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Ritchie Dave Porter and Deborah Susan—The Story So
Far—Self Produced

Ritchie Dave Porter is a bluesman! He has dedicated his life to
his music, even allowing relationships to fall by the wayside
when they clashed with his ambitions. A couple of years or so
ago, he met Debra Susan and (to my ears at least) it all started
to come together.

Always a fine guitar player, he was moved to pick-up a
Telecaster guitar and adjust his axe work from acoustic based
to a ‘power trio’ style with vocal duties taken by Debra Susan. Always a huge fan of Led Zep
and other 60s supergroups, Ritchie has advanced his game 100% by channeling that vibe and
letting Debra Susan take the bulk of the vocal (and song writing) duties. The result has been
sensational. The sound of modern blues with a black country tinge.

Here we have thirteen tracks, with not a duff one among them. With added bass (Ritchie) and

drums (Debra Susan) and produced by Michael Tingle, the tracks range from the fabulous
‘Broken Dreams’, a minor key epic, reminding me of Jimi’s ‘All Along The Watch Tower’ to ‘One
Hell Of A Ride’ with a stunning opening from Ritchie and through to the playful ‘Three Tiny
Words’ a delightful, almost jazzy piece. ‘I’m Walking Away’ another minor key piece with an
emphasis on bass in unison with guitar, is a stunner too.

I have written before of Debra Susan’s voice which comes to me as a mix of Janice with Grace
Slick and I am much impressed by her lyrical skills. Ritchie and Debra are certainly building
their own narrative and there is no doubt that “The Story So Far” is a fascinating one. I can’t
wait to see where it goes - err…perhaps with a conventional band.

Ian K McKenzie

The Boneshakers US—One Foot In the Groove—Take It
To The Bridge Records

Randy Jacobs is a seriously funky guitarist who worked with
Don Was (not Was) and is here joined by Jenny Langer
recently of Moonshine Society. I am a fan of Ms Langer’s chops
and style and she told me through her UK publicist, “ I plan to
be making albums and touring with both bands. Much like
Warren Haynes was balancing The Allman Brothers and Gov’t
Mule, I’ll be balancing The Boneshakers and Moonshine
Society.” Wonderful news!

I have put the letters US after the band’s name as it turns out
there is a significant number of bands of the same name. This one comes with a wealth of funk,
a horn section (the Texacali Horns) and some great arrangements, none more so than a
reworking of the Stones classic ‘Let’s Spend The Night Together’ which has a guest appearance
by Bernard Fowler, long time backing vocalist for the Stones themselves. This band is on tour
in the UK in October - Get to see them, you won’t regret it. An IBBA pick of the month!

Ian K McKenzie