CD Review: “Big Red” by Soulstack

Big Red

Get on your funky feet. Jon Knight is singing some penetrating blues, right the hell now!. The front man, vocalist and grove guitarist for Toronto, Ontario blue band Soulstack. There guys sound like they just burst out of the belly of the Mississippi Delta, in a moon shine stock car and are heading to Chicago. This is swampy “Blues-iana” swamp blues and southern soul. Big Red is their debut album. Formed from the ashes of Toronto’s long time blues band Wickens-Knight, they sport multiple award winning members Jonathan Knight, Tom Bona on vocals and drums and Mark Wessenger adding vocals and keys. Josh Knight is on bass and vocals.

This album is so much more than a barroom blues band. the music – one cover of the standard “In My Time Of Dying”, and the rest originals written by Knight and Wessenger. The vocals are reminiscent blues and blue eyed soul singers from Delbert McClinton to John Hiatt  with a pinch of Little Feat thrown in for spice.

The vocal harmonies will just astound you, it’s like a party breaking out on every tune. The intensity, the urgency is in your lap. The guitar licks are just perfect, more riff driven than given to bombastic solos and  the drum keeps the motor humming. The keys, whether playing love shack piano or bluesy Wurlitzer and Hammond organ are tasteful and glue it all together.

Soulstack “Stone Cold Man”

It all makes for a goodtime and a danceable blast. We can only hope these guys make it south of the border and show the hot time to be found in Canada when Soulstack takes the stage. if you’re looking for some soul shaken blues to liven up your summer, well look no further than Soulstacks Big Red.

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