[Harp-L] Paul Reddick's Rattlebag (was : New CD (to me any way))

["Planet Harmonica" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I love Paul's CD.

I purchased it on a whim, and never regretted it. I wrote a review in French 
a couple of years back, actually, I might look at translating it for you 
guys.

I actually disagree with you that the harp isn't "earth shaking", or at 
least I'd say that Paul's a very capable harp player who decides not to play 
too much. In fact, even though the instrumentations are modern and, though 
blues inspired, are clearly contemporary, there's something of the old 
Howling Wolf approach to harp. Powerful riffs, a heavy, percussive 
approach...

I really like his lyrics too. Poetic, evocative, something we don't hear 
much in blues or blues influenced music.

Anyway, I love this record, and I listened to other records on the website, 
and they sound way cool too. unfortunately the one I was interested in was 
out of print, apparently...

Ben



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "samblancato" <samblancato@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Harp-L" <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 11:07 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] New CD (to me any way)


> Hi Folks,
>
> I thought I'd tell y'all about the new CD I bought a couple of days ago. 
> I
> got this at a buy, sell, and trade used CD place in Squirrel Hill, one of
> Pittsburgh's nicer neighborhoods - but not stuffy. It only cost me $5.00 
> so
> even though I never heard this band it wasn't too risky.  Any way the DC 
> is
> "Rattlebag" by Paul Reddick And The Sidemen.  Anybody hear of them?  I 
> think
> they're Canadian.  Paul Reddick is the harp player and vocalist.  They 
> seem
> to me to be an interesting mix of country/bluegrass blues with some songs
> taking up rock chord changes.  They're also very JJ Kale-ish with a little
> of The Band in there too.  The harp is not earth shaking but it is there
> throughout all the songs and Reddick uses it really well and to excellent
> effect where ever it is.  I can play all the stuff on this CD whereas I
> can't play all the stuff on most of my harp CDs (Rod, Kim, Charlie, Little
> Walter etc.). Reddick says his inspiration for the songs on this CD is 
> Allan
> Lomax's field recordings, if you can read into that. Some of the song
> definitely have a delta/Sun House feel to them chord-wise.
>
> Anyway, I'd be interested in hearing what anybody else who's heard of 
> these
> guys thinks.  I think  they're great and a lot of fun, I can play along 
> with
> the whole CD. Later.
>
> Sam Blancato, Pittsburgh
>
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