Holler Out for More: Traveling Revivalist Meeting
August 17, 2006
| This is article is a reprint from Blues Art Studio by Brian Harman. At the moment the Rose City Kings who are based in Portland Oregon, are on a deserved upward surge of popularity, due to the highly favourable response to this robust and rocking live performance at the Mississippi Studios, on the 1st of April 2005 in Portland Oregon. It is only their third album and they have already achieved a measure of success in the form of the Cascade Blues Association Muddy Waters awards; for they have won; Best New Act for 2003 and Best Contemporary Act 2004. The Rose City Kings comprise of; Dan Berkery; vocals, guitar, Ron Camacho; bass, Roger Espinor; drums, Jeff Simpson; keyboards and Joe Powers; harmonica. A total of twelve numbers are featured in the concert, all of which are original compositions by Dan Berkery. As an indication of the bands continued progress they have in the past shared the bill with such notable artists as; Bo Diddley, Marcia Ball and the Colin James Band to name but a few. The rough, gruff almost hoarse lowdown vocals of Dan give the numbers a deeply southern honky tonk, almost Texan feel. Combined with Joe’s plaintive and hugely expressive harp one could almost imagine that you were at a travelling revivalist meeting that included heart filling guitar and at times foot stomping piano. All the numbers are played with suitable gusto and when required a refreshing sense of delicacy. Well worth a listen! Reprinted from BluesArtStudio, c/o F. SVACINA, A-1223 Vienna, P.O.Box 54, http://www.bluesart.at/NeueSeiten/2006CDRev7-06.html |
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