Big Wolf Band – Live & Howlin’
This British blues rock formation was formed in Birmingham in 2014 by singer, guitarist Jonathan Earp and bassist Mick Jeynes. There have been some changes in the line-up over the years. The Big Wolf Band now consists of drummer Tim Jones, keyboard player Robin Fox, guitarist Justin Johnson, and the aforementioned gentlemen. After a number of singles in 2015 and 2016, the debut album ‘A Rebel’s Story’ was released in 2017, which was followed two years later by ‘Be Free’. These albums were well-received and provided extensive airplay.
After the release of the single ‘Get Out’ last year, the third album ‘Live & Howlin’ ‘ has now been released. As the title suggests, it is a live album with fourteen songs, which have already appeared on the first two albums plus the single released last year ‘Get Out’. All tracks are written by Jonathan Earp, the said single being in collaboration with Mick Jeynes. The recordings were made at various gigs across the UK, including The Tuesday Night Music Club in Coulsdon, Surrey, as finalists of the UK Blues Challenge in Weston-super-Mare, the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh and The Jam House, Birmingham. This can be heard from the fact that the recording quality, although good, is not the same everywhere.
The band forms a tight unity and the songs are played everywhere with explicit pleasure. In addition to being a great singer and guitarist, Earp is an excellent composer and lyricist, who knows how to put small stories in a musical setting. It is also good musically. The album gives a variety of music, and switches from uptempo to ballads, from thoughtful songs to solid rockers. A great album, which is a beautiful calling card for this excellent band. (7/10) (Big Wolf Records)
