Had enough of the blues, you say? No! Never! Not after listening to the new effort from Missoula's Mike Bader Band. In the title song, the nationally-known Bader sings "I was 12 years old when I first heard B.B. King," and proceeds to emulate the master in his 11 originals here.

Like B.B., Mike has a best friend that's a guitar. While Bader belts out tune after tune in his confident, guttural baritone, his guitar fills out every phrase with vocalizations of its own. And, like B.B., Bader writes songs that are not overly lyric-laden, instead letting the instrument take the spotlight.

Sterling contributions from band members Brandon Zimmer on drums and Larry Hirshberg on bass make for a smooth-running machine. Particularly effective are the cool, rhythmic unison licks on many tunes ("Matches My Feelings" and "Phunky Dread," for example). Guest artists add to the great blues stew: noted bluesman Tom "T-Bone" Giblin, keyboards; Bader brothers Tom, Bob, and Dave, on harmonica, drums, and bass, respectively; and Joan Zen (Deborah Hicks's wailin' background vocals and Jason Hicks's soulful sax).

The New Orleans funk sound of "Wrong Name Woman" has Bader channeling Dr. John; and "High & Wide" sizzles, with music flowing out in syncopated chunks. The raunchy "Smokin' Buffalo" sounds like a true story a' la "Ghost Riders" - Bader sings of seeing a herd of singed buffalo coming straight at him out of a forest fire. "...Let 'em come on through...bulgin' eyes starin' right at you..."

And the high-flyin' guitar over a roiling cauldron of rhythm on "Jump Shufflin' Blues" should get you dancin'. You like to dance? Get this album!
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