THE MANNISH BOYS "LIVE & IN DEMAND" Source: Blues In London Date: 01/2006 Writer: Ricardo

The West Coast blues supergroup follow up last years studio album 'That Represent Man' with this offering recorded live in 2005. This time out they've added Blues in London favourite Kid Ramos (he's ace!) to the all star cast and he more than justifies his presence with the mighty opener 'Kid's Jump' - a cool, tight, rockin' swingin' instrumental that brings to mind Kids' former James Harman Band-mate Hollywood Fats ' 'Rock this House'.

From then on its blues review time - they may be a West Coast blues supergroup, but they don't just play West Coast Blues - and we get a fairly comprehensive cross section of the styles, from the not unexpected 'Mannish Boy' (pretty good, Johnny Dyer has the authority to do it justice), to the less predictable 'Mystery Train' (again highly credible, this time led by Finus Tasby ), and the outstanding soulful 'As The Years Go Passing By' (Tasby again, his fantastic charismatic voice backed up with a vengeance by Ramos' shredding guitar work).

As you would expect, it's all played extremely well by this top notch group of fully paid up members of the blues elite. Check out their website ( http://www.themannishboys.com ) for the full line-up - their collective C.V. reads like a who's who of the blues greats. They all appear to enjoy playing together too. If this record is anything to go by, as festival headliners keeping the flame alive and the bar raised, and showing that blues comes in many different shades, The Mannish Boys are outstanding. If only we could persuade them to come and play in London...