Derrick Dove and the Peacekeepers – Rough Time
Blue Voodoo Entertainment
10 tracks/40 minutes
Southern rock is the order of the day with Rough Time by Derreck Dove and The Peacekeepers. Following up their inaugural 2018 album with this southern fried set of new tunes, Dove and his band have been road warriors promoting themselves for the past five-plus years.
He’s from Tifton, GA, and at 10 years of age was drumming in his dad’s oldies band. A love of the blues became his passion and he acted on that and formed this band. Dove is lead singer and guitarist and it’s Jamie Richardson on drums, Don Hill III on bass, and Jonathan “JT” Thomas on keys. Guests are Shane Cannon on harp, La’Chelsea King on backing vocals, Harry King on sax and Chuck Hutcheson on trumpet and baritone sax.
They open with “Blindsided,” a rocking cut with amped up guitar and gritty vocals. The title tracks follows, a slow, melodic tune with pretty organ an Dove taking us to church a bit with his passionate vocals. The song builds into a rocking frenzy on guitar and vocals. Next is “You and My Guitar,” with ringing guitar lead and a bouncing rhythm.
“Daddy Is A Bluesman” is next, a howling song paying tribute to his Dad. Greasy harp and emotional vocals are what make this song cool. This ones a true blues song that Dove puts his stamp on. Guitar and piano fill out the sounds on this song. ”Farm In Tennessee” takes us down home in this country piece. Honky tonk piano and some acoustic guitar picking give it that down home feel. “Life’s Games” returns to the big Southern rock ballad sound with slide guitar and a a great story. The sound builds into an exciting finish.
“Sweet Sadie Mae” is a big guitar rocker with gritty vocals and a driving beat. Here we get organ soloing along with guitars and later the organ goes off into a bridge piece of sorts of it’s own to conclude the song that is cool. “Sunday Coming Home” is a thoughtful cut with restrained guitar and musical support as Dove sings in similar manner. Dark, brooding stuff here. “Hard Rain” is a driving and rocking cut. Here we get big guitar accompaniment and a bouncing beat. The finale bemoans “When Did I Get Old,” something everyone eventually asks themselves. It’s an acoustic ballad that is soft and cool and flows like a river. It’s a very pretty piece showing another side of Dove and the band.
Playing Southern Rock that blends in country and blues influences is what Dove and his band excel at. The could blow away listeners in any venue, a club, honky-tonk café or stadium with their big sound and driving songs. If you like rocking bands who dabble in the blues, then look no further.
