Reverend Randy Mac – King of Clubs
Self Released
9 tracks
Reverend Randy Mac started playing in his first garage band in Michigan in 1962. Playing with a host of friends in a number of bands, he honed his skills and love of music that began with him messing with his dad’s resonator. After a career starting and running his own business, he feels this album is the culmination of his love for music. He’s played with most of the guys in his band for over fifty years. He apparently wrote a lot of country tunes in his time after his Detroit garage rock era, but here we have a return to that old sound where rock blasted off from the blues in the Motor City.
Randy leads the band on guitar and bass. On vocals is Richard Fidge. Timothy Sears plays drums and Neil Barbu is on organ; Neil unfortunately passed away before the album was released. Kim Lange handles the backing vocals on the opener. Dennis Orris is on piano and Eric Noffz plays the sax. Randy wrote all the songs here, too.
“No Running From The Blues” is a hot, rocking cut that gets the album off the ground. It’s a big number and gets the blood flowing. “Where Are You Tonight” continues to rock things out. Joe Bonamossa makes a guest appearance and adds his guitar to the mix and the horn/sax work makes a nice addition here. “Have A Good Time” take the pace down several notches with a pretty acoustic intro but then switches rapidly to a rocking, electrical blowout. More good fun with Randy and the band rocking out once again. Next is “Not Good Enough” is another bouncing and jumping cut that has some cool barrelhouse piano along with the big guitar sound and strident vocals. “So Mean” follows, another rocking blues cut with passionate vocals and strident guitar.
“Until You” comes next, a big blues anthem ballad. Scorching guitar and hot vocals are the order of the day. Lap steel is added to the mix by Randy on “Are You Ready,” another big blues rocker. “Fools Paradise” continues the trek through the album with more high powered stuff. Here we get some organ to brighten up the mix in a very up tempo and rocking cut. “The Devil” begins with some Robert Plant like vocal histrionics. It’s a wild one as Fidge lets it all hang out. The horns return and play a big part as do Mac and his guitar pedals.
There is not a lot of what blues lovers would call blues here, but if you are looking for blues rock that leans far more towards rock then blues then this one’s for you. All nine of the original cuts are high powered and delivered in a “take no prisoners” approach. If you want new rocking blues rock, then check this one out.
