Bluesletter Review of Delta Hop
June 01, 2004
| This is one of the Portland blues bands to pay attention to. There is something in the water of the Willamette and the Columbia Rivers that must create good blues musicians. Their music has gotten some attention from the local press. The Oregonian’s John Foyston wrote that this is “Portland’s hottest new Blues Band” and Willamette Week said it is a “Bad-ass Blues Quintet...foot stomping—pint smashing ”With five in the band there are a lot of sounds to catch. The guitar work is good, and so is everything else. On vocals is Dan Berkery. He also plays guitar. On bass is Ron Camacho, Roger Espinor is on drums and backup vocals, Jeff Simonson is on keyboards, and Joe Powers is on harmonica. This band is tight. The sound is technically great and also has the passion that good blues has to have. The songs on this CD were written by singer/guitarist/writer, Dan Berkery. Different songs here will find their own audience. “Amy” was one of my favorite songs, along with “Catch That Train,” “Coffee Blues,” and “Can’t Fool Me (This Time)” was my overall favorite song here. The vocals were 1st rate, and the rhythm was so great that you got to hear it to know what I am talking about. The harmonica came through clean and sweet. I can’t help but dance when I hear them do that song (no matter where I am at the time). I hope to catch this band a number of times in the future. This is the kind of music worth living for. Ok, there are other reasons to live to, but this IS one of them. Rose City Kings have now opened for Bo Diddley, Tommy Castro, Coco Montoya and Duke Robillard. The Cascade Blues Association has nominated them as Best New Band of 2003 (They just won! - ed.). Review by Robert Horn Reprint from Washington Blues Society’s Bluesletter, June 2004 edition at page 11. http://www.wablues.org/PDF/2004_06_Bluesletter.pdf |
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