THE TREVOR FINLAY BAND: SHOW ME WHAT U GOT (BKSA)I have just had my mind pleasantly blown. In an era of phony, corporate-promoted Rock, True/Honest Talent isn't rising to the top the way it should be anymore and all of us old-timers pray for an artist/band that has so much talent and charisma that NOTHING can prevent mass-audience exposure. We need to have artists who get to the Top because of pure musical ability to give hope to all other struggling and/or neophyte potential stars. If there's a sense of cynicism amongst musicians and a pervasive message that "talent is secondary..." we will have the same type of hopelessness that goes with the corrupted political system we live under. Saying that, I can now, with a Big smile, announce that I have just heard a band/artist that should rise quickly to the Top of North American music. Just as Los Lonely Boys have started a 'Revolution' in the U.S. (Great mass-appeal, honest Roots-Rock/Blues), Canadians can now proudly do some chest-beating of our own. I had literally just finished the 4-week process of listening to over 300 CDs in order to do up our final Best of 2004 Awards, when I put this newly-arrived disc on the CD-player and I got knocked off my freakin' chair. This band brings Truckloads of Absolute Joy to the listener. This is the shit, man! Music is supposed to be like this! You should want to jump up and down, yell, tell all your friends and scream, "All right!" (repeatedly). Going along with all the fantastic Blues-breakin' power this CD possesses, is the unmistakable joy the musicians are exhibiting outrageously throughout. Hey, we've been through a Helluva-lot of extremely negative shit over the last 6 years (collectively as a people), repressive, corrupt governments, trauma of 9/11, all the brainwashing that went with it, and no sense of a light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel. So, I can't think of a better way to get outta this mess than to Rock our way out of it and get in-touch with joyousness once again. Bands and musicians led the way out of Nixon Madness in 1968-72, so we need the same antidote delivered by artists who are REAL (opposite of U-2) and The Trevor Finlay Band is as Real as it gets. We had heard reports of this band tearing up festival/club stages over the last several years, but we had no way of experiencing that energy until now. "I'll Come To You" is the opening track and what a perfect opening track: Boom! Excellent hook and an infectious groove that will grab both Rock/Blues fans. "Mr. Bad Timing" has that nice dose of Hendrix/SRV guitar and great lyrics. "It's Over" is an acoustic-guitar intro'd Pop/Rocker that shows just how diverse and deep this band is AND Trevor Finlay can SING! Yes, folks, he does not suffer from that Caucasian-affliction of under-developed pipes: he can hit the high notes and sing in multiple keys. Again more fine power guitar chords. One of the keys to this great sounding band is their cohesiveness which comes from long term development together as a unit. Drummer Mark Rehder is definitely one of the best at his trade in Canada and bassist Barry Buse reads Trevor like a book - laying down a thunderous bottom. Definitely Canada's top Blues/Rock power trio. "Let's Get Drunk" should become a politically incorrect hit if there's any justice. "Philly No More" is a passionate solo vocal/guitar Blues with Trevor showing his stuff on slide acoustic. "BeBopALULA" is done at a slower pace than one would expect, but it works in a Blues vein. "Dance Like No One's Lookin'" is a Friday Night dance-floor frenzy-inducer while "Lion's Mouth" is a masterpiece. "Keep It Up" has a power-Boogie Z.Z. riff injection that rocks hard while "Show Me What U Got" is a stone-cold, dance-floor, Bo Diddley-beat, shitkicker with fantastic drumming and wild slide. HIT! HIT! This is a joy to experience. (The folks in North Carolina/Virginia and Louisiana need to hear this track.) The album closes with the Big Time fun of an acoustic (but totally wild) version of Prince's "Kiss". If you want to hear the hottest, young band in Blues/Rock, an outfit that will DEFINITELY be Huge very soon, grab this disc. Will The Trevor Finlay Band save the world with their totally incredible rockin' Blues energy? Probably! 5 big Ale bottles for the hottest thing to ever come out of Canada since the days of The Phantoms. A. Grigg |