Escape From the Chicken Coop - Watermelon Slim

Watermelon Slim

Escape From The Chicken Coop

Northern Blues - NBM0054

Review by Georgetown Fats

I am not sure which was more troubling to read in the April/May edition of Blues Review, reading that Bill Homans, better known as Watermelon Slim, wanted to make a Country CD, Watermelon Slim was seriously considering a semi-retirement from his extensive touring schedule, or that he was intending to record in Nashville without The Workers as his backing band. Watermelon Slim already is known for playing an electrified countrified blues sound, every live Watermelon Slim show is an event, and The Workers are a road tested backing band full of accomplished musicians.

Given Fred Litwin’s track record for singing Watermelon Slim and Slim’s ability to garner countless awards with his recordings with Northern Blues, Escape from The Chicken Coop warranted consideration though the sounds of a fiddle normally cause me to break out in hives. Fred Litwin is also a musical executive willing to so it makes sense he would green light this project and surround Homans with the best of the first call musicians in Nashville.

The opening track “Caterpillar Whine”, is another up-tempo infectious tune from Blues Music’s current Renaissance Man. With a driving rhythm section, lyrics based on Slim’s truck driving past and liberal slide guitar accents and barrelhouse piano playing, Caterpillar Whine could be a track on any other Watermelon Slim recordings. Though “Skinny Women and Fat Cigars” adds a fiddle line from Stuart Duncan, there is enough blues content as to not exacerbate my fiddle allergy.

By the time the third track hits the speakers, I found myself looking for an inhaler. “You See Me Like I See You” is full on radio friendly country music. “You See Me Like I See You” is a duet with Jenny Littleton, and features Paul Franklin’s steel guitar work. If Contemporary Country is your thing, it is a tune that will resonate with you.

The gospel heavy “Wreck on The Highway” provides proof Homan’s got his start to singing in the church choirs in North Carolina. It is a convincing track full soul conveyed through Slim’s baritone vocals. “Wreck on The Highway” is slow and soulful track probably written about those who have created their own personal loss and trauma without finding their personal redemption.

“Friends on The Porch” is a convincing spoken word piece which reminds the listener Slim’s life as an academic has much influence in his sound as does his background as a long haul trucker.

The rest of the tracks are a mixed bag. If true country music is your thing, Escape From The Chicken Coop will be a welcome addition to a music library. For those who prefer the countrified electric bluesman, there are enough Country Blues tracks to help satiate those hoping there will be another Watermelon Slim release with The Workers.

More from Scott Iwasaki

This guy is rapidly becoming my favorite Music Critic.....

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Mr. Georgetown Fats.
Thanks for emailing back. For some reason my replies kept getting kicked back. So I posted on the site.
And, yes, it seems the Grammys are both — complements and indictments — these days.
I wish my job would let me listen to music I want to, rather than the stuff I have to.
I hope all is well. And I can tell you are beginning to become unhinged. But it’s for the good fight, right?
Thanks for your time as well. And for the record, I don’t humor people who have concerns.
Peace.
Scott Iwasaki

Just because I need to get the last word - All Ernie all the time

Scott,

Thanks for your reply. I stand corrected.

Though I find the music to be nothing but pop rock pabulum for the great unwashed, you did in fact term the music "blues-based rock". My apologies.

We are in agreement though, this CD could in fact win a Grammy, I am just not sure that is a compliment to the music or an indictment of what passes for quality music.

Can you tell I am beginning to become unhinged from Mr. Boch's constant marketing campaign for this ego trip?

Thanks for your time and for humoring me.

Respectfully,
Georgetown Fats

Reply from Scott Iwasaki

It seems while I was in the process of spewing some venom, I got some of my facts wrong....

Kudos for the reply and correction. I may not agree with him, but Scott Iwasaki does earn some respect.

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Greetings Mr. Georgetown Fats,
Thank you for your email. It’s nice to know someone is reading, even way out on the East Coast.

I see that you have an issue whether or not Ernie & the Automatics is blues rock.

In my story, I didn’t call the music “blues rock.” It was Billboard Magazine that catagorized and charted the album a blues album. I called it a “blues-based rock album.”

That may be a no-brainer, because the classic-rock sound has a base in the blues.

I hope that clears some things up.
Take care.
Scott IwasakiDeseret News music editor30 E. 100 SouthSalt Lake City, Utah 84110

Open Letter to Steve Morse & Scott Iwasaki - Ernie & The Automatics

Every time I hear or read someone uses Ernie & The Automatics and Blues Rock in the same sentance the twitch in my eye lid hits overdrive and a throw up in my mouth...

Fortuantely for me, and this blog, I have a buddy who likes to push my buttons and hands me my soap box. The letter below went out to Steve Morse of the Boston Globe and Scott Iwasaki of the Deseret News. I probably shouldn't hold my breath while awaiting a response.

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Good afternoon.

I hope this message finds everything in your world well, at your convenience, I would appreciate the opportunity to communicate with you.

Having read your recent review of Ernie & The Automatics Low Expectations disk I am left wondering if either payola is not yet dead or if we are in fact listening to two separate bands/disks. Though Ernie Boch Jr is an accomplished businessman, strong marketer, accomplished amateur musician, philanthropist with his "Music Drives Us" foundation and from every indication seems like a nice enough guy, to associate him or The Automatics with blues rock is utterly ridiculous. Understanding s I,IV,V progression does not a bluesman make.

When you have the ability to own your own label, pay for your own disk, hire your own band and keep them on salary, own your own booking/marketing company, rent out concert halls, or have actually owned radio stations before you can not produce blues rock. Blues and blues rock music are about the cathartic experience of struggle, when you don't have to struggle, you can't make blues or blues rock. Ernie & The Automatics are nothing more pop music, churned out by yet another large corporate entity.

Thanks for your time, I await your response.

Best regards,

Georgetown Fats
Boston Blues, Brews, and BBQ Blog
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Coup DeBLOG!

It was just one of those nights when all I wanted to do was just stay inside and curl up with a nice bottle of Jamesons and listen to Robert Belfour over and over again. But a promise was a promise, and I didn’t want to go back on my word to “Johnny B” so I set out for The Roma to catch The Coup Deville Band live.

And, I’m damn glad I did.

Based on the turn out, a lot of you managed to come to the show too....but for the few who didn’t I will be posting a live review for the Boston Blues Society.

A 2nd Generation Spectacle

Like traditional Blues Guys I have been fortunate to have honest to goodness mentors...

“Cousin Curtis” was the first who knew a kid who kept throwing up in his mouth every time other members of the family said ‘The Beatles were the end all, be all’ and then there was ‘The Oracle’ who knew enough back in the days of Hamilton Wenham Regional High School it was going to be a fight...but he was going to find the right button to hit order to squeeze the best out of me....

And then there is “Uncle” Billy Mitchell. Needless to say without Uncle Bill, there would be no Georgetown Fats. Uncle Billy was just starting to get The Spectacles off the ground while Fats was a drummer in a piece of shit 80’s cover band...

He didn’t realize it then, but their West Coast Blues sound put Georgetown Fats on the path of good music before he was even named Georgetown Fats (we lived in Newbury at the time...).....

Well, Uncle Billy is now “Grandpa Billy” and having talked with him throughout the pregnancy it was awesome to just see how happy he was for the addition to his family....

So....to my mentor, and one of the few men I look up to in this world....NOTHING BUT THE BEST FOR YOU, MY MENTOR & MY FRIEND....