Mad Dog Blues – All The Way
self release
songs – 15 time – 70:57
Mad Dog Blues is a Colorado based modern day harmonica-driven string band. Although it is all acoustic with no percussion, rhythm guitars keep the rhythm when needed. You really don’t miss the drums. Mad Dog Friedman leads the gathering with his enormous harmonica skills and occasional vocals. The other members contribute vocals as well. The core group of five is variously supplemented by piano, cello, jaw harp, etc.. All save two songs are band originals.
Mad Dog intros “Dime Store Women” with harmonica that resembles John Mayall’s playing during his ‘chicka chicka’ phase. Unfortunately, his gravelly, half spoken vocal is a bit much to take. The interaction of the harmonica, guitar and mandolin more than makes up for it. Sean Bennight’s smooth vocal on the mellow “Love Scared The Devil” is more like it. Jeff Becker’s mandolin interplay with acoustic guitar and harmonica is a bluesy lullaby. “Just Like Mama Said” continues the mellow strain with Mark Kaczorowski on the vocal. Mad Dog turns in more of an appealing vocal on the mournful “Moaning Of The Spruce”.
Now for the pickin’ & grinnin’ portion of the show, sports fans. “Bug In The Basement/Bruno’s Toad” will get you up on the dance floor. Mad Dog’s vocal gets all tender as he sings over Bruce Delaplain’s piano and guitar, harmonica and mandolin on “All The Way (I Found You)”. A doctor has cowboy dreams in “Cowboy Shirt” as Mark Kaczorowski delivers a soothing vocal. Just in time for Halloween, the spooky and mysterious “Never Again” with Mad Dog’s ghoulish vocal and lyrics.
After a brief Mad Dog vocal (and slight return), “Had A Little Woman” is basically an instrumental jam that gives all the players a chance to stretch out. The listener gets the privilege of hearing the talent of the harmonica player, guitarists and mandolin player. One of the CD’s highlights. Sean Bennight’s smooth vocalizations play well against the slide guitar and harmonica on “Now I Believe”. Their take on Eddie Cantor’s “Making Whoopee” has Jeff Becker and Jenn Cleary as a duet that is kind of lack luster. It ends up with really bad group scat singing.
Mad Dog, Josh Elioseff and Joe Waters join in for the harmonica only tribute to the late harmonica player on “Feeling Phil Wiggins”. They capture his rhythmic approach to a “T”. Joe Waters does a solo turn on a jaw harp improvisation on “Roadside Joe”. A bit like primitive synthesizer. They close out with two versions of The Memphis Jug Band’s “Stealin’ Stealin’. The first vocal take features Lonesome Rolan on piano along with guitar, cello and jaw harp. The all instrumental closer (Slight Return) is a kazoo and jaw harp jam.
Mad Dog and friends have concocted a delightfully executed slice of acoustic enjoyment. It isn’t a bunch of guitar and mandolin strummers and token harmonica. What we have here are virtuosos on their given instruments. The presentation and production are first rate. Truly a breath of fresh air.
