Chris Thayer – One Foot in the Grave
Inland Blue Records
10 Tracks – 42 minutes
Chris Thayer is a native Californian where he has been heavily involved in the southern California music scene since the 1990’s. The band was originally known as Big Papa and the TCB. Numerous songs recorded by the band have been used in television and shows and movies. But it is their signature song “Go Big Papa” that has had the largest exposure. In 2009, Papa John Pizza chose the song to be the official Papa John’s Pizza theme song and used it in multiple national TV commercials over several years including during the Super Bowl.
Their bio states “Chris Thayer and The TCB band was born in the back alleys and seedy after-hours juke joints. Their high energy blend of blues, R&B, and rock is a guaranteed greazy (sic) good time.” The band has now released eight studio albums, three live albums, one best of album and one EP. However, for this album Chris advises that he is the whole TCB band. He plays all the instruments on the album. He assures that “the band is the best it’s ever been, tight as hell and on fire with talent”. “But I felt I needed to add something new to the blues, something that was true to who I am and my influences and experiences.” “I let the muse take control and just followed where it led”.
“Dynamite” opens the album with Chris stating, “Look to the left, look to the right, somebody’s changing the world tonight.” “Come on into the light, illumination feels all right.” “Your future set to ignite, in explosive dynamite”. All with Chris’ dynamic guitar roaring through. On “Where There’s Smoke”, he says “You are barely holding it together. What are you going to do when you cannot handle the pressure?” He declares “It Hurts to Stay in Bed” in my bones and in my head. I think I will hit the club instead. Your perfume on my pillowcase. A million soft kisses all over my face. In this room we had our first embrace, but memories hang all over the place.” “Deep inside emotions soar.” ” I think I will play me some guitar instead”.
“That Ship Has Sailed” slows things down with a sad guitar and easy piano as he sings, “It was like the fairy tales, boy meets girl and so they fell. Years went by, I heard the bells led to believe that all was well. So many wasted kisses that I would never get back.” You could come back crawling on your knees, but that ship has sailed.” Things just go “From Bad to Worse” as he notes “Things ain’t quite right in the air tonight.” “It feels just like a curse without the magic words.” “There is only one thing sure, nothing in life is pure”. Things rock out again as he declares it is “Loud and Clear” “Evil men and their evil ways replay the sins of yesterday. You say enough, there is no doubt the world is changing right here and now.”
“One Foot in the Grave” moves back to a slow soulful cry, “A whole mess of broken hearts just waiting on you. You are up to no good, all the wicked things you do. You are going to have to answer.” “It’s just a matter of time before it all comes crashing down and you are going to have to answer for all the heartache you gave.” “Go Bump in the Night” is an easy rocker. “The moon is up and the spirits are out to play.” in a spooky tale. On “Fool’s Paradise” he embraces environmental concerns as “We dig down the mountain, we corrupt the skies, we dig in our heels and won’t compromise. We reject the truth, and raise the light, we won’t see with the wool pulled over our eyes”. “We scorch the earth and melt the ice, leave poor mother nature to pay the price”. The album ends with “When Push Comes to Shove” as he continues with his social concerns. “Seems like every day is worse than before. Bad news out front, don’t know that we can take much more.” “Someday we are going to have a whole lot to answer for.” “They say the sun comes up at the darkest times”. “Got to put aside the anger and spite. What happened to the love your faith is built upon?”
Chris delivers a powerful blues rock album airing clear social and environmental concerns with a mixture of woman problems. Both are well expressed with solid guitar backing and solos. His songs are directed to the source of blues in today’s world to increase a relevance for the genre.
