

Terry Wisbey’s TEXAS THUNDER @ Blues Dragon Club, Cardiff

For a threesome they sure are a tight outfit with a lot of balls and can belt out the numbers and make it seem as though there are more players and their “sound” was just tremendous from the opening bars of “Sugar Coated Love”, “Hug You Squeeze You” and one of my favourite SRV, “Cold Shot”, right through to the third final number of their encore. That low pelvic grinding beginning had several of us in raptures from the word “go”. The lovely twangy ‘Double Trouble’ Texas menu SRV loved to serve up was much in evidence here and it was also reflected in Terry’s own excellent compositions. Yes - it was all very SRV orientated but there aint nothin’ wrong with that when it’s done well - and this was silver serviced onto our R & B palates in stylish helpings.

I did notice Terry snook in a Tommy McCoy arrangement of “Money That’s What I Want”! Terry’s own compositions such as “Red Blooded Man”, “Soap Creek Shuffle”, “Lost Blue & Lowdown” are all very highly recommended and danceable! The Blues Dragon crowd loved them. The rhythm section saw to it that we were never in our seats or at the bar for too long! It wasn’t all SRV as they slung in a few classic blues along the way - such as “Gonna Move to Kansas City”, “Bright Lights-Big City”, Love Her With a Feelin” and the one they dedicated to me (!), “Jook Joint Woman”. I took this as a compliment to be mentioned but a little amused at the song title Terry chose to anoint upon me and hoped it did not reflect upon my character - but if you saw some of the places I frequent for the sake of Blues music - it could well be - TRUE! The night ended with “Killing Floor” followed by the encore medley which included “Let Me Love You Baby” and “The House is Rocking”. And the Blues Dragon WAS rocking up until the last and even the Grim Keeper (as I affectionately (!?) call the landlord ) poked his nose in after to see what was keeping everyone later than usual. A good night at the club - a great band playing a generous helping of Thundering Texas style blues ....... Thanks Terry, Will and Tony - look forward to your next gig here in Cardiff.

Diane - Sister Feelgood BLUES MATTERS