Reverend Raven & the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys

Featuring Benny Rickun, Big Al Groth & West Side Andy

Live At The Big Bull

Nevermore Records

By Linda Cain

Summer is but a memory – gone with it are the fantastic outdoor blues festivals that we enjoyed so much as we sat in our camp chairs, basking in the sunlight and nursing a cold one, while groovin’ to the best live blues music.

Even though it’s winter, go ahead and put on your shades, grab a brew and kick back because Rev. Raven has gifted us with a mini-blues fest on CD that’s sure to put you in a festive summery mood.

As the title tells, the disc was recorded live at The Big Bull Blues Festival, held each year in Wausau, WI.  Two tracks recorded at Kochanski’s Concertina Beer in Milwaukee were added to round out the ten live tunes on the CD.  The good Reverend contributes lead and slide guitar, vocals and three original songs to this set. It should be mentioned that his guitar talent and versatility is immense; there is no blues style he hasn’t mastered -- from Muddy Water’s stinging single bended notes, to Otis Rush’s tormented torrents of guitar emotion to the house rockin’ slide style of Elmore James and Hound Dog – the Rev. can and does play it all.

The Altar Boys – PT Pedersen on bass, Robert Lee Sellers, Jr. on drums (and vocals on one track), Danny Moore on piano and organ – are a terrific, solid blues ensemble. Special guests on the disc are: harp players West Side Andy (who plays on half the tracks) and Benny Rickun who blows harp on the other half. Big Al Groth, powerhouse tenor sax man, makes a cameo on one track.

As the esteemed leader, Rev. Raven allows his bandmates plenty of time to shine in the spotlight with virtuosic solos; there is no head cuttin’ here as all the players support each other ensemble style in the tradition of Muddy Waters’ bands. Having cut his blues teeth on the Chicago’s South Side in the ‘70s before serving in the Navy for 15 years, and later relocating to Milwaukee,  the Rev. (a.k.a. Rik Raven) knows firsthand how to play real deal blues and lead a band of skilled players. After decades of performing, touring, recording and preaching the blues around the world, the Rev. has built up one fine festival act that pays homage to blues traditions and combines it with the excitement of today’s jam bands.

Live at The Big Bull features the band putting its own stylistic touch and take-no- -prisoners approach to classics by Earl Hooker, Elmore James, Sleepy John Estes, Muddy Waters and Bobby Rush. Two originals by Indiana’s Gerry Hundt (former bandmate to Nick Moss, now a solo artist in his own right), fit right in with these legendary blues artists’ songs.

The set kicks off with Earl Hooker’s driving instrumental, “Hot And Heavy,” led by keyboardist Danny Moore’s swirling organ, in a nod to Booker T. The propulsive rhythm section dares listeners to stay still in their seats for this smokin’ jam that features tasty solos by The Rev. on guitar and West Side Andy’s wailing harmonica.

“Walking To Chicago,” penned by Hundt, is a catchy Jimmy Reed style shuffle complete with scenic imagery of the Windy City that will have you singing and boppin’ along.  Later in the set, Hundt’s “Stomping & Shouting” has the fans doing just that!

The mood changes for “You Didn’t Even Say Goodbye,” a Rik Raven original in the urgent style of Otis Rush.  The author releases his sad, tormented blues soul with a dramatic guitar solo, as the rhythm section pulsates and the crowd cheers him on.

Wasting no time, the band uplifts the crowd with an Elmore James instrumental cover, “Hawaiian Boogie #3,” on which the Rev. executes his nimble slide guitar chops for some scorching solos; pianist Moore pounds out the boogie, Benny Rickun blows some chuggin’ harmonica notes, and the engine room works on getting some hip shakin’ going down.

Capturing the magic of a live festival performance on record isn’t an easy task; yet Live at the Big Bull does just that. The songs, plus audience applause and cheers, are sequenced to build the excitement and crescendo of a live show. The quality audio and mixing give us a clear soundtrack where each band member can be heard distinctly.

If you get cabin fever this winter, pick up a copy of Live at The Big Bull and get ready to bask in the blues served up festival style.

Visit: www.reverendraven.com