With their new disc, It Ain't Easy, Corey Lueck and the Smoke Wagon Blues Band have done it again. The gang's proven to be premiere purveyors of boogiein' blues.
The hot, holy trinity of the CD consists of Corey on vocals/harmonica, Mike Stubbs on guitar and Steve Sherman on percussion/a little bit o' bass. Joining the trio are Jesse O'Brien, Robin Banks, Gordon Aelchele, Scott Pritchard, Nick Succi, Gavin Robertson and the Kingston St. Quartet.
Together, these marvelous musicians have cooked up 15 tasty tracks. There's the rockin' boogie of Devil Got My Woman, the slow soul of Downhearted Blues, the infectious Josephine, the funk of Drinking Hard and Steady, the sensuality of That Vooodoo, and much, much more.
The disc is available at their live shows or through Indiepool. It can also be downloaded through iTunes.
When Hamilton son Mike Daley and Toronto's Alec Fraser join forces, they play high quality, old-fashioned, pre-war style blues. The talented duo are up to their old tricks on the second Fraser/Daley release, the Whole FamDamily.
Don't mistake this for a covers album of traditional songs though. These guys take the roots and use it to cook up 12 hot, brand new helpings. You can hear the off-the-floor magic in every song.
Mike's great vocals and exceptional guitar skills are on full display here. So are Alec's bass work and occasional lead vocals.
Wendell Ferguson (guitar, lead vocal on Dylan Song and Great Big Johnson), Katherine Wheatley (guitar, lead vocal on Bound to You and Hallelujah), Paul Langille (lead vocal and guitar on Steamroller Blues, guitar on Hallelujah), Jeremiah Budnark (bass on Great Big Johnson, Steamroller Blues and Hallelujah)