Music
The Liz Lannon Band at the Blue Train
By Jay Miller
About a decade ago, Sharon resident Liz Lannon answered a classified ad from
a blues band seeking a vocalist. Within two years of her audition, it was the
Liz Lannon Band. If that sounds like an overnight success story, the reality
is much more of a tale of perseverance and slow progress in a tough business.
But last year the quintet released a debut album, " Blues Party" on
Boston's Black Rose Records, and the band is becoming a favorite on the local
circiut. Saturday night, the Lannon Band played at the Blue Train, the six month-old
club accross from the Stoughton train station, and the late sets were an apt
display of their mastery of classic Chicago Blues styles.
Sharon's Stu Barer also sat in with his harmonica, adding some tasty and not
obtrusive accents. Boston's Phil Lorenzo played drums with Lannon and Kenny
Krumbholz of Stoughton is on bass, with Peabody's Silvertone Steve on guitar.
This is a group that knows the blues, and particularly the classic Chicago form,
as Krumbholtz and Silvertone Steve played in the New Hawks, backing the legendary
J. B. Hutto before that turban-wearing dynamo died in 1983. They were part of
the Hutto band that was honored with a posthumous Grammy for his last album.
Lannon’s talents are outstanding vocal control and a subtlety not always
seen in this type of music. The quintet’s take on the old chestnut “Bring
It On Home To Me” was a midtempo, swinging blues on which Lannon’s
smoky alto smoothly rode the melody , yet added gritty emphasis here and there.
Barer’s harmonica provided a concise solo to enhance “Before You Accuse
Me” and that tight rhythm section again crafted a superbly swinging Chicago
sound.
The late set began with a rare treat, as Krumbholz sang B.B. King’s
“How Blue Can You Get?” Krumbholz didn’t try to mimic but instead
sang a vivacious, swinging take of his own. Both guitarists took solo jaunts
here, with Silvertone Steve’s a raw jolt and Vourakis’ a delicious
slice of quiet dynamics.
Silvertone Steve’s slide guitar was the focal point of “Swim
in the River” in which again Lannon’s vocal control made it sound
laid back yet evocative. She showed quite another side on the original tune
off the album. “Two Men”, Lannon sang tongue-in-cheek brisk shuffle
with a wink and a leer in her voice, and appropriate growls where needed.
The old R & B fave “Tee Ni Nee Ni Nu” again featured the two guitarists
in contrasting roles, as Silvertone Steve’s slide framed the tune with
steamy glissandos, and Vourakis played a funky solo. Somehow it sounded as if
Lannon & Co. took this tune to Memphis for a You have to cringe when someone
in the audience requests a Janis Joplin tune from a female blues singer because
that’s often a guarentee of shrill over-emoting. But Lannon avoided that
trap, choosing the lesser known “Turtle Blues” from Joplin’s
calalog and turning in a standout performance on the slow blues. There was plenty
of intensity and emotion in Lannon’s version, but she maintained her vocal
tone and clarity throughout. It was a most musical Joplin tribute, and the crowd
of about 100 responded with loud roars at the end.
The slow ballad “Sittin and Drinkin” ended the evening and
provided another glimpse of Lannon as her soulful style of singing a tad behind
the beat worked especially well on the reflective ballad.
The Lannon Band album can be found on the internet at CDBaby, or
at local stores. Black Rose is the record company that has previously released
CD’s by local stars Cub Koda, TH and the Wreckage and even Hutto himself.
Lannon, who says she loves all kinds of music, is glad she answered
that ad to join the long-ago Fogcutters. “Within two years Silvertone
Steve and I were the only original ones left, and here we are,” she said
with a laugh. “I love singing the blues because that’s where it all
it all came from.
…jazz, rock, everything. I will branch out, with some jazzy stuff
on my next CD. I also sing folk and bluegrass in my husband’s band
Married with Chitlins.”
Lannon loves the Blue Train.
Editors note: We sure did..but unfortunatly it's been sold and is no longer playin' the Blues..sigh
“This is my first time here with my own band and
this is a great room,” she said. “With acoustics this good you really
enjoy the sound, and the crowd is also really enthusiastic.”...choosing
the lesser known “Turtle Blues” from Joplin’s calalog and turning
in a standout performance on the slow blues. There was plenty of intensity and
emotion in Lannon’s version, but she maintained her vocal tone and clarity
throughout. It was a most musical Joplin tribute, and the crowd of about 100
responded with loud roars at the end.
