Peter Kern – Guitar Man
Self-Release – 2024
15 tracks; 52 minutes
Peter Kern has been on the scene in his home country of Austria for some time, having played with the likes of Big Jay McNeely, Louisiana Red and John Primer, as well as taking third place at the IBCs back in 2001. His latest release is all original and features Peter on guitar and vocals, accompanied by Richard Haasz on bass and Michael Strasser on drums; piano on one cut is by Csanad Igali and harp is added to five tracks by Andras Köhalmi, plus to a further track by Peter himself. Peter is a tasteful player, so nothing is overdone, most tunes having strong melodies and lyrics delivered clearly and without accent in a light and pleasant style.
The album opens with the harp meshing well with Peter’s guitar as he is granted a wish and immediately wants “One More Kiss” from his girl. It’s an attractive opener, followed by the faster-paced “Good As Well As Bad”, Peter recognizing that it is not just the good things in life that shape us. The title track is autobiographical, Peter stating that he was always destined to be a guitarist: “I was born to play and I love it so much that I want to do it every day”. The music here is some way from straight blues, but is an attractive tune with hints of country rock as Peter plays a rousing solo. “Nothing Can Keep My Spirit Down” stays in a country vein before
Peter rocks out on the piano-led “I Don’t Need No Doctor”, Peter adding some Chuck Berry licks for good measure.
“Guardian Angel” has campfire harmonica, Peter finding that the Devil is also not far away. “Keep On” chugs along well and has a strong guitar solo before Peter heads back up those country roads for “Don’t Think It’s Over”, assisted by a Jimmy Reed style harp solo from Peter himself. “The Friend” has an elegant guitar opening to a tale of an unhappy child who just had “nobody to tell their troubles to”, but starting on guitar seemed to solve the problem for Peter! Harp and guitar make the Bo Diddley-styled “Do It While You Can” barrel along, Peter shows more of his blues credentials on “Rambler” and “Ain’t It A Shame” has a sing-along quality, harp and rhythm guitar again meshed together. Peter tells us “What I Like About The Blues” – “It’s music from the soul” – as he plays slide over a steady base laid down by the rhythm section. The album closes with two positive songs: “I Get High” explains that you don’t need drugs to enjoy the good things in life, Peter’s fast-paced finger picking placed over a riff drawn from Slim Harpo; “We’re Gonna Make It Someday” portrays a positive outlook on life, harp featuring strongly on the uptempo tune, Peter taking one last fleet-fingered solo towards the end.
Peter Kern sings and plays well, blending blues with elements of country rock. The lyrics reflect on his interests and beliefs and present a positive view of life, rather refreshing in these troubled times! No excesses, no shredding and a tasteful set that deserves to be heard.
