THE BOOM BAND
''THE BOOM BAND''
2015
68:30
1 We Can Work Together 05:15
2 Diamonds in the Rust 05:10
3 Under the Skin 03:49
4 Sweet Alberta 03:32
5 Moonshine 05:03
6 Waste My Time 04:30
7 Monty's Theme 05:26
8 Favour Bank Shuffle 03:27
9 When You Come Home 04:40
10 Red Eye of the Devil 07:48
11 Nobody's Fault But Mine 03:54
12 Can't Find My Way Home 04:53
13 You Can Bring Me Flowers 04:25
14 We Can Work Together 06:32
Jon Amor/Vocals & Guitar
Marcus Bonfanti/Vocals & Guitar
Mark Butcher/Vocals & Guitar
Paddy Milner/Vocals, Hammond Organ & Piano
Matt Taylor/Vocals & Guitar
with:
Steve Rushton/Vocals & Drums
Scott Wiber/Bass Guitar
REVIEW
By bluesdoodles.com
New tracks and refreshed tracks are the essence of this glorious super group creation of an album that has a combined energy of a quartet of guitarists and a shining pianist that has been distilled into a stylish debut album. The first thing that you notice is the quality of presentation the booklet with lyrics and photographs, the clean cover design it has all the excitement of a vinyl package, thought and care has gone in to the design and this is not a mask of style over substance as the music definitely delivers from beginning to end. The Deluxe version starts and ends with the same track We Can Work Together, the two different versions encase that glories of the album and the individual talents of the musicians who came together to share the music with us as The Boom Band. The album is like an abstract watercolour of sound that cascades over your ears and enters your musical consciousness; with every phrase from the multitude of guitarists, all of the piano notes and the variations in vocal tones and shades a musical picture is developed that changes form, colour and light with every track. The music is a mix of Southern Rock, Blues, Rock n’ Roll and Country these influences are the brush strokes that give the album form and the musicians create the imagery.
The opening track is a medley of sounds that is an opening statement that is a perfect hook which makes you listen to the rest with some sizzling guitar breaks, vocal tones and the piano from Paddy Milner. The tempo changes as the distinctive deep and full baritone of Marcus showcases a version of his Diamonds In The Rust, exciting background of electric guitar but as ever Marcus’ vocals are king and this is a bold picture of blues that will get the musical juices flowing ready for the next track. A full sound Under The Skin is electric guitar wizardry with that full sound of the organ giving the form; this is exciting music that the four – yes four – guitarists have produced, it works as they give each other space and is not a competition of who can out gun each other on the six-strings. Delivered by Jon Amor, Moonshine has a different feel and is typical of his solo work such as Stories From The Crooked Room, this is a track that is poetry with a dark edge. His voice is perfect for this delivery as his tongue wraps around and spits out the words full of lyrical beauty. Monty’s Theme is back with sharp electric guitar with stylish licks in the intro that float around the room before the shape changes again in this instrumental that has a keyboard lead break rather than guitar; it is an experiment in tonal colour that works from the tips of your fingers to the souls of your feet as you pick up the infectious beat and tap it out. Matt Taylor’s Red Eye Devil is country blues and is the last of the of the main tracks and has a gravelly bass line that allows the shape of the instruments to curl round and spark off like the light through the prism on the cover of the album as Matt lays down the vocals.
The last four tracks are acoustic from The Boom Guitars and have a vitality as Marcus takes the vocal lead on this traditional number arranged by them, Nobody’s Fault But Mine and the answering vocal chorus gives this well-loved and covered song a new lease of life. The penultimate track You Can Bring Me Flowers is Jon in his glory as he takes us through the tale with acoustic guitar that drives the music along giving the track a pace. Finishing with an acoustic version of the opening track we are brought a full circle the story is told the pictures painted and the exciting project that is The Boom Band has delivered a glorious debut album.
ABOUT THE BAND
BY OFFICIAL WEBSITE
The Boom Band were formed by guitarist Matt Taylor (Snowy White Blues Project/The Motives) and drummer Steve Rushton (Imelda May/Jeff Beck) following a festival in Switzerland where the pair found themselves with a couple of days to kill and the local hospitality to sample.
Thankfully, upon arrival back in the UK they managed not to forget the whole crazy idea, as so often is the case with the best-laid plans, and set about contacting people. Initially the idea was that the band would be a collective of many players, with band members changing from gig to gig depending on who was available.
However, after contacting Jon Amor (guitar/vocal), Marcus Bonfanti (guitar/vocal), Mark Butcher (guitar/vocal), Paddy Milner (keyboards/vocal), and Scott Wiber (bass) a week of recording was arranged and it became clear that they were onto something pretty special.
