G.E. Long Band – Ain’t No Rain
40 Watt Music
10 tracks/39 minutes
G.E. Long is founder and songwriter for the band Lone Crow Rebellion and his latest effort is this band under his own name. Born and raised in western Pennsylvania, he is a multi-instrumentalist. His background in Americana, blues and roots music and southern rock serve him well. These are all original songs that he offers up here.
He opens with the title track. Kate Miterko joins him on vocals here and on “Change.” This cut is a rocking tune with a nice groove. They sing of the plight of the downtrodden and homeless. “Who’s Eyeing Up Our Happy Home” follows; his guitar rings true and some organ accompaniment fleshes things out nicely.
“Change” is another rocking cut with a vocal duet and southern rock flair. This one is a slower tempo-ed piece that talks about changing from his small town ways. Then it’s “Drowning In Shallow Water,” another slower tempo cut that tells of being consumed by life in today’s middle class. More guitar soling showcasing Long’s prowess on guitar is featured here.
“How Many Days” is another somber, blue collar-themed tome with cool guitar licks. Jason Sopic provides drums and bass here and later on “Baptize Me.” “1965 Lincoln Continental Blues” follows, a song about the redesigned luxury car that featured suicide doors and is a fond memory for most Boomers that Long rocks to.
“Simple Life” is up next, hearkening to just what the title says. The organ makes another appearance on this one, too, as it does on the next cut, “Working Man.” The theme of the plight of the working man and living a life without excesses are the premise throughout this work.
Then we have “Baptize Me” where Miterko returns and adds her fiddle to the cut. Her violin adds a nice down home feeling to the song as Long talks about going down to the river to be spiritually purified as he longs for a pastor’s daughter who he says doesn’t deserve him. Long concludes with “Trouble’s Knockin’” where he sings that being a bad man just comes naturally. The guitar and organ are once again prominent fixtures.
Long presents a mix of slower to mid tempo rocking cuts that feature a lot of his guitar. His picking on this set of original tunes is the highlight of the album and demonstrate his love for the six stringed instrument. There are no other credits listed than noted above, so I assume Long provides all the other instrumental support and he does a fine job with all of it.
