Pistol Pete Wearn – Service Station Coffee
Footstomping Records
12 songs time-36:49
After making a name for himself on the live blues circuit for several years both as a solo artist and as the frontman of the electric band .44 Pistol, Englishman Pistol Pete Wearn delivers his first full length CD of original material as well as reinterpretations of blues classics. In possession of a classic English blues voice along with being adept on acoustic and electric guitars and harmonica, Pete presents an eclectic blend of blues while employing an able crew of accompanying musicians. His weapon of choice is often slide guitar that is complimented by varying instrumentation that often includes banjo, violin and keyboards. The music here is at once raw and urgent. The rough edges reinforce the blues vibe. A sense of realness is achieved via the music and Pete’s unbridled voice. His music is as true as it gets.
Blues meets Jack White with echoed vocals and distorted electric slide on “Money Lenders In The Temple” as its’ insistent beat nicely beats the listener on the noggin. Slide guitar mimics his vocal delivery on “When I Lay My Burden Down” over an organ drone and subtle violin. The old blues warhorse “Rollin & Tumblin” features acoustic slide, Dan Walsh on banjo and what sounds like foot tapping for percussion. The stark solo acoustic guitar piece “Excuse Me” is about the coziness of Pete’s favorite pub.
A variety of instrumentation (violin, banjo, piano, harmonica, guitar, female backing vocals) is utilized as it weaves in and out on “Eight Miles From Stafford” a tale about Pete’s journey to his home town and where the CD’s title is taken from a lyric. Distorted electric guitar is the sole support on a chilling “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”. The solo approach is also used on the original “When The Sun Goes Down”, this time it is acoustic slide. His down home slide here makes you wanna call yer hound dog.
A rousing version of “Jesus On The Mainline” finds banjo out front with acoustic slide and female backing vocals close behind. The original “I Just Can’t Keep From Crying” is only accompanied by acoustic slide and foot stomping. It briefly quotes from Son House’s “Don’t You Mind People Grinnin’ In Your Face”. Acoustic slide, violin and foot stomping propel “Just Another Sinner”. An old timey string band feel is approximated via banjo, violin, harmonica and acoustic guitar interplay on “Sitting On A Station”. The proceedings finish with a vocal accompanied by harmonica and foot tap on “Police & High Sheriff”, replicating Pete’s raw solo sound to a “T”.
The guy surely has “IT”. “IT” being a love and pure feel for the blues in his presentation. The atmosphere brings you down home even if you have never been there. Not in a museum piece sense, but in the way he along with his musicians meld the old with new sensibilities. I can be a bit of a blues purist as times and this stuff right here suits me and hopefully you just fine.