Midnite Johnny Band - Somebody Loan Me A Dime
Blues, Rock
Florida, United States
Overall Impression: Superbly performed and oozing with enough feeling to satiate the most hungry of Blues lovers, The Midnite Johnny Band have crafted a deeply respectful and classy tribute to the late great Chicago Blues Wizard Fenton Robinson with their marvelous cover of the artist's classic tune, "Somebody Loan Me A Dime". The playing is marvelously tasteful, the arrangement is solid, and a brilliantly warm-sounding production ensures every little detail of the track is brilliantly represented.
Strongest Point(s): Any successful cover needs to find just the right balance between honoring the original source material and incorporating new ideas in order to present the original track in a fresh and exciting new light, this is something I believe The Midnite Johnny Band has done brilliantly. Not only have they opted for a considerably slower, more ballad-like tempo, but there is a generally more somber aesthetic to this version than the original, resulting in an engaging and emotionally charged re-interpretation that manages to embrace the essence of the original whilst exploring new ground in regards to tone and feel. The lead vocal performance is excellent and really embodies what the Blues genre is all about, delivering a highly expressive and deeply emotive performance that keeps listeners thoroughly captivated throughout, and this is obviously strengthened by an outstanding backing band that combines soaring lead work, a strong rhythmic backbone courtesy of the bass and drums, and Hammond organ work that does a fantastic job of outlining and embellishing the tracks harmonic qualities.
Target Audience Appeal: This is definitely one for the classic blues lovers out there.
Artist target suggestions: B.B King, Muddy Waters, Robert Cray, Walter Trout, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa, Johnny Winter, Freddie King, Albert King, Howlin' Wolf, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Popa Chubby, Roy Buchannan, Joe Cocker, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins
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About the Reviewer:
Andre Avanessian is a freelance session musician, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar, as well as teaching it, helping students both learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and how to become proficient in home recording.