The Boom Band is not like other bands. For a start every one of the front line is not only a great player but also a fine singer and talented songwriter. To say nothing of the contributions from bassist Scott Wiber; his songs Sweet Alberta and Waste My Time were bashfully put forward for consideration and ended up being key tracks on the album. Everybody brings something to the party, there are no weak links. And, perhaps remarkably, at the same time there are no egos.
Everyone has the experience and temperament to be able to sit back and let others shine and then step up and shine themselves when the time is right.Vocals and guitars blend in harmony and then one guitar or another, or perhaps Paddy’s Hammond organ or piano will find itself at the fore.
Oh... did we mention the four guitarists? Count’em, FOUR! With four guitar players in a band they have to know how to make space for each other. And don’t by any means get to thinking that the Boom Band is just about endless guitar solos. Yes, there are solos of course, but in The Boom Band the song is king, be it the joyful southern rock of We Can Work Together, the dirty blues of Diamonds in the Rust, the cool soul of Under the Skin or the restrained epic Moonshine. Unless you consider the craziness of the instrumental Monty’s Theme, where the guitars communicate by weaving around each other in harmonies and solos, though the piano actually wins the day and the Hammond organ gives them all a run for their money.
Although at the time of release of the CD both Scott Wiber and Steve Rushton have actually dropped out of regular live Boom Duties (due to repatriation and other committments, respectively) The Boom Band are a force to be reckoned with on the live stage, having played several key gigs in 2014, including dates in London, the main stage at Ribs’n’Blues Festival in Holland, a headline spot at the Carlisle Rock & Blues Festival and as the house band for BBC Radio 2’s Paul Jones’ annual charity concerts where they backed Van Morrison as well as performing in their own right. 2015 will see the Booms performing at more and bigger festivals in the UK and beyond.
The Deluxe Edition eponymous CD features ten tracks of the album proper, plus four extra acoustic tracks from ‘The Boom Guitars’ - that is an acoustic session from Jon, Marcus, Butch and Matt - plus a 24 page booklet featuring liner notes from music writer Jamie Hailstone, detailed track info and song lyrics. It will be released on April 13th 2015.
WEBSITE
TO THE TOP
''THE BOOM BAND''
2015
68:30
1 We Can Work Together 05:15
2 Diamonds in the Rust 05:10
3 Under the Skin 03:49
4 Sweet Alberta 03:32
5 Moonshine 05:03
6 Waste My Time 04:30
7 Monty's Theme 05:26
8 Favour Bank Shuffle 03:27
9 When You Come Home 04:40
10 Red Eye of the Devil 07:48
11 Nobody's Fault But Mine 03:54
12 Can't Find My Way Home 04:53
13 You Can Bring Me Flowers 04:25
14 We Can Work Together 06:32
Jon Amor/Vocals & Guitar
Marcus Bonfanti/Vocals & Guitar
Mark Butcher/Vocals & Guitar
Paddy Milner/Vocals, Hammond Organ & Piano
Matt Taylor/Vocals & Guitar
with:
Steve Rushton/Vocals & Drums
Scott Wiber/Bass Guitar
REVIEW
By bluesdoodles.com
New tracks and refreshed tracks are the essence of this glorious super group creation of an album that has a combined energy of a quartet of guitarists and a shining pianist that has been distilled into a stylish debut album. The first thing that you notice is the quality of presentation the booklet with lyrics and photographs, the clean cover design it has all the excitement of a vinyl package, thought and care has gone in to the design and this is not a mask of style over substance as the music definitely delivers from beginning to end. The Deluxe version starts and ends with the same track We Can Work Together, the two different versions encase that glories of the album and the individual talents of the musicians who came together to share the music with us as The Boom Band. The album is like an abstract watercolour of sound that cascades over your ears and enters your musical consciousness; with every phrase from the multitude of guitarists, all of the piano notes and the variations in vocal tones and shades a musical picture is developed that changes form, colour and light with every track. The music is a mix of Southern Rock, Blues, Rock n’ Roll and Country these influences are the brush strokes that give the album form and the musicians create the imagery.
