Homer's Music & Gifts

blues views
By Rick Galusha

I have been working in retail music since 1978. I was a Classical & Jazz deejay at KVNO while in college and have hosted KIWR's PS Blues for more than 13 years [Sundays from 9 am - Noon at 89.7 fm]. I don't know it all but I think I have a pretty rounded - reality based - hype free opinion. You may agree or you may read this column figuring if I liked it you're going to stay away . . . hey, whatever you want.

Kris Lager Band, The Might Quinn
Friday, June 19, 2009
Artist: Kris Lager Band

Title: The Mighty Quinn

Writer: Rick Galusha

Along with Des Moines’ Matt Woods, Nebraska’s Kris Lager has laid the groundwork to become the High Plains’ next blues act of note. Earning their road apprenticeship as the band for Mato Nanji’s Indigneous, The Kris Lager Band has release their fourth album, ‘The Mighty Quinn.’ Like many bands that are allowed to develop at the less than frantic pace of today’s internet driven music industry, Lager’s second and third CD’s displayed progressive improvement and strong lyrical melody lines that are indicative of the early bluesrock progenitors such as The Allman Brothers, Bonney & Delaney and Leon Russell. As the critically applauded band, ‘The Screaming Cheetah Wheelies’ learned however, this is a narrowing genre today and although the Derek Trucks Band is doing well with their World Music come blues feel, few others within this field seem to rise above a regional cult status.

‘The Might Quinn’ is a powerful record where the nuisance of the inter-play between Lager’s slide guitar and Miah Weir’s keyboards can, at times, over-shadow the songs but, after numerous playings, Lager’s true-to-self style slowly transcends and the true power behind the album emerges. This is not your passive listening, blues friendly, compact disc. Instead the listener is required to invest in the audio experience as the band moves through complicated but enjoyable passages.

On the track, “Mean Old World” Lager’s emotive vocals lines broach new areas for the band as they pioneer in a more tentative yet heart-felt layer brushed up against an aggressive slide guitar line. On ‘Hold On’ the band melds an island rhythm over rich blues textures akin to the sounds of “461 Ocean Boulevard.” While not an easy album to digest in initial airings, ‘The Might Quinn’ shows the Kris Lager Band growing by writing songs that are well outside of the narrow confines of the blues industry today. This is a serious album that is filled with songs that separates the partisans from the artisans and like anything work having – the climb is worth the view. “Mama always told me not to look into the eye's of the sun, but mama, that's where the fun is.”

the rules

GREAT: There are maybe three - five "great" albums a year. To me 'Who's Next' by the Who was great - so that's the yardstick . . . "is it as good as Who's Next?"

VERY GOOD: This means it's better than average but not the be-all, end-all. Chances are you're going to like it if you agree with my opinions.

GOOD = Average: Most of the best-selling albums will fall into this area. Not because I am a snob but because they are actually average . . . there's nothing wrong with being average. I suppose the difference between Good and Very Good is "Will I really be listening to this album again in 24 months?" If not, it's average and that means, it's good. Most movies you watch are average aren't they. Nothing wrong with being average.

NICHE: This means I really like it but unless we are on the same wavelength you might want to exercise caution