Lil' Slim Blues Band - Still In The Game

Year: 2011
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:23
Size: 104,6 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Front, back, cd

1. I Can't Quit You (5:51)
2. You Know It Ain't Right (4:20)
3. Don't Leave Me Baby (4:09)
4. Motel Room (3:21)
5. Take My Chances (4:55)
6. Gas Money (2:46)
7. Crazy About You Baby (4:05)
8. Give Me Back My Wig (4:38)
9. Dirty World (6:00)
10. Have Mercy (5:14)

Shawn "Lil' Slim" Holt is the son of legendary blues master Magic Slim, a.k.a. Morris Holt. Shawn started playing the blues at the age of 17 when he went on the road with his father and his band The Teardrops, and that's also where he aquired the name "Lil' Slim" from his late uncle, Nick Holt.

Shortly after that tour with his father, Shawn formed his band Lil' Slim & The Back-Alley Blues Band with his god-brother, Jeff Boehmer, Joe Manthey & JJ King. Lil' Slim has been a part of the Blues Messengers based in Lincoln, NE and True Sons of the Blues in Minneapolis, MN. In 2009, he hooked up with some of his old band mates and new ones and created Lil' Slim Blues Band.

Personnel:
Shawn "Lil' Slim" Holt - guitar, vocals
Jeff Boehmer - bass
Joshua Hoyer - piano, organ sax, vocals
Bo Rose - drums

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Lil' Slim & The Back-Alley Blues Band - Live At The Zoo Bar

Year: 2000
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:27
Size: 132,4 MB
Styles: Electric blues
Scans: Front

1. Take Me Home (5:03)
2. She's So Fine (4:59)
3. If It's Too Late (4:41)
4. As The Years Go Passing (8:23)
5. Funkin' In The Alley (3:53)
6. Shake It (4:51)
7. Tell Me (5:54)
8. Alley Noise (6:20)
9. I'm Good (3:56)
10. Hard To Handle (3:23)
11. Latin Blues (6:00)

The son of bluesman Magic Slim struts his stuff in this young four-piece band who prove once and for all that age has nothing to do with one's ability to feel and play the blues. Recorded live at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln, NE, Lil' Slim's debut CD is as tight and professional as any you'll hear. This a no-nonsense ensemble with a real passion for the music that transcends any imaginary barriers of location, race, or style. After all, Lincoln is one of the most musical towns in the U.S.A., from their rockabilly stars to their tight-knit musicians network, and Lil' Slim is right in the heart of it all, promoted by manager Larry Boehmer (owner of the Zoo Bar and father of one of the band members).

The album is loaded with originals, from the set opener "Take Me Home" to "She's So Fine" and the slow blues of "As the Years Go Passing By." And the band simply rocks on their cover of Otis Redding's "Hard to Handle," the same tune that helped put the Black Crowes on the map. There is the slow, old-school style "Shake It" and a hot guitar instrumental which Slim introduces as his theme song, "Alley Noise." Lil' Slim and the Back Alley Blues Band have the talent and the showmanship to forge a name for themselves in the big leagues of blues bands. /AllMusic

Personnel:
Lil' Slim (Shawn Holt) - guitar and vocals
Jeff Boehmer - bass guitar
Ryan Larsen - drums
Minnesota Max Tomoson - guitar and vocals

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Shawn Holt & The Teardrops - Daddy Told Me (With John Primer)

Size: 112,6 MB
Time: 48:45
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Chicago Blues
Art: Front

01. Fanny Mae (4:18)
02. Daddy Told Me (3:27)
03. Hold You Again (5:11)
04. Down In Virginia (3:23)
05. Buddy Buddy Friend (4:20)
06. Get Your Business Straight (3:15)
07. Mean Little Woman (3:48)
08. Before You Accuse Me (3:59)
09. Love Got Me Walkin (4:13)
10. Little By Little (3:15)
11. Please Don't Dog Me (5:19)
12. You Done Me Wrong (4:11)

With this debut CD on Blind Pig, Shawn “Lil’ Slim” Holt takes the helm of his late father’s band, Magic Slim and The Teardrops. He sings convincingly on all but two of the 12 tracks. Two of them are sung and played by former Teardrops member John Primer. The mixing presents a modern and vibrant sound.

What is striking about Shawn Holt’s guitar playing is that he sounds just like a chip off the old block. His guitar tone is fat, raw and unadulterated. He only uses a thumb pick for his guitar, with no special effects, and straight into his amplifier. It is indeed a guitar style that is reminiscent of his father’s, the late Morris “Magic Slim” Holt who passed away early this year (R.I.P. -- August 8th, 1937- February 21st, 2013).

Shawn wrote five tunes on this recording. Paying homage to his father, the Teardrops also recorded two of Magic Slim’s songs: “Buddy Buddy Friend” and “Please Don’t Dog Me”. This adds a nice nostalgic touch to a great CD. The remaining five songs are well-known covers. Daddy Told Me offers a list of fine no nonsense blues: From heavy lumps, old-school Chicago shuffles, swings, to low-down in-your-face slow blues. The Teardrops also use background vocals on a few tunes. These, though basic, are effective and help the tracks.

As with previous Magic Slim recordings on Blind Pig Records (10 CDs in the last 24 years!) the musical approach taken here is “less-is-more”. There are no horns or keyboard players on any songs, for instance. And it works admirably well. Not many quartet blues ensembles today can reproduce the unique and deceptively simple lumps and blues that Magic Slim used to play. This band (a quartet) is unique in that it can… and does! Effortlessly.

This CD comes with no liner notes. It could have helped the reader to get better acquainted with Shawn Holt. A lesser number of blues covers could have also been considered, though ultimately they do not take away from this entertaining CD.

The addition of John Primer, a previous Teardrops band member himself (13 years with Magic Slim, 1982-1995) also adds an exciting touch.

The passing of the torch from father to son is a success. A new era begins.

Daddy Told Me

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