Reviews

From the churning opener Road Fever to the burning closer Stop, Drop And Roll this is high-energy blues all the way from the one-time guitarist for southern rockers Black Oak Arkansas - even the quieter numbers have a rich, full, BIG sound, courtesy of the production by the renowned Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughn, Luther Allison, and a whole host of others). Vocalist Larry Samford is as tough or tender as each song requires, the rhythm section kicks, laying down attractive, relentlessly grooving rhythms and Rocky can come over all over Albert King on a song such as Last Of  The Blues, produce some suitably spooky playing on the title track or just blast away on the likes of Aint No Doubt.

Most definitely one for those moments when you want to throw your head back, holler out loud and just groove along to some good timin, hard rockin blues.

- Norman Darwen
http://www.bluesartstudio.at/NeueSeiten/2005CD02.html

 

Miracle

Todd Seely - The Fuze

Good things come to those who wait.  Well, Rocky Athas has been waiting a long time.  He’s seen friends like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Eric Johnson move on up to the big leagues, while he himself has sustained near-misses with his legendary Texas band Lightning and a trying tenure with Jim Dandy’s Black Oak Arkansas .  This CD is the ‘Miracle’ Rocky’s been waiting for.  Rooted back in 2001, the songs were honed in the recording studio with ace Santana/Steve Miller Band producer Jim Gaines.  With Gaines in their corner, Rocky and his band laid down a confident collection of Southern-rocking blues numbers.  Vocalist Larry Samford elicits a calm cool as he sings, much in the way that Paul Rodgers or (Robin Trower vocalist) James Dewar do.  His smoky timbre is most at home on a song like “Bluesville”, and scuffs up songs like “Slow Driver” and “Wish I Could Be That Strong” quite nicely.  There are covers by Gary Moore and Tommy Bolin included, and “That Was Then, This Is Now” seems to invoke the spirit of the Dickey Betts-era Allman Brothers.  Although Rocky Athas is easily in the same league as those other artists, his bank account doesn’t agree.  But with a ‘Miracle’, all that should change.

Pete Sargeant - Blues Matters!

Thanks to Dorset label Armadillo for this release, on which guitar hotshot Rocky Athas, a Texas veteran and onetime lead player for Black Oak Arkansas and co writer with Glenn Hughes and Tommy Bolin presents 14 high-quality performances which most of the time reach the high standard set by the contemporary Juicy Lucy recordings which feature our own Paul Williams. In no small measure this is due to not only the band's superb playing but the exceptionally warm and soulful singing of featured vocalist Larry Samford.  Samford is a convincing and authoritative performer and his every phrase on this CD is not only just right but comfortably restrained and never shouty.  You just won't tire of this man's singing, I assure you.

Clearly then guitarist Athas is no egomaniac, he just wants to make the best record he can, cutting loose with pinched harmonics of the Billy Gibbons persuasion on 'You Move Me', flicking out Hendrixian runs on subtle opener 'Miracle' and stomping through Savoy Brown territory on 'Long Run', which benefits from exemplary organ playing. You wonder how this record sounds so good, then you notice that the Producer is one Jim Gaines - OK that explains a lot. Gaines is not one to bother with substandard projects and he gets the best out this lineup with absolutely no gimmicks.

My own favourites are 'That Was Then' which is a Southern Rock gem once again lifted by an assured vocal from Larry Samford and wistful clean guitar lines. If you're going to play traditional guitar music, THIS is how to do it. The song called 'I Love You' is as exhilarating as its title is cliched and a raked guitar arpeggio over the changes gives it an extra bite and class. 'Slow Driver' is worthy of a Splinter Group version, a great moody song with a menacing build-up with a Bad Company tinge.

