JOHNNY MASTRO & MAMA'S BOYS: Chicken & Waffles

Johnny Mastro & Mama's Boys

Chicken & Waffles

© 2003 Mama's Boys (724101914225)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Full of raw energy the band is known for; the 2003 release from this award winning, hard driving blues band that was voted "Best Unsigned Blues Band in Southern California", finalist in LA's Rock War 2000.

tracks

1 You'd Better Be Sure
2 Don't Cry Mama
3 Coming Home
4 Too Tight
5 Shake '˜Em On Down
6 Chicken & Waffles
7 Something to Remember You By
8 Come Back Baby
9 Drink
10 One Day
11 Baby Boy's Boogie
12 Blues for Late Summer

notes

82 year old, forty-year veteran blues club owners from Vicksburg Mississippi don't get impressed with slicked back hair and suits that went out in the 50's....just dress nice and remember no shorts on stage. They don't care who you played with....B.B., Albert, Big Mama, Pee Wee, George Smith, Neckbone, William Clarke, Mickey Champion and all the rest have already been there in person sweating it out just like you. Blues music to them is a living, breathing, drinking and dancing thing that they made their living from....not some petrified, mystified, glorified, rule-laden hallowed treasure to be worshipped on a pedestal. Basically, they know where the music comes from...but they really don't care about this either. All they want to know is...can you play with soul?

Mama's Boys come out of Los Angeles/Long Beach and were named after club owner Miss Laura Mae "Mama" Gross. They are led by harmonica player Johnny Mastro who learned to play and sing with Mama watching over. Harps aren't the favorite instrument in these sax-friendly clubs so you have to know what your doing. But right along with George Smith and William Clarke, Johnny is her favorite. Dave Melton is one of the most soulful guitarists you'll ever hear and many of LA's guitarists come out to watch his hands and slide. You can put the rhythm section up against any in the business ...no B.S.Mama calls them all her sons and encouraged them to listen, be yourself, and play from the heart.

The Boys have played over 250 gigs a year for the last 9 years, headlined the 28th Annual Grand Prix of Long Beach, have been nominated for "Best Blues Artist" by LA Music Awards, were named "Best Unsigned Blues Band" in Southern California by Doheny Blues Festival, were one of two finalists in LA's RockWar 2000, voted one of LA's "Top 100 Unsigned Bands" by Music Connection Magazine, were featured on the national/international syndicated radio program "Blues Deluxe", recorded 5 CD's, and can still be found down at Babe's & Ricky's Inn.

Chicken & Waffles is their new CD and was recorded completely live in the studio...into positioned room microphones...no overdubs...no re-playing...
no re-singing...the way blues sounds best. It starts off with one of their nicer songs (You'd Better Be Sure) and ends 50 minutes later dark and chaotic with a long minor instrumental (Blues for Late Summer). In between there are some heavy grooves (One Day) and some lighter stuff too (Chicken & Waffles). Nine songs are originals, four are "obscurish" covers and two are instrumentals. It should be played back like it was recorded...loud! But check out the dynamics...This isn't pretty note-for note rehashing played with tiptoeing reverence ... this is living breathing music played with guts and sweat. Check out the mono mix on Elmore James "Coming Home" or the gutbucket harp solo on "Too Tight" and you'll get the picture. Mama's Boys blues is neither pretty nor rehearsed, so why try to play it that way? On Chicken & Waffles their just being themselves, listening to each other, and playing the only way Mama likes it...

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Rowdy, raunchy… pure blues!
    author: Jacek C.

    Johnny Mastro and the Boys kick ass, take names, and don’t apologize for it! True blues is bursting out and oozing with every note the Boys hit. If you are a blues harp fan, Johnny will send chills up and down your spine. This CD does not get tired.

  • This stuff is soooo goooood !!!
    author: Spinner (Bandana Blues - Dutch branch)

    This cd is so good. I listen to it so much that I almost forgot to write this review. I played tracks of it in my Spinner's section of the Bandana Blues podcast (www.bandanablues.com).

  • Great band!
    author: Ozzy (Netherlands)

    Great cd, but I like Pinch That Snake and the Black Album better. Never the less...... buy it!!!!

  • kick ass old school blues band
    author: mark c q

    this cd has everything from slow to smokin electirc harp /guiter.reminds me of paul butterfield and it doesntget any better.

  • great blues
    author: huub houben

    After I Saw This Band In Holland, I Bought this CD, no doubt; Messengers Of The Blues

  • yessss!!!!
    author: e. brent

    Yessss!!!!!Kik ass blues with unlimited balls. If you want the definition of blues, this is it!!!!

  • strong singing, great guitar...
    author: Rick Hereijgers

    Nice to hear that these blues-cd's are still made in California. I like the strong singing and harpblowing from Johnny Mastro. The tracks on this cd are varied, from the slides of the Delta to the Chicago-guitarlicks, who carry you away to blues-heaven. This cd you can play and play again for a long time.

  • author: Greg

    As usual another Mamas Boy's CD that can't be matched by any other band, is there any other band?.If you haven't seen the Boy's play yet, get to a venue where they perform and you WILL be hooked like me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

email

Please log in to email this artist.