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Blues Underground Network Featured Review - Hillbilly Burlesque "Crazy Life" (Canada) |
 Hillbilly
Burlesque decided to celebrate their 10th anniversary together in
style, and did it by putting out a Debut Album, showcasing music that
spanned their history from 2001 to 2010, called "Crazy Life". They
refer to it as "an
eclectic mix of rocking country and gospel blues all flavoured with
Hillbilly Burlesque's famous wholesome raunchiness
", a statement I can fully
attest to, after already given it a handful of listens. Released in March
of 2011, "Crazy Life" received extensive rotation on "commercial, college and Internet radio stations across the
globe". It was also featured on many blues shows, most
notably, Holgar Peterson’s Saturday Night Blues on CBC
Radio.
Hillbilly
Burlesque is Canadian band which hail out of the province of Manitoba and
are yet another one of a number of great Canadian bands mainly fronted by
a dynamic and powerful female Vocalist, namely for Hillbilly Burlesque
being Angel Calnek. Hillbilly Burlesque is also a amazingly versatile band
whom play as either a duo, trio, or five piece band. In addition to Angel
Calnek, whom performs Lead and Background Vocals, the band also consists
of members Darrell 'Slide Boy' Sandmoen (Lead/Background Vocals, Guitars,
and Bass on Track 6 "Humble Knee"), John Neal (Bass), Julene Gravett
(Drums/Tambourine), and K.C. Kramer (Harmonica/12 String Electric Green
Monster). Between them they have been involved in over a dozen bands.
Hillbilly Burlesque's inspiration came from the greats of the 20', 30's,
and 40's, such as Leadbelly, Memphis Minnie and Jimmie Rodgers and it is
the Country Blues from that time period that they recrafted and made
uniquely their own.
"Crazy Life"
consists of 10 Tracks of which half of them are Originals, 2 written by
Angel Calnek, and 3 written by Darrell 'Slide Boy' Sandmoen. For the
Covers they chose a great mix, which included the music of Ernest Lawler,
whom was also known as Little Son Joe, Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly),
Mississippi John Hurt, and Don Covay. They also covered a Tradition song
call Humble Knee aka Every Humble Knee Must Bow.
Special
Guests on "Crazy Life", whom performed on various Tracks included
Paul Hatcher, Ken Pinchin, Patrick Boggs, Jan Harding-Jensen, and
Craig & Kitty Buckaroo.
Their were a
lot of favorites for me on "Crazy Life" and basically they started at
Track 3, the Ernest Lawler cover called "Me And My Chauffeur Blues". It
started out with a catchy quick Guitar blast, that sounded to me like a
cut off "Good Mornin' Little School Girl", like really quickly Good
Mornin' Little... A fast and raunchy ala Memphis Minnie style tune.
The next
favorite was Track 4 "Casino", a tell tale song about the lure and letdown
of gambling. Well sung by Angel, with great Harmonica work via K.C.
Kramer. This one was written by Darrell 'Slide Boy' Sandmoen.
My next
favorite was the Gospel tune, Track 6 "Humble Knee", which was really
pumped up with the addition of Special Guests, The Billyhead Gospel Choir,
(Ken Pinchin, and Craig & Kitty Buckaroo), as Background
Vocals.
Their
were 2 more favorites on "Crazy Life" I really loved, Track 7
the Lead Belly cover, "On A Monday" and the closing Track, Don Covay's
"Chain Of Fools". My introduction and love of the song "On A Monday"
was via listening to Johnny Cash sing a version of it for which he switched
it up and called it "I Got Stripes" and it is one of my favorite Cash
songs. "On A Monday" follows the Lead Belly version and as far as I am
concerned it was done to perfection. "Chain Of Fools" was perhaps the best way
to end this album by showcasing all the band especially the great Guitar
work of Darrell 'Slide Boy' Sandmoen. "Chain Of Fools" was recorded Live
at the 2010 Women in Blues Manitoba Concert at the Windsor Hotel
in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
For me "Crazy Life" was a fabulous introduction to yet
another fabulous Canadian Blues Band. I enjoyed listening to "Crazy Life"
immensely and
actually took time out from writing this review on several occasions
so that I could just concentrate on the great music. Hillbilly
Burlesque are a great band with an equally great and unique style and
sound and I am really looking forward to their new release, of
which they hope to have out early this year, 2012.
"Crazy Life" gets my 5*****
Rating... Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed...
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues
Underground Network)
Listen To Samples Here...
Additional Artist Info... http://hillbillyburlesque.com/Home_Page.html
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