Phil Coyne & The Wayward Aces
Self-released
10 Tracks – 35 minutes
Australian native Phil Coyne says that in his early days he was into punk rock, but upon being given a mix tape of Little Walter, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson II, and Johnny Winter, it completely turned him around as he obsessed to learn about the blues. Phil is the band leader handling all lead vocals and plays harmonica. Guitarist Oscar LaDel, cited as “imported from the land of the Long White Cloud” (New Zealand) similarly grew up listening to the blues and is also a vocalist and blues harp player, but adds neither of these capabilities to the current album. Oscar has performed in Europe and the US prior to joining the Aces. The trio is completed by Will Harris, a seasoned drummer who brings a versatile style of drumming from previous bands including a jazz feel to the Aces.
The band has received accolades for their performances in Australia and are now regulars on the Melbourne music scene. They were previously nominated for Band of the Year at the 2023 Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society’s VICTAS Blues Music Awards. Phil describes their music as “the sound and fury of mid 50’s Chicago blues…concentrating on tone, timing, passion and potency. Not suitable for polite society, this is loud, brash juke joint dancing blues.”
Ten original songs kick off with “Walking Blues”, described by Phil as inspired by Hound Dog Taylor as he declares he is “gonna walk my blues away, lock it up and leave, throw my keys away” with Phil’s harmonica out in front on the song. “You Go First” kicks into a rumba beat as he addresses a failing relationship. He is “Asking for a Friend” if these blues will ever end”, that has a touch of a punk feel with Phil’s shouting vocal style.
“Can’t Hide” expresses the emotions that occurred during the COVID isolation and stuck with too much time to think. “Summertime ” is not the well-known song, but rather is a continuation of the previous song that examines the lost time that occurred during the pandemic. He notes that “my head is beating like a drum, my arms refuse to move, throwing up, my eyes itch, I can’t get in the groove, to this world I declare I ain’t no good to you, because it’s summertime and I got the blues”. “Free As Birds” tells the tale of two incompatible people trying to make it together.
“Wolf” comes out rocking with a heavy drum beat and Oscar’s guitar rolling through as he has “a howling boogie”. Bo Diddley’s “Pretty Thing” is the first cover on the album with Will’s solid beats, Phil’s harp soaring, and Oscar kicking in some tasty guitar licks. Slim Harpo’s “Hipshake” comes with a warning about language as Phil contends that Oscar and Will laid down such a musical party that he just lost his composure. Phil declares himself a “Weapon” of mass seduction” in the closing song.
Phil Coyne comes from the school of blues shouters, in the vein of Screaming Jay Hawkins or H-Bomb Ferguson. His gritty driving vocals create an intensity and fervor matched by the band’s instrumental accompaniment.
