Andy B And SoulFolk – Tellin’ Myself Weird Lil’ Stories
DEKO Entertainment – 2024
10 tracks; 43 minutes
Andy B is Andy Bernstein, a veteran of the New Brunswick music scene who was the main songwriter/singer of The VooDUDES. On this record Andy is on lead vocals and harmonica, Gary Ambrosy guitar and mandolin, Matty Hahn keys, Paul Daloia bass and Bill Homomeyer drums; everyone adds backing vocals, as does Barbara Homomeyer-Hahn; Juke Joint Jonny Rizzo guests on guitar on one track. Andy wrote eight songs and there are two covers. Although released this year the album appears to have been some time in the making as the cover credits the original songs as published in 2022.
The songs here were inspired by Andy’s participation in a Song Stories Podcast, each delivering a story from Andy’s imagination or experience. Andy has a deep vocal style, sometimes as much spoken as sung, as can be heard on the gospel rhythms of “Risen From The Dead” which imagines how Lazarus might have felt after resurrection. “When Nancy Played The Blues” acts as a tribute to one of the stalwarts of the NJ scene, a harp player called Big Nance, a slower tune with some fine guitar work and subtle harp. Using a series of titles drawn from familiar country songs, Andy looks to find “That Hank Williams Feeling”, though the music is more blues than country, particularly due to the slide work. “Northbound Love” is almost a reversal of Allen Toussaint’s romantic view of the South in “Southern Nights”; a tune that sounds as if it could have been recorded by The Band in their prime, notably with the lyrical references to Miss Fanny, a character in “The Weight”; rolling piano and a solid chorus of backing vocals make this one a highlight of the album. Talking of The Band, “Listen To Ol’ Levon (The River)” recounts the inspiration Andy got from Levon Helm when The VooDUDES toured with him, piano leading the way through an upbeat rocker. Andy always includes a song dedicated to his late partner and “Y’Know I Love You” does that here, a bright tune that is almost a pop song. In contrast the band hits a reggae stride on a tale about a frightening encounter with a femme fatale in “Whiskey, Black Powder & Cigarettes” and the rather amusing tale of “Xmas Eve On Venice Beach” celebrates Christmas, California style.
The two covers are both well known. Andy s former bandmate Juke Joint Jonny adds acoustic guitar to a rather restrained take on “House Of The Rising Sun” whilst finger snaps lead into a jazzy interpretation that takes “Money” in a very different direction from the early Motown hit, or indeed The Beatles’ raw-throated version.
A varied album with well written songs.
