Blues Underground Network (Featuring Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat)

Reviews And Info

The houserockin' blues are in guitarist Jim Suhler's blood. He's spent the better part of the last decade as George Thorogood's right-hand man in the Destroyers. But Suhler has also led his own blues-rock behemoth, Monkey Beat, for more than seventeen years and a handful of albums. Suhler has also recorded collaborations with fellow guitarists Alan Haynes and Mike Morgan.

Suhler's latest effort with Monkey Beat is Tijuana Bible, the album presenting an inspired blend of blustery original Texas blues-rock and covers of tunes from folks like Elvin Bishop (who steps in for a guest appearance with some tasty slide-guitar), Rory Gallagher, and AC/DC. Other musical guests on Tijuana Bible include guitarslinger Joe Bonamassa and soulful singer Jimmy Hall (of Wet Willie).

Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat's Tijuana Bible
Historically speaking, a "Tijuana Bible" was a small B&W pornographic comic book featuring notable politicians, movie stars, and athletes of its era. Although these under-the-table naughties were produced anonymously from the 1920s through the early-60s, their popularity peaked during the Great Depression. With raw artwork, bawdy sexual storylines, and questionable bordertown provenance, the title is oddly appropriate for Suhler's wild-eyed collection of raucous "devil's music."

With a rolling tumbleweed groove, a funky vibe, and Suhler's best Billy Gibbons' vox, the title tracks sounds like vintage Z.Z. circa Rio Grande Mud. As Suhler lays down some scorching leads, the lyrics allude to those mysterious Tijuana Bibles, works created in a "narcotic haze," nobody knows where they come from, but everybody knows what they're about. "Devil In Me" is a classic swamp-blues romp-n-stomp with riffs as big as the roots of a cypress tree and a locomotive rhythm as the sins of a lifetime coming charging down those iron rails like an angry wild hog o' justice.

Tales of Sin & Salvation
In many ways, Tijuana Bible is a conceptual work, filled with stories of doomed men and wicked women. As such, Elvin Bishop's "Drunken Hearted Boy" fits into the theme like a hip flask in your back pocket. With ol' Elvin himself dropping by to lay down a few greasy slide-guitar licks, Suhler's twangy vocals are perfectly matched with Shawn Phares' reckless honky-tonk piano.

Suhler's cover of AC/DC's "Up To My Neck In You" is provided an appropriately loose-limbed performance, the rhythm section choogling along as Suhler toasts a few notes with his flamethrower fretwork. Tijuana Bible holds a few tales of Texas bordertown hijinx, as well, the lyrics speaking of outlaws and outcasts, crime and punishment on the last American frontier. "Mexicali Rum" is a slow-burning bluesy rocker with a solid boogie beat and soulful vocals, the song itself a tale of drug running across the Mexican border.

The riff-heavy rocker "Chaos In Tejas" tells of the trouble that results from such sordid activities, which is complimented perfectly by a menacing cover of Rory Gallagher's rip-snorting "I Could've Had Religion," a tortured mix of romantic heartbreak and outlaw pathos. Suhler's "Po' Lightnin'," a heartfelt tribute to blues great Sam Lightnin' Hopkins, matches slinky guitarwork with a funky Texas beat and a perfect lyrical representation of the bluesman.

The Reverend's Bottom Line
There's something in the water down in Texas that seems to breed talented blues guitarists, and Jim Suhler is the latest in a long line of skilled, passionate fretburners that began, perhaps, with Blind Lemon Jefferson, ran through Lightnin' Hopkins and Johnny Copeland, and was rekindled by the Vaughan brothers.

Monkey Beat is a more than capable blues-rock outfit, perfectly pacing Suhler's incendiary guitarplay and imaginative lyrics. Tijuana Bible is a lot of fun, a roaring bonfire of bluesy riff, razor-sharp leads, and rocking rhythms strong enough to kick out the jams and please the ears. (Underworld Records, released February 17, 2009)

By Reverend Keith A. Gordon, About.com Guide

For over 17 years, Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat have been churning out rousing border-rock music, and it shows in the aged and perfected sound on their new CD, Tijuana Bible. The hard driving music is awash with first-rate musicianship and southern melody. But other than a chronic belief in hard driving bluesrock, there's really nothing remotely religious in the title of the new album from Suhler, guitarist of George Thorogood and the Destroyers; "Tijuana Bible" is the phrase used for X-rated comic books that circulated throughout the United States during the Great Depression and into the '60s in the heyday of media censorship, in kind of an underground manner. The content on the CD cover, though colorful and superior in quality to the real thing, pokes fun at the sexual humor that was found in the shoddy little publications.
The opening riff in "Tijuana Bible," the first track on the CD, carries enough weight of its own to put smiles on the faces of Tex-Mex rock lovers everywhere, those with a taste for the hot 'n nasty. The song's heavy blues atmosphere is coerced along in a lethargically funky ZZ Top manner. Suhler's delightfully malicious chicken pickin' and rhythmic groove is as addictive as tequila and sangrita on a warm summer night. And that's just the salt flanking the margarita glass. The second song, "Devil In Me," yields a potent slide guitar within a devilishly driving rhythm, putting the monkey into Monkey Beat for sure.

