Sue Foley – Live In Austin Vol.1
Guitar Woman Records
11 tracks/44 minutes
Sue Foley is a guitar goddess. She has been at her craft since age 13. She began the major part of her career touring her native Canada and North America with Mark Hummel, but it was Clifford Antone who owned the famed club in Austin that probably put Sue on the map. He saw her at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis one year and he recognized true talent. She moved to Austin and recorded her first record there in 1992 entitled Young Girl Blues. That was the impetus for her amazing career, and here three decades later she’s still at the top of the game creating fantastic music.
On the album are Sue on guitar and vocals, John Penner on bass, Corey Keller on drums, Derek O’Brien on guitar, Angela Miller on backing vocals and tambourine, and Lauren Cervantes on backing vocals. Three originals to begin the album and one later in the set along with a half dozen tasty covers make up the album. The music was recorded live at the Continental Club in Austin this past June.
After her introduction, Foley songs and plays in her highly charged manner on “New Used Car” from her album of the same name. It’s a great kick off with Foley laying our some mean licks. “Walkin’ Home” from Young Girl Blues is next. She sings with passion and lays out a great groove while playing some mean licks. “Highwayside” from Ten Days in November slows things down a bit. Foley again sings with her unique style with cool backing and plays more great guitar.
She makes Willie Dixon’s “Howlin’ For My Darlin’” into her own with a super and emotive cover. She does the same with “Queen Bee,” making that into a great, modern Texas-styled Foley blues. “Hooked On Love (AKA Lucky Lou)” features ringing and stinging guitar, a fine rendition of this Jody Williams instrumental.
Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street” follows, giving this classic her sound and feel. Well done! “Me And My Chauffeur Blues” gets a howling and rousing cover here by Foley. “Better” from Walk In The Sun is next, a slick shuffle with more vibrant guitar licks. The album concludes with “High Roller,” a Cheap Trick cut she plays often and has recorded. She and the backing vocalists sing with great feeling and the cut gets a nice and sultry re-work.
This is a cool live set and since it’s Volume 1 I expect to see and hear more from Foley. It’s a great little album that showcases her outstanding skills. Foley’s fans with love this as should any blues rock lover. Few can handle an electric guitar as Sue can and this is well worth many a listen!