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THE
MANNISH BOYS "LIVE & IN DEMAND"
Source: Bad Dog Blues
Date: 11/2005
Writer: Jeff Harris |
One
of the best surprises of 2004 was the formation of West
Coast super group The Mannish Boys and their killer
debut, "That Represent Man." Lucky festival
goers got a chance to see the group tour this summer.
Those of us who missed it will have to settle for "Live
In Demand", a fine document capturing the boys
at the 19th Annual Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival
this past July.
This aggregation of The Mannish Boys is a bit different
than the studio group including a different rhythm
section and the notable absence of guitarist Kirk
Fletcher. Fletcher added plenty of fire to the studio
album but is ably replaced by the great Kid Ramos.
One artist I would have liked to have heard again
was vocalist Mickey Champion, who granted only appeared
on one track, but who can really belt the blues. All
in all this is a hot set although not on the same
level as the terrific studio album. Maybe that's because
of the new members or that they weren't quite used
to playing live together yet. Whatever it is a bit
of the magic is missing on this one.
Things kick off with the solid swing of "Kid's
Jump" a showcase for Ramos' always hot fret work
backed by just drums and bass and move into a not
totally inspiring take on "I'm Ready" sung
by Randy Chortkoff. Chortkoff is not only a member
of the group but owner of Delta Groove and blows strong
harmonica throughout with a distinctive high pitched
Jimmy Reed tone. I got a brief glimpse of Chortkoff
blowing at a club jam during this year's Chicago Blues
Festival and he more than held his own among some
heavy company. Veteran pianist Leon Blues takes the
vocals for a rousing revival of Tampa Red's enduring
"She Wants To Sell My Monkey" before handing
the vocals chores over to Johnny Dyer who's burnished
voice sounds uncannily like Muddy's particularly on
"Mannish Boy" and a tough version of "Howling
Wolf" featuring some stinging slide from Ramos.
The highlight comes when Finis Tasby takes the stage.
Tasby is a terrific singer and really knows how to
put across a song as evidenced on the loping swamp
groove of Jimmy Anderson's "Goin' Crazy Over
T.V.", the steamy slow blues of "As The
Years Go Passing By" and a knockout version of
Freddie King's "It's Too Bad" punctuated
once again by some smoldering guitar from Ramos.
A second studio album or perhaps a live recording
with all the original members might have worked best
for the second Mannish Boys project. Still "Live
In Demand" generates plenty of excitement and
hopefully will get some overdue exposure to unheralded
veterans like Finis Tasby, Johnny Dyer and Leon Blue. |
