Travis Haddix
If I’m One, You’re One Too
(Benevolent Blues)TravisHaddix.net
While artists with old-school blues roots may be hard to come by
these days, the North Coast still boasts of one of the most durable and
well-traveled. With his 17th album, septuagenarian Haddix makes a
strong case for the adage “age ain’t nothin’ but a number.” The
Mississippi-bred, Cleveland-based singer-guitarist delivers a solid set
of his signature horn-driven blues. But the man’s ace in the hole has
always been his knack with lyrics. That skill served him well during a
good run in the ’80s and ’90s with the then-potent Atlanta-based
Ichiban label. This time around, tracks like “Scared Half to Death,
Twice” and “Hard to Teach, Hard to Learn” prove the Haddix formula
still has a kick to it. Trumpeter Jeff Hager’s punchy show-band-style
horn charts push from behind through most of the tunes. Blues like this
grows rarer by the day, in this town and elsewhere.
— Duane Verh
Pistol Whip
Terminal
(Smog Veil)
Smog Veil has had a busy year. Between reissues of Cleveland punk
bands like Face Value and the Easter Monkeys and Akron’s Tin Huey, the
Chicago-based label has practically purged Cleveland’s punk-rock
vaults. So why not venture out to Erie? This collection includes all
the major tunes by Erie’s Pistol Whip, which claims to be the city’s
first punk band. Formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1978, the group had
talent to spare. “Heart Throb” and “Untouchables,” the first two songs
here, are catchy and melodic, and even feature harmony vocals. But all
10 songs on this album have held up well. A bonus DVD includes live
footage and interviews with band members. — Jeff
Niesel
This article appears in Dec 9-15, 2009.
