Piper & The Hard Times – Good Company
Hard Times Records -2025
12 tracks; 53 minutes
Following their win at the 2024 IBC’s and their debut album, Revelation, Piper & The Hard Times now deliver twelve new tracks that blend rock, soul, funk and blues. Everything you hear is original, guitarist Steve Eagon having a hand in every song, vocalist Al ‘Piper’ Green contributing to eight and drummer Dave Colella to two. This is a fun band to see live and they show that side of their character by each having a nickname to go alongside Piper’s: Steve ‘The Conductor’ Eagon is described as the “Chief Riff Officer”, drummer Dave ‘Sexy Boy’ Colella is the “Chief Rhythm Officer”, bassist Parker ‘Porkchop Funstick’ Hawkins is the “Chief Groove Officer” and keyboard player Amy ‘The Professor’ Frederick is the “Chief Soul Officer”! Also contributing to proceedings are the “Good Company Consultants”, Eddie Meyer and Charlie DiPuma, sax on four cuts, John ‘Hotfingers’ Wallum, organ on two, Lisa Oliver-Gray and Etta Britt adding background vocals throughout.
The album sets off with a bang with the title track “Good Company” which rockets along over pounding drums, driving piano and a great guitar riff, Piper’s vocals excellent. The next two tracks add sax to the blend: “Now I’m Loving You” a confession about giving up late nights and booze for a good woman, played over naggingly catchy funk guitar with sax featured throughout; “Tear It Down” has both sax men on board as the band hits a soulful stride on a song that could be deemed political: “Anyone can be a clown, no one wears the crown”. Piper struts over fuzz guitar in his “Cowboy Gucci” before “In The Meantime” slows things down a little with plenty of keyboard work and another strong riff from Steve who goes on to add a fine solo.
“Turn The Tables” is a short track that acts as a mid-album interlude, opening with gentle guitar and just Piper’s clear and soulful vocal in which he makes clear that he will not get caught out by his girl’s behavior. The band is invited by Piper to “clock in” and responds with a busy performance on “Runaround Man”, propelled by Dave’s drums and organ stabs from Amy; hard to stay still to this one! We get back to soulful blues on “Cheatin’s Gotta End” and Piper is on top form again as he admonishes a straying lover and Steve adds a striking solo to fit the anguished mood of the song. We then get two songs written solely by Steve: an infectious groove sits under Piper who is clearly fed up with being the person everyone confides in and asks them to “Keep It To Yourself”; the funky “Not Your Fault” has more sax, this time it’s Piper who has made the mistakes. Piper invites people to “My Place” on another funky tune with good backing vocals – “hang out with me…listening to the blues”. Piper starts the last track with a spoken reminiscence about his childhood before the band comes in on “Those Days”, a joyous eight minutes of all that is best with this band as they blend gospel, soul and blues to tremendous effect.
This is an excellent sophomore album from the band, recorded on home turf in Tennessee in March/April 2025. Sadly, in June 2025 they were hit by the devastating news that Piper had cancer and the band curtailed live performances while he recovers. However, I note from their website that they do have dates scheduled in the fall, so let’s hope that signals a successful recovery for the frontman. Long may they continue to make fine music.
