Blues Underground Network

Back To Homepage

 
The Big Boy Little Band "Live From The XM Satellite"
 
 
One only needs to have a look at the inside cover of The Big Boy Little Band's Debut Album, "Live From The XM Satellite" to realize that they are one serious band and one only needs to listen to that Album to realize just what it is that they are serious about, and that is the Blues. It is probably due to how serious this Washington D.C. Area band takes themselves, that led them to the Finals of the 2010 International Blues Challenge, with the coveted Albert King Award going to their young and extremely talented Guitarist, Matt Kelley.
 
When it comes to the Blues, Big Boy Little has his own philosophy, "Blues has to be just played right, It's not rock, it's not jazz, it's Blues. And playing the Blues is what I do." This is a philosophy which he and his band members have certainly managed to get across on "Live From The XM Satellite" and it is that very philosophy that will continue to garner this amazing band plenty of accolades.
 
"Live From The XM Satellite" was recorded live at XM Radio Studios in Washington, D.C., and consists of 9 Tracks, 7 of which were written by Bret Littlehales (Aka Big Little Boy). Other writing credits go to Matt Kelley (Deer Rifle), and Jerry Leiber/Artie Butler (Downhome Girl). In addition to Big Boy Little (Harmonica/Vocals) and Matt Kelley (Guitar/Lead Vocal on Deer Rifle), the rest of the band includes Wolf Crescenze (Bass) and Robby Leebrick (Drums). As a interesting side note Wolf Crescenze, is "regarded as one of the top Carousel animal restorers in the world".
 
"Live From The XM Satellite" start off with a bang, and wastes no time letting you know that Big Boy Little, is one lean, mean, and gritty Harmonica player and after a few moments of that, he lets you in on one of his other talents, that of a exceptionally good Blues Singer. His talent as a Vocalist, rides the waves throughout this Album, not only with the fast paced Tracks, but also the slow paced ones, of which there is essentially only really one, and that is the rather hypnotic song "Carondolet". This song could've easily been done by Jim Morrison, as it has that kind of atmosphere to it. That is a Track that has everyone highlighted throughout, a really nice example as to the reach of this fine band.
 
The Guitarist Matt Kelley shows off his immense talent throughout "Live From The XM Satellite", especially on "Deer Rifle", which he wrote and sings and I must say he is also a pretty darn good singer himself. His singing reminds me a little bet of Don Ray of The Don Ray Band.
 
My favorite Bands for Rock and the Blues are usually of the 3 piece variety, because of the unique rawness they can offer, however there are certainly a lot of good 4 piece bands that can still give you that unique quality and The Big Boy Little Band is certainly one of them.
 
"Live From The XM Satellite" is a very well rounded Blues Album, with styles and songs that were not only well written, but also extremely well performed and came across as one that I was not able to stop listening to till the very end.
 
With their Debut release of "Live From The XM Satellite", The Big Boy Little Band have firmly placed themselves in the category of Bands to keep your eye on, especially after one hears their Album which, by all accounts, got way beyond that extra mile you would expect of a Debut Album.
 
As far as Debut releases in the category of Blues, "Live From The XM Satellite" is right up there with the best for 2011.
 
5***** Rated... Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed...
 
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
 
Additional Info
 
Tracklist
 
1. Shuck and Jive 5:32
2. Downhome Girl 5:45
3. Deer Rifle 3:58
4. The Heat and the Humidity 4:13
5. Twelve Bar Blues 3:19
6. Beg for the Money 2:26
7. Carondolet 6:33
8. The Legend 2:54
9. The Idiot Talking 5:03

Listen To Samples Here...

About The Big Boy Little Band


Big Boy Little may be the nom de blues of veteran harp player/ singer Bret Littlehales, but then again it may not. If it is, then we can trace him back to the Northside Blues Band in 1968- 69, with a young Bobby Radcliff on guitar. If not, then he might have been the mysterious harp player on Son House's extended recording of Death Letter Blues in Mississippi circa 1942. Then again, that might have been someone else.

This we know for sure: he's led the BBL Blues Band in DC for the last nine and a half years, eight in residence at the Zoo Bar, and that, much like the Duke of Earl, nothing can stop him.

Loved by some, including himself, reviled by some, also including himself, BBL keeps those blues keepin' on, whatever that means. So check it out- the enigmatic, quixotic, mysterious, always entertaining Big Boy Little Band.


Bassist Wolf Crescenze plays in several other bands including Hot Rods and Old Gas and Lisa Lim and Over the Limit (get it?). He is also regarded as one of the top Carousel animal restorers in the world. A former middle school teacher, he plays music full-time when not working on his carousel projects. He lives in Welcome MD with his beautiful fiance Constance Warner.


Matt Kelley, only 26, recently won the Albert King Award at the International Blues Competition in Memphis TN. His guitar playing prowess has become legendary in the Baltimore- DC area and he gets regular and favorable comparisons to such DC blues legends as Bobby Radcliff, Pete Kanaras, and Rusty Bogart. He can also be heard fronting his roots- music project, the Idle Americans (get it?) where he gets to sing way more than he does in the Big Boy Little Band.


Robby Leebrick plays the red Rogers drums.

Websites:

http://www.bigboylittleband.com/

http://www.myspace.com/bigboylittleband

http://www.facebook.com/BigBoyLittleBand