Omar And the Howlers – What’s Buggin’ You?
Big Guitar Music
11 tracks/42 minutes
It’s been six years since we heard from Omar Kent Dykes. A muscular disorder in both arms has prevented him from playing guitar, but in May 2023, he ventured into the studio and laid down ten original tracks and one Bo Diddley cover. Dykes has been a guitar lover since age ten and formed his own band with he on lead guitar in 1963, three years later. His Mississippi roots in the blues has been his passion and, having grown up in the same town, Bo Diddley is one of his musical icons.
Dykes joined the Howlers in the 1970’s and they all ventured out to Austin, TZ in 1976. It didn’t take long for his iconic voice and guitar for the band to become Omar and the Howlers. Dyke’s bio likens his voice to, “Something like a grizzly bear on steroids.” They recorded their first album in 1980 and now have recorded 34 albums with this release. He cannot perform live due to his medical issues, but he’s back with new studio projects so there is more to come. He also has published three books with his wife and a fourth is on the works.
The Howlers are now Eve Monsees on lead guitar, Jason Crisp on bass (a long-time howler) and some guitar here and there, Mike Buck on drums (Fabulous T-Birds and others), and Nico Leophonte (who engineered the album) on percussion. Kentucky Headhunter guitarist Greg Martin adds his licks to “Gator Man.” Dykes sings lead, plays some guitar on a few cuts and adds some nice harp to a cut.
The album opens with “Bad Monkey,” and it is quickly obvious that the grizzly bear growls even more than ever. The vocals are dirty, mean and gritty. He and his Howlers grind out some rocking blues as he howls about a monkey with an attitude. I don’t know who the bad monkey is that he’s referring to, but he doesn’t like him! “When Push Comes To Shove” is a jumping cut with more dazzlingly grimy vocals and a nice little guitar groove and soloing. Next up is a cut about “Clarksdale, Mississippi,” where Dykes takes us down home to the Delta. It’s a cool, slow blues with electric guitar and resonator to savor.
“Gator Man” follows, a driving piece with wicked, swampy licks along with deep, gravelly vocals. Great stuff! The Bo Diddley tracks is next, “Crackin’ Up.” It features some Bo Diddley styled-guitar riffs with Omar’s signature vocals. Age has made them even more down and filthy and it’s quite cool. “Lone Star Boogie” gets the listener ready to dance as Dykes growls about the Lone Star State and the band lays out a sweet boogie. More simian references are offered up with “Thousand Pound Gorilla,” another monkey on Omar’s back. Slow, delightful blues are the order of the day with this cut.
“The Runnin’ Man” lets Dykes and the band give us another slick Bo Diddley beat to savor; fun stuff. “Hidin’ Out In Memphis” is next, another slow and grimy cut that Omar delights in, as will the listener. Dykes sings about avoiding the law in this down and dirty blues. Ringing guitar licks abound and Dykes growls as few can. The pedal gets closer to the floor as the Howlers shuffle along with “Lover Man.” A sweeter cut, Dykes sings about all the women he’s chased, loved and left (and lived through). The final track is “No Peace In The City,” a bit of a slow cha-cha as Dykes sings about the demise of urban life. More cool guitar and solos and it’s just a nice wrap up to a great album.
Dykes sings with the passion he always has. His vocals have gotten deeper, darker and even grittier that the past 50 odd-years of performing, but he still can bring it and draw the listener in with his growling, ursine sound. The Howlers are alive and well- kudos to Omar Kent Dykes returning to what he loves best and making some outstanding music for us. We should all be glad he’s back!
