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that isn’t necessarily my thing, I think that it is very well done, there aren’t the
guests as on some of her previous albums but there is great variety here from the
different styles of songs. Also, as good as Samantha’s vocals and guitar are
throughout the band also play their part in supporting her with great keyboard
work and a superb rhythm section – I’ll look forward to seeing them all at Suffolk’s
Red Rooster Festival in late May.

Graham Harrison

GA-20—Volume 2 (EP)—Coalmine Records

This is a new version of GA-20 where original
member guitarist Mathew Stubbs is joined by Cody
Nilsen (vocals/guitar) and Josh Kiggans (drums)
but don’t worry the sound is exactly the same –
traditional-sounding blues played on vintage
instruments. As before it was produced by Mr.
Stubbs, this time at Rare Signals studio in Cambridge
MA but it sounds as though it was put down in
Memphis or Chicago.

We kick off with Billy Boy Arnold’s ‘Cryin’ and
Pleadin’ (similar to his ‘I Wish You Would’) - it’s
wonderful – simple straight-ahead blues but with
a driving, danceable beat. ‘I Love You, I Need You’ is a lovely, loping Excello blues
by Lazy Lester, while ‘I Don’t Mind’ is the old James Brown soul ballad (also covered
by The Who and The MC5) with Cody Nilsen’s powerful, soulful vocals and Josh’s
pounding drums. We finish with a fine version of Elmore James’ ‘Stranger Blues’
with Mr. Nilsen providing the Elmore-style slide guitar and the heartfelt vocals
and again it’s a very danceable beat. I’ve got to say that as much as I liked the
original GA-20 this new incarnation is very good and I’d say that this EP is the
best and most consistent record that they’ve made – can’t wait to hear a full album
by this band, who tour the UK in June.

Graham Harrison

Big Dave & the Dutchmen—Big Dave & the
Dutchmen—Naked ASIN :B0DZ4S2QRJ

This album starts with the track ‘Never Love Again’
which sounds like Tom Waits sitting in with the
Howlin’ Wolf band – not a bad template for your
sound! Big Dave is Dave Reniers on vocals and
harmonica (best known for his work with the
Belgian band The Electric Kings) he’s joined by
Mischa den Haring (guitar), Roel Spanjers
(keyboards), Dusty Ciggar (bass) and Darryl Ciggar
(drums). That Howlin’ Wolf/Chess influence
continues but ‘Daring Haring’ is an instrumental
– Freddy King meets Jimmy Smith – with the band
really enjoying themselves and sounding great, while ‘Trouble of the World’ is
poignant gospel and ‘Lonesome’ is like a combination of John Lee Hooker and