Page 54 - BiTS_11_NOVEMBER_2023_Neat

Kenny Wayne Shepherd—Dirt On My Diamonds Vol 1—
Provogue Records

In 2021, Kenny Wayne Shepherd was declared to have been a
naughty boy because he had bought a replica of the car ‘General
Lee’ from the TV show ‘The Dukes of Hazard’ complete with the
Confederate Flag (the rebel flag) on its roof. Shepherd had been
nominated for an award in the Blues Foundation’s 2021 listings
which was rescinded following . Ken Shepherd, Kenny’s father,
was asked to step down as a member of its board of directors.

Muddy Waters’ daughter, Mercy Morganfield, resigned from the
board because of support for Shepherd after posting on Facebook, an article headed “The Way
My Daddy Looks At a White Man Winning a Blues Foundation Music Award While Waving A
F*****g Confederate Flag.” Supporting Morganfield, Kim Wilson, famous for his work with the

Fabulous Thunderbirds, said he had asked for his own nominations to be rescinded. Wow!
What a cluster pluck!

Well, IMHO, Mr Shepherd has, in the fullness of time, responded positively by producing the
best album he has ever made. Following a hugely successful tour in 2023, Shepherd has put
together a selection of eight tracks, only one of them a cover, which investigate life’s imperfec-
tions,

The opener ‘Dirt On My Diamonds’ is a stomper—a medium paced piece of classic blues rock
setting the tone for the rest of the album. ‘Man On A Mission’ is Shepherd stating his inten-
sions, while the album’s first single, ‘Sweet & Low’, sums up contemporary influences and
blends them with traditional blues undertones. The sole cover is “Saturday Night’s Alright For
Fighting’, a long favourite of arena goers when delivered in concert by Elton John. Written, of
course by Elton and Bernie Taupin, Shepherd’s version is inspired and thoughtful, and adds a
new dimension to the song. All together Now! “Saturday…Saturday…Saturday….”

Shepherd’s guitar work on this album is impressive, but it is neatly balanced with the needs
and import of the songs. And, he has managed to do what too many blues-rock musicians fail
to do; That is, he has put some blues into the rock.

As I said at the beginning, this is IMHO the best thing Kenny has done to date and it is an award
winner too.

So—let’s see where it goes!

Ian K McKenzie

Chad Rupp & the Sugar Roots—The Devil Won’t Get You—
Lightning in a Bottle
(www.lightninginabottlerecords.com/thesugarroots)

From Portland, Oregon, this outfit includes drummer Jimi Bott
and Peter Damman, former guitarist for Paul DeLay, and several
guests including Johnny Wheels on harmonica and vocals,
veteran Lloyd Jones vocals on ‘You’re Not My Baby’. Singer,
guitarist and song-writer Chad Rupp is the guy who holds
everything together.

Very tightly he does so too, on a fine and lively set of pretty much
straight modern blues, invoking people like, Albert King, BB King
and Albert Collins in his playing and arrangements. He writes good songs too – for example,