Kirky TG & Sinkin’ Down
Illscape Studios
11 Tracks – 47 minutes
This is the debut album from Houston based Kirky TG & Sinkin’ Down. The band, a power trio, consists of Kirky TG on guitar and vocals, Zia Seren on guitar, and Todd Blackmon on drums. The tracks were recorded in a live studio setting during one session.
Kirky TG is a passionate supporter of the blues community and is the current President of the Houston Blues Society. And yes, I looked at the Houston Blues Society’s web site and found his listing as President exactly as provided in the group name. He is a successful business owner and holds an MBA. His music is inspired by the diverse genres of the blues including urban electric, Delta, and Hill Country, but also notes he has influences of jazz, grunge, classical and hip-hop influences. He also builds his own guitars, his latest named “Discovery” is a Warmoth natural finish Strat with Seymour pick-ups and Elixir strings. The band’s live sound is described as raw, grungy and emotive.
Zia Seren is a multidisciplinary artist with four published original albums to her credit. Zia, a music composer and producer, has a BFA from the Academy of Art University and uses that degree to explore the principles of art and design and how they converge in music.
Todd Blackmon graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Music Performance with Jazz Concentration from Texas State University. His mentor was legendary drummer Butch Miles who worked with Count Basie, Dave Brubeck & Frank Sinatra.
The album opens with an original instrumental, “H-Town Vibes”, a slow rock number. That leads into the first of seven covers on the album, Willie Dixon’s “Bring It on Home”, which was first recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson II in 1963. Kirky’s voice has a unique timbre that certainly differentiates his version of the song from other recordings. Ray Charles’ “Believe to My Soul”, first released in 1959, is given a stark presentation here with Kirky’s guitar leading much of the song.
Howlin’ Wolf’s “Commit A Crime” from 1966 again spins around the guitar work of Kirky. A.C. Williams’ “Oh Pretty Woman” recorded by Albert King in 1967 is next and continues a fairly laid- back groove. Tab Benoit’s “Gone Too Long” recorded in 1997 follows in a similar form.
A second original instrumental, “Spirit of Ecstasy” continues the easy laid-back sound established throughout the album. Fenton Robinson’s 1977 song “As the Years Go Passing By” written by Peppermint Harrs and credited to Deadric Malone, Don Robey’s pseudonym, offers a soulful vocal. Freddy King’s instrumental “Hideaway” written in 1961 gets some extra bounce.
The album closes with two songs from Magic Sam Maghett “All Your Love” and “Lookin’ Good”, both from 1966. The latter song, an instrumental, kicks up a rocking shuffle beat.
The band pulls out some unique songs to cover, but they quickly move away from any direct homage to the original performers as they remake the songs into their own versions. As noted, Kirky’s vocals have their own tone, and he makes no attempt to emulate the original vocalists, nor should he. Some of the songs like that of Ray Charles had a high energy in their original versions. Throughout, the album seems to remain on an even keel. I kept wanting the band to burst out with some energy that never really seems to happen.
