Page 44 - BiTS_09_SEPTEMBER_2022

Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames—Nightwalk—Delmark
Records

Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames are a blues band from Chi-
cago and “Nighthawk” is their third album for the Delmark la-
bel.

The opening track is ‘Mary Who’ a gritty narration of urban
life which features the lines, “I wanna buy you breakfast
you’ve got coffee cup lips and hash brown eyes”, I almost
choked on my full English! ‘Don’t Ever Change Your Ways’ is
an upbeat blues with some tasty slide guitar from Dave Weld.
‘Don’t Tell Mama’ is another upbeat blues rocker with Monica Myhre taking lead vocals on this
one whilst ‘Red Hot Tabasco’ has that New Orleans feel about it.

‘Now She’s Gone’ an old J.B. Hutto number, has that ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ style about it and
features some great harmonica work from special guest Billy Branch no less! ‘Donde Vas’ fea-

tures a nice sax solo from Rogers Randle Jr. whilst Monica Myhre takes lead vocals once again
on the slow blues burner ‘She Was A Woman’. Another J.B. Hutto tune ‘Loving You’ features
some great slide guitar from Dave Weld that reminded me some what of Joe Louis Walker. The
album closes where it started with an extended version of ‘Mary Who’.

Dave Weld has certainly assembled a fine group of musicians here. I particularly like the horn
arrangements and blasts of Hammond B3 organ from Graham Guest. The rhythm section are
tight and I particularly like the way bass player Kenny Pickens ties it all together. The only
slight downside are the lead vocals that are in my view ok but not exceptional but don’t let
that detract from this great album that taps into the tradition of Chicago blues and gives it en-
ergy, polish and forward drive.

Ged Wilson

Duwayne Burnside—Acoustic Burnside—Dolceola Re-
cordings

‘Acoustic Burnside’ is the first album release in 17 years from
Duwayne Burnside, son of the late, great R.L. Burnside him-
self, can’t wait to hear this one!

The album hits the ground running with some fine stripped
back acoustic guitar and vocals on ‘Going Down South’. Next

up is the classic Burnside song ‘See My Jumper On The Line’
which is just pure blues, wow. ‘Poor Black Mattie’ really gets
you rocking whilst ‘She Threw My Clothes Out’ brought to
mind the style of John Hammond. The Robert Johnson classic
‘Dust My Broom’ gets an airing and things turn a little bit more mellow and soulful on Junior
Kimbrough’s ‘Meet Me In The City’.

‘Stay All Night’ has that ‘Ain’t Superstitious’ type riff going on while the alternative take of ‘She
Threw My Clothes Out (Alt. Take)’ brought to mind ‘How Many More Years’ so some shades of