THE MANNISH BOYS "LOWDOWN FEELIN" Source: Jazz.com Date: 12/2008 Writer: Ted Gioia

How many bands have taken their names from Muddy Waters's songs? A young David Bowie played in another group called the Mannish Boys, and we have also seen the Mojos, the Hoochie Coochie Men and (of course) the Rolling Stones. But this ensemble, with shifting personnel for their four CDs, is no unworthy pretender to the throne. Their hybrid of high-energy blues with a dose of rock definitely has some serious mojo of its own, and is perfectly crafted for crossover appeal. "Searchin' Blues" builds off one of the oldest slide-guitar vamps in the blues lexicon, but "Paris Slim" plays it as if newly minted; and "Big Foot" Innes contributes a very danceable beat. Mannish Boys may have started life as a one-shot studio project, but these Boys have coalesced into one of the finer blues bands on the scene. Let's hope they keep going, and continue releasing CDs this good when they grow up to be boyish men.