Nick and the Ovorols

Live At Kingston Mines

Indie Release

By Nikki Auriemma

Kingston Mines MC Frank Pellegrino is calling Nick Peraino “one of the best young, up and coming talents.”

It is important to mention not just how skillfully Nick plays his guitar throughout the album, but also how he uses his equipment. By listening to the tracks one may hear Nick’s true artistry and realize that he is knowledgeable and aware of how to use his equipment correctly. This could be because he is co-owner of Dr. Fretgood Inc. in Chicago, where he repairs, designs and builds custom guitar amplifiers.

Nick and the Ovorols’ Live At Kingston Mines opens with, “Cadillac Assembly Line,” originally by Albert King. This is a hip-shakin’, funky blues tune that makes for a fun first song to get the crowd moving. Nicks plays the song somewhat differently then Albert King by speeding up the tempo. He utilizes jazz chords and perfectly forms a solo over them.

Nick doesn’t just have a blues background, he also studied jazz guitar at DePaul University when he moved to Chicago in 1998. A strong passion for blues music was a deciding factor for Nick to attend college in Chicago.

In “Chitown Via Greyhound”, his original song, Nick shows a different skill by using slide guitar.  At first Nick’s guitar may bring to mind Muddy Waters’ “Rollin and Tumblin’ ”; as the song picks up steam, Nick enters into ZZ Top territory with his grungy tone and progressively heavy ending. Again he shows how to work the neck during his riffs, as if he is “one” with the guitar. The listener may escape reality during Nick’s shredding and imagine becoming part of the crowd at this live show!

The next jam is a two part track. In “Dust My Broom” Nick uses a standard blues shuffle just like Robert Johnson and Elmore James intended. It’s great to hear Nick’s take on Delta blues mainly because of this song’s history and meaning. (A fun fact that the listener may not know is that this tune has been filling dance floors for more than 60 years and has been adapted to piano, accordion, acoustic, and electric guitar.  The meaning goes as far back as the 1800s. Such implications are: to leave in a hurry, leaving for good, or to clean out and start over.)

“Dust My Broom” flows into Part 2 of the medley, “Heed The Words I Say,” another Peraino original -- a slower jam on which Nick uses wah effects throughout his lead. He makes sure to stop on the one-chord so everyone is really listening to the words he is saying, which shows how Nick likes to work the crowd. The other guitarist in the band, Carlos Showers flows throughout the tune by utilizing his wah pedal as well. This is the only song Carlos solos in, and he makes sure it is memorable.

“It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Next To Me” steers away from the blues as it is a Barry White cover. Nick demonstrates his jazzy rhythm again and shows a different tone in his singing -- perhaps in an effort to resemble White’s distinctive bass voice. During this song the listener may drift off into a different time and place -- the disco-era. There is a second part to this track, “Dreams”, originally by Greg Allman. Nick creates a very soothing atmosphere for the crowd by not only playing his guitar, but playing through his custom amplifier. The tone that flows out of the amp is so crisp it can’t help but be heard. Allman Brothers fans will appreciate this groovin’ extended jam.

The song “People Get Ready” was originally written by Curtis Mayfield for the Impressions. “People get ready, there’s a train a comin’/ you don’t need no baggage, you just get on board/ all you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin’/ you don’t need no ticket you just thank the Lord.” The listener may sit and analyze this song more in depth than the other tunes. Maybe that is why it has been covered by artists like The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Rod Stewart with Jeff Beck, and Aretha Franklin to name a few. Nick seems to be moved just as much as these other artists and does a fine job putting his own twist on the song. Nick shows vulnerability throughout this track by not only singing the heartfelt lyrics, but by displaying pure emotion through his guitar. He is a bold musician who takes risks.

T-Bone Walker’s “Tbone Boogie” is given a contemporary funky treatment by Nick and the band.  The listener may not be compelled to analyze this tune like the last, but instead will just have fun listening and dancing to it. The live track sends off the vibe that Nick feels the same in his playing by saying, “There ain't nothing in the world that a Tbone Boogie won’t cure!”

Sam Cooke’s soulful “Somebody Have Mercy” is a standard shuffle ending with a classic turnaround. The lyrics paint the blues: “Oh somebody have mercy, tell me what is wrong with me?/ I don’t know how I stand the things this woman do to me/ when I think about how she treats me/ tears fall down like rain.” Nick shows off his skills by covering some of the great Otis Rush’s riffs throughout the tune. This entire song demonstrates Nick’s true passion and why he plays the blues.

“Me and My Guitar” is the end to Live At Kingston Mines. Nick sends off the crowd with some memorable Freddie King licks. This song reiterates how Nick loves to sing through his guitar and possesses a true skill. Just like he says in the lyrics, “I’m playing the blues for ya momma, no matter where you are.”

After listening to the album, which clocks in at 1 hour and 2 minutes of live excitement, one might be impressed with Nick’s versatility and how he plays many styles, like gospel, soul, funk, and the Delta blues. Also a listener may hear not only how he stays true to the blues and its roots, but how he expresses it, as inspired by his biggest influences. Nick says, “Ovorols is a trademarked spelling of overalls. I love overalls, and two of my biggest idols have worn them: Lowell George of Little Feat and Buddy Guy.” The fact that his debut disc was recorded live makes it much more personal because one can really get to know Nick’s charming persona on stage. This reviewer agrees with Frank Pellegrino and thinks Nick holds a very successful and bright future.

Nick & The Ovorols' Live at Kingston Mines CD is available at amazon.com