Post by jptheprofessor on Jun 16, 2008 14:00:42 GMT -5
61 SOUTH – 61 SOUTH (Full Force Music) Named after the primary travel route through the Blue Mountains in Schuylkill County, 61 South is a recently-formed blues trio featuring two former members of the Victory In Heaven Band, singer and steel guitarist Sterling Koch and his daughter, Kate, on bass; along with John Goba on drums. 61 South’s self-titled debut CD offers eleven strong and uplifting blues tracks, featuring original compositions and select blues and gospel blues remakes. The prominent and distinguishing element of 61 South’s sound is Sterling Koch’s driving, fiery and flavorful steel guitar work, set against his bandmates’ lean-sounding, punchy rhythms. Koch confidently takes his steel guitar into rowdy turf mapped by ZZ Top, George Thorogood and Joe Walsh; while using the instrument to color and establish moods. The journey includes four original numbers; the Chicago-styled “Kiss the Blues Goodbye,” the delta-tinged “Made It So,” the rumbling blues-rocker “Blues Have Got to Go” and the romping album-closing declaration “Bluesman for Life.” The group carries over some former Victory In Heaven Band live favorites such as the powerful album-opening treatment of Wilbert Harrison’s “Let’s Work Together” and the potent read of Rev. Gary Davis’ “12 Gates to the City.” There’s also a robust rendition of the Bobby “Blue” Bland-popularized “Further On Up the Road,” a reverent edition of Albert King’s “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven,” and a soulful update of Little Walter’s “Mean Old World.” And 61 South taps the Robert Randolph lexicon to offer their own arrangement and fireworks to Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips.” Recorded at Right Coast Recording in Columbia and mastered by Mike Tarsia, 61 South sounds hard, lean and stripped-down, with Sterling’s vocals and steel guitar sounding sharp and up front. The result is a hearty-sounding debut. With 61 South, Sterling Koch returns to the blues, and takes his steel guitar on a lively and soul-stirring joyride. (The CD can be purchased through 61 South's Myspace website, www.myspace.com/61southblues.)