2BLU & The Lucky Stiffs - Goin' Fishin'

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2009
Time: 47:23
Size: 109,1 MB
Label: Self Released
Styles: Blues/Christian Blues / Gospel Blues
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Goin' Fishin - 5:51
 2. Your Love Is Enough - 4:21
 3. Walk In Peace - 5:13
 4. Dead Mans Blues - 3:36
 5. My Babe - 6:23
 6. Memphis - 2:58
 7. Key To the Highway - 2:50
 8. Baby Why Ya Wanna Let Go - 3:30
 9. Crossroads - 3:10
10. Way Down In A Hole - 4:13
11. Soul Light - 5:13

If you like your blues mixed with touches of jazz, funk, and gospel, then local favorites 2Blu & The Lucky Stiffs have just the thing for you. Goin’ Fishin’, the band’s most recent release, is a collection of 11 tracks that showcases the band’s topnotch musicianship and versatility. The band (consisting of Bruce Andrews on harmonica and vocals; Dave Gowens on percussion; James Dudley on drums;
George Dudley on guitar and vocals; and Jack Dudley on bass and vocals) recorded the album live in studio and released the album in 2010. The title track opens the CD with a strong dose of lap steel guitar and harmonica, and the song provides a preview of what the rest of the album holds in store. The swampy feel of “Goin’ Fishin’”, combined with Andrews’ vocals, make the listener want to grab a pole and take a day off from work to get a line wet. The band also professes a strong Christian faith, and expresses it in several songs. “Your Love Is Enough” has an old-style gospel feel to it, and brings forth images of a tent meeting revival. With the next track, “Walk In Peace”, the band shows its funky side, thanks to Dave Gowens’ hand percussion and James Dudley’s steady drumming. The
band even channels some harder rock and attitude in this number, and the jam that moves the song into the bridge is excellent. “Dead Man’s Blues” slows things down a little with its wonderful acoustic guitar opening, and with its theme of salvation offers a true gospel feel. While most of the songs on the album are originals, 2Blu & The Lucky Stiffs aren’t afraid to take a traditional blues piece and make it their own. “Glad I Found You / My Babe” has bassist Jack Dudley putting out a grunting rhythm while George Dudley provides a swinging guitar that gives Andrews a great backdrop for his vocals. The band created an excellent arrangement for Willie Dixon’s words, and it is in this song where the band’s showmanship shines. The band stays with more traditional blues with their cover of “Memphis”. Again, George Dudley’s guitar work provides a great interplay with Andrews’ harmonica. The band’s version is clean, but would feel right at home played at a juke joint. A rendition of “Big Bill” Broonzy’s “Key To The Highway” moves the band in a more jazzy direction, mainly because  of Jack Dudley’s fretless bass playing. Again, Andrews’ vocals are strong and evocative; when he sings “give me one more kiss, baby,” the listener knows that there won’t be another ever. Jimmy Reed’s “Baby Why You Wanna Let Go” is a pleading, visceral lament, with a roadhouse blues feel and a growling guitar line. In the same roadhouse vein, “Crossroads Revisited” could almost be early ZZ Top — but with the addition of gutsy harmonica and better percussion.
The band returns to a more jazz-influenced blues on the final two tracks of the album. Their cover of Tom Waits’ “Way Down In A Hole” features more fretless bass and clean guitar  lines. “Soul Light”, the closing song on the CD, is foot-tapping fun. All in all, Goin’ Fishin’ is an excellent piece of work by a group of incredibly talented musicians, and would make a fine addition to any blues lover’s collection. The CD is available online through CD Baby and the band’s website at 2blumusic.com.

Goin' Fishin'