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From the Vault...
05/30/2021
#1780 |
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info
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
"How I Go"
© Roadrunner Records
Year of Release: 2011
Rating:
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track listing
Never Lookin' Back
Come On Over
Yer Blues
Show Me The Way
Back Home
Anywhere The
Wind Blows
Dark Side Of Love
Heat Of The Sun
The Wire
Who's Gonna Catch
You Now
Backwater Blues
Strut
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Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
"How I Go"
Blues artist Kenny Wayne Shepherd debuts this week on WSVNRadio, with his Band's 2011 release - How I Go. In more recent years, it was hard to
determine just who the latest and greatest Blues artists there are. With the loss of both Stevie Ray Vaughan and Gary Moore, two (male) artists that seem to refine
the blues in fine fashion these days, are
Joe Bonamassa
and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Another name in recent years -
Gary Clark Jr.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd has been on the blues/rock scene since 1995. And no doubt, his recordings have always defined him as a true blues/rock artist. How I
Go is no exception. It is basically a very good Blues and Rock mix.
"Never Lookin Back" is a great rock opener. "Come On Over" is another true rocker. Somehow, this track could get airplay on Country Rock
formats - Good Country Rock formats. For Beatles fans, "Yer Blues" is a track where you know that blues artists will give it their own BLUES feel.
Like Jeff Healey, Kenny his version (as well as Healey's) are just as rockin' as John Lennon made this song one of the finest tracks from The Beatles (White
Album).
"Show Me The Way Back Home" slows the pace (musically) a bit, and it fits just well, as the first three rocking tunes passed by. And again, his
particular track has a more Country Rock feel. Superb. "Cold" is another musically soft rocker (compared to the others), and blends well.
Then, it's great Blues in its rocking fashion, with the classic "Oh Pretty Woman" (which Gary Moore covered). I'd have to go with Gary's version over
Kenny's, yet The KWS Band kicks it into their own gear, in their own way - all in good fashion. "Anywhere The wind Blows" is is another great song,
co-written by KWS, and not to be confused with JJ Cale's song of the same title. (Eric Clapton also recorded Cale's song.) This song has more of a Southern Rock
feel. "Dark Side Of Love" is an outstanding superb blues track, having a great, great Blues feel. It's just as blues-driving as Gary Moore's "Oh
Pretty Woman." This is how the Blues should be played. Great Blues style, great Blues guitar.
The next track is another great slow-driven Blues song - "Heat Of The Sun." It's Rock n Roll. It's Rock n Roll Blues. It's Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his
Band -- "The Wire," another true rocker.
On the acoustic side, the next track slows down the pace again, and in a good way. "Who's Gonna Catch You Now" is a nice acoustic guitar tune, with nice
harmony vocals. Another song for the Good Country formats. Old-time Jazz has the introduction style of Bessie Smith's "Backwater Blues." With it's old-time
ragtime piano, it brings another great feeling. However, it then picks up in true great Blues Rock style. Just as the Blues should be played, this song is another
great rocker. The album ends with a jumpin' rockin' number -- "Strut." It's an instrumental, with great guitar rhythms, and great piano and guitar leads.
With the exception of three songs, all the others were co-written by Kenny Wayne Shepherd. How I Go is a great album, consisting of Blues, Rock, Country,
Southern Rock, even a touch of Jazz. It's an album that has all the great elements of a great Blues album, although it has other great genres to compare it to.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd has proved himself as a very talented Blues artist. Both musically and vocally. He also has help on this album with vocals, with Noah Hunt.
Also to mention are the other musicians in the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band: Chris "Whipper" Layon (drums), Tommy Shannon (bass), and Riley Osbourn (keyboards and B-3).
If the name Tommy Shannon sounds familiar, he was a member of Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble band.
More KWS reviews on the way... And he was also part of the supergroup The Rides, along with Stephen Stills and Barry Goldberg. They've released two albums, and
one of them reached #1 on Billboard's Blues Albums chart. Likewise, Kenny Wayne Shepherd is no strange to the #1 spot. He has had a total of ten #1 Blues albums.
It all started with his debut album Ledbetter Heights, in 1995. How I Go was one of those #1 albums. And it deserved it. It's a great rock and
blues album to listen to. Enjoy.
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