ELVIN BISHOP’S RAISIN’ HELL REVUE

Live on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise

Delta Groove Music

By Dawn O’Keefe Williams

The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise is a floating blues festival and nonstop party featuring super groups and revues, the likes of which you wouldn’t get to see performing on dry land.  The 2010 cruise was no exception and happily the tapes were rolling for Elvin Bishop’s Raisin’ Hell Revue featuring his musical buddies who happen to be blues/R&B dignitaries in their own right.

On board and raisin’ heck with Mr. B. are: vocalist and harp player John Nemeth courtesy of Blind Pig Records, Finis Tasby a powerhouse blues vocalist, saxophonist Terry Hanck also from Delta Groove Records, Kid Andersen on guitar and drummer/singer Bobby Cochran.

Guitar veteran Bishop, who is a living legend, has a rich history in blues.  When he came to Chicago to attend college at the University of Chicago he was taken under the wing of Little Smokey Smothers.  It was there Bishop got to know the blues he longed to play and met Paul Butterfield who was of like mind.  Soon Elvin was the co-founder of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in the ‘60s forging the way for white blues bands.  Elvin’s unique style of intertwining guitars with Mike Bloomfield was a sound that later paved the way for the Allman Brothers.  It’s a sound that you will hear on several cuts by the Raisin’ Hell Revue.

The CD starts with a rocking beat spiced with a Cajun flavor, courtesy of Steve Willis’ accordion and a cowbell, on “Callin’ All Cows”.  As typical with Bishop, he is rarely the performer who claims the sole spotlight.  His signature is having others sing with or for him.  He also is known for playing guitar alongside other guitarists, but his style and musicianship puts him subtly up front despite his generosity of the spotlight.  “Callin’ All Cows” has Elvin and several band mates singing in unison which gives it a party feel that sets the groove.  He also shares his slide guitar duties with Bob Welsh and has Kid Andersen playing the solo. 

Finis Tasby shines as a vocalist on several cuts. “Whole Lotta Lovin’” is a smooth shuffle where Elvin and Kid Andersen trade solos.  You can feel the energy and almost imagine the two of them on stage performing together.  Tasby is great in “What The Hell Is Goin’ On” an earthy Delta number and “Down in Virginia” featuring Elvin’s slide guitar style.  “River’s Invitation,” a rumba that mixes the instruments in a subtle yet smooth blend including horns and keys, allows Tasby’s vocals to stand out.

Vocalist John Nemeth delivers a powerful rendition of Bishop’s smash hit from 1976, “Fooled Around and Fell in Love”, the song that catapulted Elvin to crossover fame in both the blues and pop/rock world.  Nemeth’s tenor voice hits the high notes, keeping the rhythmic groove as the background vocalists stay tight and clear.  Nemeth then demonstrates his grittier side on the R&B cover of “The Night Time Is The Right Time” with Bishop playing solo.  It heats up with John and back up vocalist Lisa Leu singing back and forth as Elvin’s solos weave in and around them.  Nemeth, also a talented harp blower, shows his prowess as a musician as he plays some nice fills on “Down In Virginia”.

R&B track “Cryin’ Fool” features Terry Hanck’s soulful tenor sax and vocals. Elvin again shares the spotlight, performing a tasteful slide guitar solo that still allows Hanck to be up front.

Elvin gives us a taste of being in the audience as he talks about hanging out with Albert “I Ain’t Drunk, I’m Just Drinkin’” Collins and the misadventures they shared together.  As he plays quietly the “Dyin’ Flu” song while talking to the audience, Ruth Davies on bass holds it all together with the band following the solid bass lines. 

The variety on Raisin’ Hell Revue keeps you entertained as they go to jump blues such as “Tore Up Over You” to a slow blues classic, “It Hurts Me Too” and “Bye Bye Baby,” a song that Nemeth gets the audience to sing along with him.

One of the best cuts is “Rock My Soul” which starts out strong as Elvin and Bobby Cochran sing lead, along with back up vocalists giving it a full sound.  The guitars weave throughout the tune allowing Elvin’s musicianship on the guitar to show through.  One of the things that make this song interesting is the arrangement. The beat changes in the middle, going a little faster and making it rock with three guitarists -- Elvin, Kid Andersen and Bob Welsh -- sharing the solos, along with Nemeth on the harp.  This is true ear candy and really gets you rockin’!

Raisin’ Hell Revue is worth listening to as it provides variety that is tastefully performed by some of Bishop’s noteworthy friends. The performers and songs are almost a blues history within itself. Elvin Bishop is raisin’ hell in his own subtle, yet outstanding, way. You gotta check it out.

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