Post by jptheprofessor on Jul 20, 2008 21:51:46 GMT -5
LARRY NATH – LIVE IT! (Bonedog Records) Larry Nath has been making music and entertaining Pittsburgh area audiences for over two decades. His first solo album, Live It!, offers a melting pot of all good things blues and rock’n’roll, distilled into a collective, vibrant, personable style and sound. Nath sings and plays harmonica, backed by a seasoned cast of Bonedog Allstars, including Jimmy Britton (Billy Price Band) on keys, Brandon Barnes on drums, Mighty Lil’ Johnson on bass and Jim Relja on guitar. While the base sound is blue-collar, blues-rooted rock’n’roll, every song has its own vibe and personality, topped with relatable, down-to-earth lyrics. “BoneDog Blues” starts the album off with a Rolling Stones-like flavor, and features one of three cameo guitar appearances by Jimmy Adler. Tapping a Jerry Lee Lewis early rock’n’roll flavor; “The Killer and The King” playfully relates the true story of Jerry Lee’s misadventure during an attempted visit to Elvis’ Graceland in 1976. The title song “Live It!,” about walking the talk, rocks in a similar vein, while the local river tribute “Monongahela” cascades along an upbeat rockabilly/honky-tonk rhythm. “Without You” and “Angel In Disguise” display a punchier Dylan/Springsteen flavor, while “Fool That I Am” offers a rowdy blues romp. Larry and friends show a milder flavor on the samba-tinged “Love Crush,” the Van Morrison-like “Lilly” and the disc-ending piano ballad “Tender and Tough.” The song material is strong and catchy throughout, and Larry sells it with an expressive, heartfelt delivery that displays range, soul and grit. His Bonedog Allstar associates work as a team to color and support each song, setting the appropriate musical moods to supplement Larry’s presentation. Recorded at the Mojo Boneyard in McKeesport, the sound is balanced and full, giving clarity to all elements in the mix without unnecessary bells, whistles and other clutter. Larry Nath’s Live It! is a demonstration of sincere, fundamental, roots-based rock’n’roll, and provides a fun and upbeat listening experience. (The CD can be obtained through the websites www.bonedogrecords.com or www.cdbaby.com.)