In summary : a superb guitarist in fine company



Buddy Miles 'Berries' the Past - BluesWax - Todd Seely

The life of Buddy Miles has seen more ups and downs than... but he is back riding high with his new release 'Blues Berries'. The disc is a return to the rock, funk and soul stew that Buddy is famous for. Recent efforts like 'Miles Away From Home' strayed a little too far away from the blues, but 'Blues Berries' finds Buddy with his irons firmly in the fire. Sneaking up on you, right out of the starting gate, is a funk-infused version of "Tobacco Road". This will apparently not be any standard 12-bar blues and shuffle exercise, as the rest of the album proceeds to prove. By
the time Buddy reaches the end of the nine-and-a-half minute emotional marathon that is "Compassion For The Blues", he'll have everyone reaching for a Kleenex and crying in their beer. He also struts out two of the latest loves of his life, "Big Mama" and "Miss Suga' Fine". The ladies carry a lot of weight, "Miss Suga' Fine" being the heavier of the two.  There's also a taste of Louisiana in "Bayou Delta" and an acoustic stopover, where Buddy and his gang pay a visit "Down At The Crossroads".  Buddy's gang, by the way, includes some old friends to this listener's ears. First off, there's Rocky Athas. A legend in Blues-rock circles, Rocky is the
perfect foil to Buddy's Funk and Soul tendencies. Much like baseball's great "Babe" Ruth, Rocky seems able to take aim with his Strat, then swat riffs and licks at will.  Holding down the beat with Buddy is Chris Layton.  Are these two gentlemen playing drums or pounding tent stakes into the
ground? The drums are that powerful. Flying below the radar are bassists Tommy Shannon and Robert Ware, laying a throbbing foundation for the others.  Layton and Shannon, remember, are better known as Double Trouble. They prove that here, kicking dirt and attitude around over the course of these songs. Tying the whole package together is the B-3 keyboard tapestry that
Mark Leach weaves in and around the songs. In the end, it all boils down to a great album from a band of gypsys, if you will. They're all at the top of their game, and they have met at a crossroads, where the Blues Berries grow plump and sweet. Stop. Sit a spell. Have a taste.

The Music Scene - Bob Cianci

Buddy Miles, The Blues Berries featuring Rocky Athas, Ruf Records

Big, bad Buddy Miles is a survivor and he’s back stronger than ever with a new band, co-fronted with Texas guitar ace Rocky Athas, a former member of Black Oak Arkansas . The music showcases Miles’ always-soulful vocals and Athas’s expressive, melodic and passionate guitar. Also appearing is the Double Trouble rhythm section-bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton, perhaps the tightest twosome working in blues/rock today. The material is generally strong as well, making The Blues Berries a worthy effort. www.bluesberries.com

Sonny - Rock & Metal Heaven (translated from German to English)

For over 30 years Blues is skirt heavyweight BUDDY MILES (ex-JIMI HENDRIX/SANTANA) in the business and during this time, beside a half dozen of world tours, on more than 40 albums already participated. Now that sends meanwhile 57jaehrige singer, schlagzeuger and guitarist with "Blues Berries" its youngest baby into running. In co-operation with the exception guitarist Rocky Athos and a convincing rhythm parliamentary group (Tommy Shannon/bass & Chris Layton/Drums) - as well as with key man Mark of Leach - it brought a Blues in skirt disk, which might look for a resembling in the today's time their. On "Blues Berries" really lines up a Blues bead to the next. - is it cool the groovende Opener "Tobacco Road", the swingende "Big mummy" or mega+ Schleicher "Compassion For The Blues" (a number for powerfully goose skin to provide might). As further highlights urge "Live Is What" (ingenious Soul number), that of Reggae Feeling surrounded "Come on bake yourself" and the full-time Blueser "skirt and roll" (in parts "Ride on" reminds) of AC/DC's. Result: With "Blues Berries" acknowledges Buddy Miles more than impressively, because it unites - like rarely another - Blues, Soul and skirt to an incomparable experience. BUDDY MILES is a living legend. It remains finally only hoping that the master errs also times again after good old Germany.

CD Review 'That's What I Know' - Athas' Solo instrumental CD

Rocky packs a short 34 minutes tightly with instrumental rock guitar gems that take you back to Beck (Jeff; who else?) with a smile around your pants. Joined by a pretty suave backing band, the opening 'Think About It' blends so smoothly into 'D Boogie' that you might not notice the switch until you look at the track number on the CD player.

'On The Move' is a great bass-heavy tune that jumps out at you from the darkness straight onto the street. It's a traveler's instrumental for midnight and the wee hours, either coming back from work, or cruising the streets for chicks and late night flicks. Over 4 minutes, it sends me. Jazz oriented, minimal room for loudness, no patience for lead guitar hooks that don't hold to the bathroom door. Solid.

'Rock Funk' is self-explanatory. The guitar doesn't do enough busy work to keep you up too late. Rocky's style of fun-fingering playing is like a contained Jimi Hendrix at times, thankfully never playing with his teeth or neither regions. Just a grand occasion for furthering the glory of the guitar.

Except maybe for 'Run Children Run', which is like the ballad on a guitar-rock guy's album, a piano thing that builds a little slowly, but gets to the electro-strings eventually. A cool down after the long fight.

I could do with twice the tracks. Great CD for playing when you don't know which mood you're trying to feel. Had a tough day, a great day, a sex-filled, stoned, wasted day? No need to choose your personality. Switch on a half hour of Rocky and let him pick.