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MATT WALKER: LOW DOWN (INDIE)
4 Bottles
ne of
the biggest fears held by long-time Blues fans and Industry people is that for the first time in over 50 years,
Blues will cease to have a major influence on contemporary Rock, and, exposure to Blues (by young musicians both
White & Black) will dwindle to the point of nothingness. Today’s Rock/Pop is already showing (sounding) the
negative impacts of having vastly reduced influence from Blues (and Soul) and it’s akin to a house being built
with a foundation of sand. Historically too, there’s something really wrong with the Music World when current ‘stars’
think Rock ‘N Roll started with Led Zeppelin (who did actually ‘Rock’) or The Smiths (who didn’t). In any event,
we’ve seen/heard less and less Blues-influenced ‘New’ artists, and, under-30 White Blues bands once epidemic, have
become a rarity in North America. We always hoped and prayed the success of The J. Geils Band, the old Fleetwood
Mac, The Steve Miller Band and, more recently, The Black Keys (and Black Crowes…) would lead listeners to explore
the music of Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker, Jr. Wells and Elmore James, all mentors of the afore-mentioned bands.
(more people became Slim Harpo fans thanks to Mick Jagger’s covering Slim’s “I’m A King Bee” and “Shake Your Hips”
than 10 years of Radio Hits could muster for the Baton Rouge Blues King). So, correspondingly, the lack of Blues
coverage has meant a massive decrease in the number of young Blues Bands emerging each year. Some observers have
taken to playing a game called “Waiting for the Next SRV” acknowledging that Stevie Ray Vaughn almost single-handedly
brought Respect to The Blues and triggered a Blues Music Boom that lasted until 2000, 10 years after his tragic
death.
Saying all this, where does Matt Walker fit in? While I have heard some dynamite young Blues acts (and Blues-influenced
acts) in the last couple of years I secretly longed for an artist/band that evoked memories of the raucous, unpretentious,
joyful sounds of the late 1960s Blues Boom. Like Fleetwood Mac’s “English Rose” or Johnny Winter’s “Progressive
Blues Experiment”, Dr. Feelgood’s “Down By The Jetty” or Canned Heat’s “Boogie With Canned Heat”; all contained
unbridled exuberance that came from playing Music they loved, respected and found to be entirely magical in the
imagery/lyricism dept. Canada’s had its share of albums & artists who fall into the same category; most of
King Biscuit Boy’s albums, a couple of Downchild Blues Band albums, a couple by Wailin’ Walker, Harpdog Brown,
Joe Murphy, Carter Chaplin, Jack DeKeyzer’s last 3 albums, The Twisters, The Phantoms, Clyde Roulette, Michael
Pickett, Johnny V and now – Matt Walker. This is No-Frills, Blue-collar, barroom boogie & Blues for dancin’
and stompin’ on a Saturday night. You can’t fake this shit. You got to feel it and let it flow out from your soul,
and everyone on this recording sounds as though they’re doing the one thing they love most. Matt Walker is an Edmonton-based
drummer/vocalist and most of the players are Edmonton Blues veterans. For those who don’t know: Edmonton and Calgary,
Alberta are both Blues hot beds that boast the Best Live Blues/Club scene in Canada, which means plenty of work
(comparatively speaking) for musicians.
This CD starts off with a rompin’ Elmore James tune, “I Can’t Hold Out” which features wailing harmonica from David
Rotundo, pounding piano from Gary Bowman and slide work courtesy Dan Dufour. Great way to open the album. “Hoodoo
Man Blues” gets a reworking thanks to Dufour running his guitar through something (a Leslie?) to give him an organ-like
sound. “Walking Back To You” is a Walker original and he proves to be a pretty good songsmith, delivering a mid-tempo
Blues that doesn’t seem like anyone else’s stuff. The band is once again tight and tough with Doug Jensen handling
the guitar-work? Jimmy Reed’s “I Don’t Go For That” is a real cooker with everyone rompin’ along in this Chicago
classic. Bowman is great on piano. “Hangin’ Over Bad News” is another original and Walker’s best so far. Doctor
Nick Ouroumov is on board on harmonica and he’s an outstanding player who deserves some widespread recognition.
But, as I say that about Ouroumov, “Confessin’ The Blues” comes on and David Rotundo plays some of the Hottest
Harp I’ve ever heard by him. “Worried Blues” is a spooky, atmospheric tune featuring Ouroumov on harp and Peter
Schmidt laying down some West Side guitar, Doctor Nick shows us he’s an ace on the big chromatic and I’d have to
say there’s maybe only one or two other players in Canada who are in the same league. Schmidt’s an excellent picker.
“Triple The Measure” follows with more Doctor Nick on this swingin’ little number. Matt shows us he knows how to
shuffle & swing on the drum kit. Nice. “Low Down” is exactly like the title says. A deep Blues Wall that features
Rotundo goin’ Down South and Doug Jensen laying down slide guitar in a nasty fashion. Kudos to Bowman again for
his Sunnyland piano. So, Matt Walker scores on his debut CD and anyone who wants to hear just how good current
Canadian (and in particular, Edmonton) Blues talent is would be wise to check out “Low Down”. 4 bottles for a very
successful and True Blue debut from an artist we’ll undoubtedly hear more from.
A. Grigg
HARVEST BLUES LINEUP SET
Edmonton Journal, September 25, 2009
Matt Walker has announced the
lineup and date for his annual Harvest Blues Dinner and Dance.
This year, the singer, drummer and songwriter is airlifting blues veteran and singer Finis Tasby into town for
the party on Saturday, Oct. 24, along with special guest, guitarist Pete Schmidt.
Tasby, who works out of Los Angeles, knocked out a crowd at Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival last year as part
of the Mannish Boys Revue.
This year's Harvest Blues Dinner and Dance takes place at Pleasantview Hall. Tickets are available through Tix
on the Square.
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