Coco Montoya – Writing On The Wall
Alligator Records – 2023
13 tracks; 59 minutes
Coco Montoya returns with his sixth release on Alligator, his first since 2019’s Coming In Hot. This time Coco is supported by his regular road band of Jeff Paris on keys/occasional guitars/vocals, Nathan Brown on bass and Rena Beavers on drums/vocals. Tony Braunagel is in the producer’s chair and replaces Rena on four tracks, Ronnie Baker Brooks guests on two cuts, Lee Roy Parnell adds slide to one and regular songwriting collaborator Dave Steen plays rhythm guitar on two of the tracks he wrote. The recordings were made at Jeff Paris’ home studio and seem to have been positive and relaxed sessions, to judge from the results. The material includes three covers and ten originals written by combinations of Coco, Dave and Jeff.
The opening pair of Dave Steen songs are typical Coco performances: powerful vocals and guitar underpin a confessional vocal on “I Was Wrong” and “Save It For The Next Fool” is extraordinarily catchy with terrific guitar tone. Indeed, if anyone is unfamiliar with Coco, expect plenty of soulful singing and strong, often delicate, guitar work. Coco does not over-play, preferring to find the sweet spot rather than getting too busy on the guitar, a quality that is particularly evident on ballads like the elegant “What Did I Say?”, his emotive playing perfectly underlining the lyrics of uncertainty: “Are you scared of love? Well, I am too.” Lonnie Mack’s “Stop” further underlines Coco’s ability to handle a slow blues as he sings and plays beautifully, really pouring it on in his extended solo. “The Three Kings And Me” is a relaxed, late night tune in which Coco is being kept company at Christmas by the ‘three wise men’, Albert, BB and Freddie: “there’s no pretty presents set under my tree, it’s just the blues, the three kings and me.”
The album blends such slower numbers with rockers, like Dave Steen’s “A Chip And A Chair”, spiced up by Lee Roy Parnell’s dramatic slide work and some fine lyrics, including Grandad’s advice: “You may be up, you may be down, but don’t never cash out too soon. You may not have your photograph hanging in the Hall of Fame, but as long as you got a chip and a chair, boy, you’re still in the game”. “Be Good To Yourself” may be familiar from Frankie Miller or Delbert McClinton’s versions, but it was written and first recorded by Andy Fraser, bassist of English band Free; Coco’s version stands comparison with the covers mentioned above, the dramatic drums here being one of the Tony Braunagel tracks, as is album closer “Natural Born Love Machine” which has a thumping bass line from Nathan over which Jeff’s keys and Coco’s guitar hit a real groove. The title track is a bit different, with something of a country vibe and Jeff’s busy piano a feature, as it is on “Late Last Night”, a salutary tale of what happens when you drink too much. Coco makes use of some biblical references in “(I’d Rather Feel) Bad About Doin’ It”, attributing the title to Eve who would rather feel that way than not experience anything, even original sin.
Coco and Ronnie have great fun with “Baby, You’re A Drag”, sharing their concerns about their girls who don’t like to party, before exchanging free-flowing solos. Ronnie’s other contribution is to share guitar on a fine cover of Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland’s “You Got Me (Where You Want Me)”, a song that has been covered in the past by Etta James, Kim Wilson and WC Clark, so Coco is in good company there!
Coco never disappoints and this is another excellent album which is easy to recommend.