Joe Bonamassa is special guest guitarist in "Deep Water Lullaby," an interesting accolade to Jimi Hendrix in which both Joe and Jim strut their stuff side by side. Jimmy Hall of Wet Willy sings backup in "Po' Lightnin." Though "Black Sky" takes it to another place, the vigorously electrifying arrangement is too hyper to stick around anywhere for too long. It's an excursion of sorts, vivid in melody and instrumental diversity. "Border Rock" goes off in a rockabilly tangent, and "Mexicali Run" brings it back into Tejas mode again, ala ZZ. Of course, "Chaos In Tejas" maintains that approach in a deep, dirty, and funky way. "Juice" is an intense acoustic blues.

While the 13 original tracks on Tijuana Bible are sufficient enough to make it a superb CD, the three added covers are nice complements. Elvin Bishop's "Drunken Hearted Boy" is an excellent choice, especially with Bishop there to play slide guitar throughout the relaxed slow blues track (not that Suhler needs any help in that category). Though you keep waiting to hear the wild vocal angst of either Bon Scott or Brian Johnson rise up over the guitar fire in "Up To My Neck In You," Suhler does a fine job on his own in the AC/DC cover, and his blistering guitar solo is turbo charged and cranked. Rory Gallagher's "I Could've Had Religion" is another good choice, as its energetic atmosphere and vocal angst are enough to please even the late Irish blues rocker. And again, Suhler's slide guitar technique is brilliant.

Tijuana Bible is an all inclusive collection of stimulating border rock and blues songs from Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat, which is Suhler on guitar and vocals, Carlton Powell on bass, Shawn Phares on keyboards, and Jimmy Morgan on drums. Though all are standout musicians, Jim Suhler's guitar playing is amazing. His songwriting and vocal abilities are top notch as well. And as the cover states, the contents are 16 lurid chapters from Suhler's Tijuana Bible. It's a quality CD that should not be ignored by music fans who like a straight shot of Tex-Mex rock with a strong twist of blues.

By Brian D. Holland

Tracklist

1. Tijuana Bible 4:11
2. Devil in Me 3:31
3. Drunken Hearted Boy 4:42
4. Up To My Neck in You 4:53
5. Long Hot Summer 5:24
6. Black Sky 5:10
7. Deep Water Lullaby 6:08
8. Years of Tears 5:14
9. Po' Lightnin' 4:10
10. Border Rock 3:30
11. Mexicali Run 4:03
12. Sunday Drunk 3:45
13. Chaos in Tejas 3:56
14. Juice 4:07
15. I Could've Had Religion 5:22
16. Cold Light of Day 3:36

Listen To Samples Here

About Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat

Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat have been on the music scene now since 1993, and have built a fan base worldwide. They are well known for their no-holds-barred approach to blues-inspired rock and roll and roots music. They have shown an amazing depth of songwriting and playing, and their constant touring in both the USA and Europe has garnered many admirers. They have worked with noted producers Terry Manning (ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Stax Records & more), Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana, etc.) and Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Lynyrd Skynyrd).

Jim is also well known as the lead guitarist for George Thorogood and The Destroyers since 1999, and has often been included in "Top Ten Guitarists" lists of various music publications.

The band is released it's latest cd on February 17 on Underworld Records, TIJUANA BIBLE. The cd is produced by Jim Suhler & Tom Hambridge, and guest artists include vocalist Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie, Jeff Beck),Elvin Bishop, & Joe Bonamassa. TIJUANA BIBLE features 16 songs, twelve Suhler originals and cover Elvin Bishop's "Drunken Hearted Boy", Rory Gallagher's "I Could've Had Religion", and AC/DC's "Up To My Neck In You".

"Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat conjure up serious Texas roadhouse blues rock mojo. The beautiful thing about this album is it starts out nasty and just gets meaner. Tijuana Bible is Texas juke joint paradise." - Philip Van Vleck, Billboard Magazine

http://www.jimsuhler.com/

http://www.myspace.com/jimsuhlerandmonkeybeat