HANK MOWERY

Excuses Plenty

 Blue Bella Records (BBCD 1020) 

1. Anna Lee, 3:10

2. I Don’t Want To Know, 3:39

3. Excuses Plenty, 4:43

4. Walk With Me, 4:08

5. One and Only, 2:47

6. Little Bit Of Rhythm, 3:12

7. Cry For Me, 2:30

8. Would You Still Love Me On A Rainy Day, 4:24

9. Telephone Is Ringing, 4:30

10. I’m So Glad, 1:43

Total Time:  34:76

Liner notes:  Bill Dahl

By Pierre Lacocque

          Don’t let the short length of this CD disappoint you. The 10 songs presented here are fresh and delightful to listen to. Michigan’s Hank Mowery sings his heart out, and his harp work is tasty and wonderful.

          The core band on this outing is made of Troy Amaro on guitar, Chris Corey on keys, Patrick Recob on bass, John Large on drums, and Hank Mowery on lead vocals and harp. The song arrangements are clever. So are the lyrics; seven of the 10 songs were written or co-written by bandleader Hank Mowery. These are varied and they keep the listener hooked: from rockabilly, R & B, to blues-roots music, with a few ballads in between. These different musical genres keep coming without effort. I could also detect a 1950s Elvis Presley-style (“Little Bit Of Rhythm”); and even a tinge of the Rolling Stones or Creedence Clearwater Revival (“Cry For Me”). “The music is new…the feel is classic” is the band’s motto hanging on their website page. Indeed, you feel at home listening to this blues-roots band, and yet are presented with fresh musical interpretations.

          You can tell that Excuses Plenty inspired the protagonists. The addition of guests (12 of them!) do not interfere in the least with the musical sound and flow. They integrate themselves seamlessly into the core band’s sound.  Besides, these guests are no strangers to Hank Mowery as he traveled and/or performed with them in the past (such as with Mike Morgan, appearing here on two tracks; or with Doug Deming, appearing on two tracks as well). Some of the other distinguished guests are Larry Taylor on bass (three tracks), and harp master Dennis Gruenling doing what he does best -- playing his baritone harmonica on “Would You Still Love Me On a Rainy Day,” as well as trading harp solos with Mowery on a West Coast swing-shuffle penned by William Clarke (“Telephone Is Ringing”).

          Mowery has a unique harp style. As he said in a recent interview, “When I write, I don’t sit down and try to write ‘blues’ music. I take ideas that are presented to me through my experience and observations and I put them to music. It tends to come out with a ‘blues’ feel because I enjoy the genre, but it could easily come out as a soul, R&B or country tune if that what makes sense.”  (From a 2014 interview with Michalis Limnios, blues@greece, October 28th)

          And indeed it is what you hear on this CD. Mowery’s singing and harmonica playing fit his music like a glove. Sometimes the harp playing is sparse, even non-existent as on “I Don’t Know” or on “Cry For Me”.  Sometimes it is up-front and center as in the opening rock ’n’ roll tune “Anna Lee” (an up-tempo song that would make The Fabulous Thunderbirds and the ex-J. Geils Band proud). The rhythm section is steady as a rock. They purr behind the lead instruments. Troy Amaro on guitar and Chris Corey on keys are masters at their own instruments, adding unique voices to the originality of this band. Check for instance the B-3 work on “Little Bit Of Rhythm,” or the ethereal tremolo-reverb-echo guitar work on Skip James’ “I’m So Glad”. These cuts alone are worthy of the price of admission.

          Underlying Mowery’s playing is Gary Primich’s spirit (1958-2007). They were good friends, and Hank released a well-received CD dedicated to the harp master who died prematurely (heroin overdose). The CD is entitled Account To Me (Old Pal Records). Primich’s father, J.V. Primich, was the executive producer. The CD received the “Best Self-Produced CD” award by The Blues Foundation in 2014.

          Mowery and Primich co-wrote a song on this recording: “Would You Still Love Me On a Rainy Day”. It is a gospel-tinged ballad, with Dennis Gruenling delivering a heartfelt solo on his trademark baritone harp.  

          Besides a convincing mixing sound, the variety of musical styles and tempos on Excuses Plenty keep the listener wanting more. Hank Mowery has succeeded here, and I cannot wait to hear more from this blues-roots band. Hats off to Blue Bella records for releasing Hank’s Mowery Excuses Plenty!   5 STARS

For info or to buy the CD visit:

www.hankmowery.com

www.bluebellarecords.com

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