The slow ballad “Sittin and Drinkin” ended the evening and
provided another glimpse of Lannon as her soulful style of singing a tad behind
the beat worked especially well on the reflective ballad.
The Lannon Band album can be found on the internet at CDBaby, or
at local stores. Black Rose is the record company that has previously released
CD’s by local stars Cub Koda, TH and the Wreckage and even Hutto himself.
Lannon, who says she loves all kinds of music, is glad she answered
that ad to join the long-ago Fogcutters. “Within two years Silvertone
Steve and I were the only original ones left, and here we are,” she said
with a laugh. “I love singing the blues because that’s where it all
it all came from.
…jazz, rock, everything. I will branch out, with some jazzy stuff
on my next CD. I also sing folk and bluegrass in my husband’s band
Married with Chitlins.”
Her collaboration with writing partner Silvertone Steve a.k.a. Steve Coveney
on four of the albums’s cuts are among the most innovative and convincing
while her covers of Willie Dixon, Little Walter, and James Moore display her
affinity for this vital American art form.
Highlights include the opener "Scratch Ticket", the organ induced
"Rollins", a duet with Big Bill called "Built for Comfort",
the steamy "Off Season" and the back porch inspired "Sittin’
and Drinkin’".
Blues lovers will be sufficiently satisfied with Blues Party and should add
this to their collection of local must-haves.
By Mickey O’Halloran
By Peter Cahill
Al Cocorochio had a vision back in 1980, the idea of
having a record label that his friends could release their music on without
giving up their creativity. Al, a self-described "frustrated wannabe musician
and singer," decided that his love of music had to fit into this puzzle
somewhere.
So in June of 1980, he put together his first release, "Bert Paquette and
the New Gamblers." Now he needed a name for his label. At the suggestion
of friends, he decided to name the label after Elvis’ favorite flower,
the black rose. And so Black Rose Records was launched out of his home.
Today, 21 years and 30 releases later, the grassroots label is still housed
out of his home in Saugus, Mass. The catalog includes all his favorite types
of music, blues, country, rockabilly and rock ‘n roll.
The musicians that have recorded on Black Rose are: Bert Paquette and the New
Gamblers, Cub Koda, T.H. (Tom Hambridge) and theWreckage, The New Hawks, Maynard
Silva, Silvertone Steve, Big Bill (Rauworth), Liz Lannon, BRMC (Boston Rockabilly
Music Conspiracy), Bobby Fosimire, Cold Cold Heart, Preacher Jack, Elijah Wald,
Frank O’Brien, Brewer Phillips, Apache, Brenda and the New Hawks, and Eric
and the Hawks.
Al recently helped bring Jimmy D. Lane, son of the late great Jimmy Rogers,
to town to record with legendary drummer Ted Harney. They recorded in the studio
and also did a live recording at Johnny D’s.
He is also talking about producing a CD with The Wildcats (he says he loves
Faye Shugrue’s vocals) and a project with Parker Wheeler and Fly Amero
from the Sunday Night Blues at the Grog in Newburyport, Mass.
The only prerequisite to recording on Black Rose – Al has to like the material.
It’s a pretty simple formula in a world of red tape and disappointments
from the larger labels. No wonder why musicians are seeking out Al and Black
Rose for their releases.
Last year Black Rose released "20 Years of Black
Rose (Vol. 1)", which really gives a great overview of the diversity
of the Black Rose family. The release coincided with the Black Rose 20th Anniversary
party held last June at Johnny D’s. most of the musicians that are on
the label performed to a packed house.
After four solid hours of music, I had to leave the club to be up for work
that morning, but I heard that the music kept going until dawn.
Off the Wire
I play a number of her tunes (at different times) on my radio show in Northhampton and I understand that if you listen to WZLX, they play one of her tunes in rotation and you can catch her on WGBH and Holly Harris’ show on WBOS on Sundays. With this kind of support, and all sorts of talent for songwriting and performing, you’ll be hearing a lot more from The Liz Lannon Band. Blues singer Liz Lannon has teamed up with some Boston blues vets on a new album called Blues Party on the Black Rose label. Musicians Silvertone Steve, Big Bill Rauworth, Ken Clark, David Champagne, Jim Fitting and others help Liz on this testament to the blues. She collaborates with Steve Coveney a.k.a. Silvertone Steve on four of the album’s cuts and proves that not only is she a good singer, but a good songwriter as well. Watch for Liz and the boys to be playing out in support of the new album.
Featured artists were Big Bill, Liz Lannon, Kenny "the K" Krumbholz, "Silvertone" Steve, Leroy Pina, and Diane Gately.
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