Album Notes

Long Overdue Indeed,
The Indianapolis power trio of Travis Feaster (guitar and vocals), Austin Shearer (bass), and Jake Iseminger (drums) are joined by J. Wesley Smith on piano and organ for the band's superb debut album, Long Overdue.

After years in residency at the famous Slippery Noodle Inn playing covers of Hendrix, SRV, and all of the Kings, the W.T. Feaster Band has come up with ten great original songs confirming the transition to accomplished musicians in their own right. Celebrity endorsement has already come from Tad Robinson, one of the top singers of Soul Blues, who opines, "Nice sounds, good songs, and great playing."

The CD is a mix of Blues, Rock, Soul, and groovy Funk, with Feaster proving that he can write poignant lyrics as well as play one of the fastest guitars in the midwest. Smith's keyboard playing is melodic improvisation at its best while Iseminger lays down infectious rhythms, adding subtle nuances and clever changes in pace and dynamics. Add the constant, solid rolling bass of Shearer and the outcome is the perfect platform for the bandleader's mellifluous voice and his mind-bending, diamond-hard riffs as Feaster mercilessly attacks his Fender Stratocaster which screams with an edgy intensity on some tracks and is played with gentle intricacy on others.

Tracks that stand out are the pure Blues of "Walk On," the soulful "Out Of Time," and the slow, haunting "Devil's Daughter," the latter sounding atmospheric courtesy of Smith's captivating organ playing. Appropriately, the CD climaxes with the instrumental "Big Ed," showcasing the talents of the remarkable Travis Feaster whose scorching and piercing solos are played effortlessly and with nimble dexterity. This young band is now ready to blast headfirst into the future and lead a new generation of Blues fans down to the Crossroads, something that is long overdue. Watch out for Feaster's first visit to the U.K. in 2008 as the band sounds even better live than in the studio.
Dave Scott - Blues Matters! Publication