The opening track is a medley of sounds that is an opening statement that is a perfect hook which makes you listen to the rest with some sizzling guitar breaks, vocal tones and the piano from Paddy Milner. The tempo changes as the distinctive deep and full baritone of Marcus showcases a version of his Diamonds In The Rust, exciting background of electric guitar but as ever Marcus’ vocals are king and this is a bold picture of blues that will get the musical juices flowing ready for the next track. A full sound Under The Skin is electric guitar wizardry with that full sound of the organ giving the form; this is exciting music that the four – yes four – guitarists have produced, it works as they give each other space and is not a competition of who can out gun each other on the six-strings. Delivered by Jon Amor, Moonshine has a different feel and is typical of his solo work such as Stories From The Crooked Room, this is a track that is poetry with a dark edge. His voice is perfect for this delivery as his tongue wraps around and spits out the words full of lyrical beauty. Monty’s Theme is back with sharp electric guitar with stylish licks in the intro that float around the room before the shape changes again in this instrumental that has a keyboard lead break rather than guitar; it is an experiment in tonal colour that works from the tips of your fingers to the souls of your feet as you pick up the infectious beat and tap it out. Matt Taylor’s Red Eye Devil is country blues and is the last of the of the main tracks and has a gravelly bass line that allows the shape of the instruments to curl round and spark off like the light through the prism on the cover of the album as Matt lays down the vocals.
The last four tracks are acoustic from The Boom Guitars and have a vitality as Marcus takes the vocal lead on this traditional number arranged by them, Nobody’s Fault But Mine and the answering vocal chorus gives this well-loved and covered song a new lease of life. The penultimate track You Can Bring Me Flowers is Jon in his glory as he takes us through the tale with acoustic guitar that drives the music along giving the track a pace. Finishing with an acoustic version of the opening track we are brought a full circle the story is told the pictures painted and the exciting project that is The Boom Band has delivered a glorious debut album.
ABOUT THE BAND
BY OFFICIAL WEBSITE
The Boom Band were formed by guitarist Matt Taylor (Snowy White Blues Project/The Motives) and drummer Steve Rushton (Imelda May/Jeff Beck) following a festival in Switzerland where the pair found themselves with a couple of days to kill and the local hospitality to sample.
Thankfully, upon arrival back in the UK they managed not to forget the whole crazy idea, as so often is the case with the best-laid plans, and set about contacting people. Initially the idea was that the band would be a collective of many players, with band members changing from gig to gig depending on who was available.
However, after contacting Jon Amor (guitar/vocal), Marcus Bonfanti (guitar/vocal), Mark Butcher (guitar/vocal), Paddy Milner (keyboards/vocal), and Scott Wiber (bass) a week of recording was arranged and it became clear that they were onto something pretty special.
The Boom Band is not like other bands. For a start every one of the front line is not only a great player but also a fine singer and talented songwriter. To say nothing of the contributions from bassist Scott Wiber; his songs Sweet Alberta and Waste My Time were bashfully put forward for consideration and ended up being key tracks on the album. Everybody brings something to the party, there are no weak links. And, perhaps remarkably, at the same time there are no egos.
Everyone has the experience and temperament to be able to sit back and let others shine and then step up and shine themselves when the time is right.Vocals and guitars blend in harmony and then one guitar or another, or perhaps Paddy’s Hammond organ or piano will find itself at the fore.
Oh... did we mention the four guitarists? Count’em, FOUR! With four guitar players in a band they have to know how to make space for each other. And don’t by any means get to thinking that the Boom Band is just about endless guitar solos. Yes, there are solos of course, but in The Boom Band the song is king, be it the joyful southern rock of We Can Work Together, the dirty blues of Diamonds in the Rust, the cool soul of Under the Skin or the restrained epic Moonshine. Unless you consider the craziness of the instrumental Monty’s Theme, where the guitars communicate by weaving around each other in harmonies and solos, though the piano actually wins the day and the Hammond organ gives them all a run for their money.
Although at the time of release of the CD both Scott Wiber and Steve Rushton have actually dropped out of regular live Boom Duties (due to repatriation and other committments, respectively) The Boom Band are a force to be reckoned with on the live stage, having played several key gigs in 2014, including dates in London, the main stage at Ribs’n’Blues Festival in Holland, a headline spot at the Carlisle Rock & Blues Festival and as the house band for BBC Radio 2’s Paul Jones’ annual charity concerts where they backed Van Morrison as well as performing in their own right. 2015 will see the Booms performing at more and bigger festivals in the UK and beyond.
The Deluxe Edition eponymous CD features ten tracks of the album proper, plus four extra acoustic tracks from ‘The Boom Guitars’ - that is an acoustic session from Jon, Marcus, Butch and Matt - plus a 24 page booklet featuring liner notes from music writer Jamie Hailstone, detailed track info and song lyrics. It will be released on April 13th 2015.
WEBSITE
TO THE TOP