Ireland is a country that traditionally has a connection with the blues, which often still has some traditional folk influences. Just think of Rory Gallagher.
And again there is a new young guitarist shaking the blues gate. I'm talking about Rocky Whelan from Offaly. He presents his new and second album. Just for the record: this Rocky Whelan is not to be confused with the namesake serial killer from Australia! On this album, Rocky plays almost every instrument on his own. The guitar, of course, but also the organ, the bass and the drums. He is sporadically assisted by some "Friends". Bassist and drummer Brian Rabbitte on a song and, unbeknownst to me, Kelly's Heroes on a song.
The album opens with the recorded live Do You Believe Them, in which Rocky is assisted by Kelly's Heroes. A menacing folky song lasting almost eleven minutes, full of menacing guitar effects and scratching violin. So it's time for the blues in The Story Of A Bluesman. Like the rest of this album, this is an instrumental track that heavily peeks at Jimi Hendrix's "Red House". Fortunately, the quiet production is driven by Rocky's raw guitar. He also seems to be able to handle the organ very well.
Funky Friday is a funky blues instrumental that doesn't burn due to mediocre production. Rocky's shrill and piercing guitar, however, is a feast for the ears. Rocky's folk qualities are well expressed in the semi-acoustic ballad Blowing Leaves.
Beautiful Silence is a soul blues ballad in Snow White style. Also instrumental. Beautiful atmospheric guitar work, but at one point I was still looking forward to a part to sing. In Funky Skeleton, Brian Rabbitte joins the bass and drums. The result, however, is a rather confusing rhythmic instrumental with flaming guitar work again.
In Westwood, we moved the atmosphere to country music with Rocky on the guitar. A slightly rocked song in which it is a pity that the guitar solo was too far in the background. Transatlantic Crossroads didn't bother me much because of the confusing nature of this folk music.
Finally, Rocky ventures into country country music in It's All Gone To Country. Here he enjoys the hard work of strumming the guitar.
Tracklist:
01. Do You Believe Them 10:41
02. The Story Of A Bluesman 03:11
03. Funky Friday 03:05
04. Blowing Leaves 03:44
05. Beautiful Silence 04:21
06. Funky Skeleton 02:36
07. Westwood 03:21
08. Transatlantic Crossroads 04:24
09. It’s All Gone To 02:49
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