Are You Surprised? | Your iPod Top 10 | Musaq
By Adam Shull
ashull@paducahsun.com
Three artists with ties to the area offer new releases worth checking out. With rockin’ blues, psychedelic heavy metal and a fresh compilation with 20 artists, there’s something for everyone.
The Joe Walker Band
Out of Nashville, Tenn., comes a first effort from polished rock-blues quartet The Joe Walker Band. “Polished” and “first effort” rarely go together but the 10-song album titled “Join Hands” is professionally composed, packaged and features musicians adept at every instrument.
Paducah native Joe Walker blends notes on a bluesy guitar and sings lead vocals in a voice pained enough for the blues but not overplayed to the point of being fake.
Ty Hamilton plays keyboards and organ, Walter “Hinkie” Hamilton plucks bass and Rory Faciane takes up percussion — including drums — all fitting together in equal parts, as if each one plays his fourth of a song and sticks to it.
That’s not to say they don’t cut loose in traditional blues fashion as especially heard on “Baby Lay Your Money Down” with Walker playing twangy notes in large chunks.
The style is grounded in roots music and the lyrics are original enough to be a starting point to build on.
Like Walker writes in the liner notes: “This is only the beginning...”
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Album: “Join Hands,” 10 songs
Who: The Joe Walker Band
Style: Roots music developed into rock and blues
Where to buy: Etcetera Coffeehouse at 320 N 6th St.; Hank Brothers True Value Hardware in Lone Oak.
More: www.myspace.com/joewalkerband