BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS

Black Beehive

Shout! Factory

By Geoff Trubow

Now in their 25^th year of recording, Big Head Todd and the Monsters have released their 11^th studio album, Black Beehive.  The music isn’t as steeped in traditional blues as their previous release, Big Head Blues Club (which is not surprising as it was a straight up tribute to Robert Johnson), yet it still reflects the blues and Chicago in particular, right down to the album’s cover art by local icon Tony Fitzpatrick. 

The band still consists of original members, Todd Park Mohr on vocals and guitar, along with the strong and tight rhythm section of Rob Squires on bass and Brian Nevin on drums.  Jeremy Lawton, who joined the band in 2004, handles the keyboard duties and they are joined by frequent collaborator and Chicago native, Ronnie Baker Brooks on guitar. 

Recorded in Chicago at Butcher Boy Studios, Black Beehive was produced by Steve Jordan, who also contributes backup vocals, drums, percussion and rhythm guitar. Jordan co-produced and played on both of Keith Richards’ solo albums and contributed his signature drums with Keith’s touring band.  He was also part of the John Mayer Trio and has collaborated with the likes of Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton.

Nevin kicks things off on “Hey Delila,” written about Memphis Minnie.  Minnie settled in Chicago in the early Thirties and recorded here for several years.  The band achieves a dirty groove augmented by Squires’ bass and a whiplash organ solo from Lawton, while Mohr reminds us that Minnie even taught Elvis “how to shake and moan”.

The album’s title track is a soft, poignant electric piano driven tribute to the tragically departed Amy Winehouse.  Mohr plays some delicate guitar as he laments her joining the equally tragic “27” club while tenderly conveying “You cheated yourself but you had your reasons.” 

Another tribute, much more in the blues vein, comes in the form of “Hubert’s Dream”.  The shuffling number is a munificent call out to the late, great guitarist, Hubert Sumlin.  Sumlin was one of the guests on the Big Head Blues Club recording and concert tour not long before his death in 2011.  Although Sumlin was born in Mississippi and died in New Jersey, the song states concretely, “Chicago always gonna be your home”.  It closes with a sax solo by Eddie Shaw, who like Sumlin, was a member of Howlin' Wolf’s band and would take over the Wolf Gang Band after the Wolf’s death in 1976.

“Hubert’s Dream” is followed appropriately by “I Get Smooth”.  The Monsters are in full blues mode both musically and lyrically with some echoes of Muddy Waters’ version of “I’m Ready”.  They keep this feel brimming with “Travelin’ Light”.  Eddie Shaw appears again, now playing harp on this laid back, somewhat country song with Lawton adding some pedal steel guitar.  

Big Head Todd and the Monsters have covered a considerable amount of musical ground over their quarter century of recording.  Although they were never considered a blues band and really are not one to be covered by that label, it is evident that much of their roots are planted in that music.  With Big Head Blues Club and now Black Beehive, the band continues to journey towards home.

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