THE INSOMNIACS "AT LEAST I'M NOT WITH YOU" Source: A1Blues.com Date: 05/2009 Writer: Mark Wade

Well it’s that time of the year again, when a lot of blues bands are putting out their new CD’s to get ready for the festival season. In past weeks we’ve heard new CD’s by Jason Ricci & New Blood, Alvin Jett & the Phat Noiz Blues Band and this week it’s The Insomniacs with their second CD At Least I’m Not With You. This is, for the most part, a traditional fifties electric blues band. They even use older instruments such as a 1951 Fender “Nocaster” guitar and a 1964 Framus Star Bass. To give the music a warmer more authentic sound, they of course use tub amps. All this would be pointless if it wasn’t for ability of the members of The Insomniacs to play the blues they love so much. Vyasa Dodson is the singer and guitarist for the band, and he has also written about half of the songs on the CD. Vyasa and bass guitarist Dean Mueller both played in a rockabilly band, when it broke up. Vyasa wanted to start his own band. He found Dave Melyan, the drummer, who in turn found Alix Shaker, the keyboard player. Vyasa asked Dean to play in the band, until they could find another bass player. Dean was very busy at the time with studio work, producing, and some engineering, but liked playing with Vyasa so he agreed. They started rehearsals around the early part of 2006. By June they started recording their first CD in Dean’s home studio, and then in October of 2006 the CD came out. The CD was only released regionally, until Delta Grove heard it and released it internationally on their label, with a few extra songs and new artwork.

At Least I’m Not With You was recorded in a day and half, with just a few things added in later. These were songs the band had been playing on the road for quit a while. The sound is up beat and fun with great hooks. “Lonesome” is a fast pace song with guest Al Blake on harp, Alex’s Hammond B3 organ sounds really good too. “Directly from My Heart to You” is up beat with a really big, full sound. “Description Blues” starts off laid back, but it too ends up taking off. Alex’s Hammond B3 organ and Vyasa’s lead guitar both stand out hear. As you will hear in the show the songs can vary quit a bit with “Root Beer Float” and “Angry Surfer” probably being the most different while the other three in the show being more the norm. Blues lovers will truly love this whole record they really did an out standing job on At Least I’m Not With You.