Rob Moore “The Wild Boar” – Chicago Dog
Self Released
11 tracks/50 minutes
Rob Moore has 5 decades as a blues man under his belt. His second album is offered up here and it’s, well, interesting.
He’s a humorist with his lyrics and delivery. His songs are often funny and his delivery is different. I guess that’s a nice way of putting it. He hoots and howls and sings off key and goes all over the place vocally. I guess that’s just him.
Moore plays lead guitar and handles lead vocals. Vince Salerno is stellar on sax and harp. Ron Yanes adds trumpet and arranged the horns. Thomas Linsk is a masterful keyboardist. Thomas Klein adds rhythm and slide and does the second solo on the next to last cut. On bass is Harlan Terson who is always solid. Gerry Barry adds bass on three cuts, too. Drum duties are shared by Mike Shlick, “Legendary Merle Perkins and Greg Rockingham. Shay Jones and Alicia ‘Ya Ya’ Townsend are the two outstanding female backing vocalists. On the last cut are Michael Fiorino on bass and Chuck Swartz on drums.
The title track begins the album. Moore sings and Salerno plays some cool sax. Blow that horn, Vince! There’s a nice guitar solo, too, and slick trumpet and added vocals by Haynes. Fun lyrics, a bit uneven vocal delivery, which I guess is his schtick. Next is “Cloverleaf Blues” with some good piano and guitar work. The vocals remain uneven and off key, but I guess they are somewhat loveable and part of Moore’s MO. The vibrant sax solo is the song’s high point. “Dogs Everywhere” is a really funny cut with cool backing vocals and piano, guitar and harp, too.
“If I Could Buy” opens with nice guitar riffs. The horns are solid, the organ is a nice layer to the mix and Moore again yucks it up on the vocals. The guitar is quite good as it solos here. Next up is “If I Could Buy.” The organ gets it all rolling and then Moore comes in which his foghorn of a voice as he talks about what he could purchase and then afford to buy. Salerno kills it on sax again and another fine guitar solo are presented to enjoy. “I’m A Legend” opens with some cool harp and Moore comes in describing why he’s a legend in a lighthearted manner. The female backing vocalists return for good support. Great harp and guitar are the highlights here. “One More Ride” is another humorous track. Jazzy horns, restrained guitar, and a neat piano solo are this song’s top points.
The lone cover is “T-Bone Shuffle” and the band delivers some great stuff. Moore remains obtuse in his vocal delivery, but all else is top notch. The piano accompaniment to his singing and the guitar solo riffs are quite nice. The sax solo work is also great. Next is “I Paid Your Wife” which one can imagine is funny as all hell. Moore tells someone he paid his wife to spend time with him for a good time. A pretty guitar solo and piano accompaniment and harp support make for a fun ride. “Mustard” follows. The organ and horns open the cut which lead to a prolonged guitar solo. Then it’s time for the sax which shines next. The guitar then comes up front before all take us home, a very cool instrumental. “Mr. Grumplestein” is a bonus track that concludes the set. Moore growls and groans as he again sings with humor about being a grumpy guy before his coffee. Interesting, to say the least. The band offers jazzy support as Moore delivers a final odd ball performance. We get a cool piano solo mid cut which was pretty darn good.
Once you get by the oddball vocals it’s an interesting album. Musically, the band is excellent. It’s not my cup of tea, but perhaps others who are Moore fans will love his approach.
