Reviews

For all the grunge, emo and bed-sit based singing-song writing out there, there is no musical style better suited to the hard done by than the blues.

Recently the style has received a new lease of life in the lumbering hobo form of Seasick Steve.

Here in Gloucestershire we have our own band who, among other things, want to add their own take to the Blues revival. Enter The Stone Saloon.

Something Blue

The Stone Saloon's music is a mixture of Delta Blues and soft rock.

At times one outweighs the other: 'Tell Me in the Morning' is blues neat - no ice, no soda, no nothing.

Nothing but the screeching, hot and dusty sound of music you might hear in a smokey blues club.

Elsewhere the music is served with an over generous portion of soft rock.

'Weekend Woman' is so far removed from the blues sensibilities of 'Tell Me in the Morning' that it is in danger on encroaching on Nickleback's territory.

And the world could probably do without another Nickleback.

Something Borrowed

The remaining songs lie somewhere between the two extremities.

'Beautiful Girl' retains a blues spirit - especially in the guitar work, while adopting something of a Lionel Ritchie melody in the vocal department.

The tune is not a million miles away from 'Easy Like Sunday Morning'. Hmmmm.

The final song currently listed on their MySpace page, 'Loretta' retains a gritty blues feel, but also embraces the world of soft rock (carefully eschewing too many comparisons to Nickleback).

It's a song about a man being badly treated by a woman - something of a triumph for sexual equality in the blues world.

Something Re-Newed

But the strongest track remains the first one. 'Tell Me in the Morning' is an unapologetic account of the morning after a night before: A stark contrast to 'Loretta'.

"You ain't my kind of woman but it seems I'm your kind of man" sings the love 'em and leave 'em narrator.

The song holds back no punches. Not content to be just hard done by, the band aren't scared to be the ones doing the hurting either.

Which is, on reflection, probably not the best compliment to give a band - or anyone for that matter.

'Tell Me…' is the bluesiest of the bluesy songs in the band's catalogue reminding listeners of Led Zeppelin, but also recalling blues influenced songs such as Primal Screams' 'Rocks' and Kula Shaker's 'Hey Dude'.

Blues Brothers

It is in these blues heavy tracks that The Stone Saloon shine brightest.

The band use the style as much as the lyrics to convey their message: The swaggering pulse of 'Tell Me in the Morning' betrays the arrogance of the bad boy at its centre, and the lingering guitar work on 'Beautiful Girl' highlights the mournfulness of the song's subject, a paean for lost times.

Meanwhile the gritty passion behind the music on 'Loretta' equals the heart wrenching lyrics: "Loretta darling, I love your soul, but I don't ever think it will work".

Not So Blue

Although 'Weekend Woman' is not a bad song, it does lack some of the spirit and energy that can be found in the band's other songs.

True, it has passionate lyrics and a passable tune, but the over all sound is a little too safe and middle of the road.

The Blue Stones

Away from the Nicklebackisms, The Stone Saloon are a great blues-rock act.

The band have passion and drive in spades. They are at their best when they immerse themselves in the bluesy sounds that make 'Tell Me…' and 'Beautiful Girl' the standout tracks that they are.

But even at their worst, there is enough musicality - and even a kind of poetry in the lyrics - for them to get by.

And besides, if you really don't like that track, there's always the skip button.

This article is an external contribution and expresses a personal opinion, not necessarily the views of the BBC.
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If you're involved in the Gloucestershire music scene and you would like Stephen to review your music, please feel free to get in touch. Either email gloucestershire@bbc.co.uk or send your album and a bit about yourself to:

BBC Gloucestershire Introducing...
c/o Chris Sandys
London Road
Gloucester
GL1 1SW

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