Devils Creek
Bullfrog Blues
"Rocking the Blues with a Sledgehammer Groove"
"Inspired by the classic guitar driven blues rock of the late 60's and 70's, UK power trio Devils Creek seem intent on keeping alive the time honored tradition first forged by greats such as Rory Gallagher, Alvin Lee and Ten Years After and Status Quo.
Formed in 2006, led by guitarist/vocalist Guy Rosewall, featuring a crack rhythm section in bassist Tim Chapple and drummer Alan Ibbotson, their 2008 debut album 'Bullfrog Blues' combined a classic approach with an attack favored by heavy rock, particularly evident in the ultra heavy bass sound not normally heard in the genre.
Featuring a hard driving electric version of Rory Gallagher's "Seven Days" which would surely make the late great Irish guitarist proud, the entire offering is a solid testament to the enduring power and influence of blues inflected rock - especially the variety in which a wailing Fender Strat comes front and center.
Now in the middle of sessions for their second studio album, several tracks being already available for preview on the band's MySpace page it's quite clear based on the fresh evidence on display that these three aren't likely to stray from their vision any time in the foreseeable future". (Nightwatchers House of Rock - November 2009)
"Any regular reader of these pages will know that I’m partial to a bit of blues-rock. The last couple of years has seen Joe Bonamassa and Walter Trout rank highly in my year end favourites, whilst the likes of early Status Quo, ZZ Top, Gwyn Ashton and Rory Gallagher are regular listens guaranteed to please whatever my mood… so I’m kicking myself a bit for not picking up on this band a bit sooner!
Devils Creek are a classic three piece blues-rock outfit, very much in the mould of the aforementioned Gallagher line-ups although herald not from Ireland but from Cornwall. Issued on bass-player Tim Chapple’s own Cornish music promoting record label “Top Of The Hill” my first impression upon hearing “Bulldog Blues” (other than wondering where the title track disappeared to – but that’s answered on their myspace page!) was this album has a similar structure to Bonamassa’s “Sloe Gin”. Not in style particularly, we’ll come to that in a moment, but more in structure. Like “Sloe Gin” it’s a mix of impressive original compositions, from the pen of lead singer/lead guitarist Guy Rosewall, accompanied by a number of well selected and certainly unusual and often superbly interpreted covers.
Stylewise though it’s that Irish genius Gallagher and most specifically that stomping brand of blues-rock he displayed so brilliantly through the 70s and 80s that forms the major template for the music. In fact it’s a radical electric reworking of the acoustic “Defender” closing track “Seven Days” that opens the album. A fantastic re-imagining of the song so effective that it’ll have you checking the lyrics just to confirm its the same thing. Following this a trio originals underscore the positive first impressions, with the powerful “Dead Man’s Walking”, and the amusingly acerbic lyrics of “Poor Boy” especially impressive.
With another original, “Shadow City” interloping in a collection of covers on the latter half of the album it is instead another reworking, this time of James Taylor’s “Fire And Rain” that catches the ear before a welcome visit to Albert Lee’s excellent “Hear Me Calling” proves a delight to discover. For many years the opening song of the mighty Slade’s live set, Devils Creek take the sensible root of not trying to emulate the power of that band at their peak but instead take the song back to its bluesy roots.
Naysayer’s will knock the fact that there’s nothing radically new in terms of style on the album but that’s not the point is it? Some unfortunately even dismiss the genre as little more than glorified pub-rock but there’s plenty of us out there that delight in finding bands like this that keep this invigorating music alive. For me, it’s the best album of its type that I’ve heard since last years Walter Trout set, and it offers the belief that live they’d be a blast. A quick check of the gig listings on their myspace page shows that although prolific live performers unfortunately they seem mostly restricted to the South West of England at present. Now, with the fact that Walter Trout has actually just announced a pretty comprehensive UK tour, I can’t help thinking that he and Devils Creek would make an ideal pairing.(Rock of Ages review June 2009)
“She was a good looking woman but she was a bitch” - “Poor Boy” by Guy Rosewall for Devils Creek.
How can you not love lyrics like this! If you’ve been reading this blog, you’d know I hate modern rock groups. Well here’s an exception: Devils Creek, the Best New Rock Group I’ve heard. They sound like the second coming of Rory Gallagher but more commercial the way Cream was commercial playing “Sunshine of Your Love”. If you love 70’s British blues hard rock, then you will absolutely fall in love with Devils Creek. Its hard to believe their debut album “Bullfrog Blues” wasn’t an unreleased album recorded in 1971 by a British power trio. “Bullfrog Blues” features great driving originals by lead guitarist and vocalist Guy Rosewall as well as excellent covers of originals by Rory Gallagher and Ten Years After Alvin Lee. The other members of Devils Creek consist of Tim Chapple on Bass Guitar and Terry Brown on drums. The album was produced by Phil Innes who did a great job as it has an excellent balls to the walls take no prisoners sound for a studio album.
If you love 70s British Blues Rock Devils Creek “Bullfrog Blues” is a wet dream. Guy Rosewall is like a 21 century Rory Gallagher and a great vocalist and songwriter. My favorite tracks include Seven Days by Rory Gallagher and Guy Rosewell’s original “Poor Boy” whose riffs are as great as the above lyrics.
I’m still not convinced Devils Creek wasn’t kidnapped by aliens in 1971 and just returned to Earth now. Bruce Springsteen isn’t the future of Rock and Roll, Devils Creek is". (Phil Hershon - blog review)
"Here's something a bit different. These guys are heavily influenced by Rory Gallagher, Status Quo and early 70's British bluesy hard rock. They've got a great groove in the rhythm section, a fine guitarist in Guy Rosewall, and their album 'Bullfrog Blues' is recommended! The album includes a rockin' take on Rory's "Seven Days". Plus, they list Joe as one of their influences. Definitely not another SRV clone" (Keith - joebonamassa.com)
"You guys have a great sound. Very full and hard drivin'. Your bass player gets things goin' and keeps the fire lit throughout, on all songs. I really like your guitar playing and vocals. Excellent solos. Drumming is very complimentary to the style being played. I like the guitar and bass echoing each other on Family Song. I hear a blend of music spanning several decades. I hear the rhythm section on Seven Days as back in the 70s with such bands as Grand Funk etc. I also hear guitar from hard rockin' "hair bands" of the `80s and 90s. I think you've done a great job of blending different flavors of music together to make a very enjoyable listening experience. It gets one movin' as well. I also like your take on JT's Fire And Rain.
I will turn my 17 year old son onto you guys. He`s getting pretty good on his Fender bass, and I like to share other hard thumpin` bass players with him for inspiration.
Best of luck to you on your CD release and gigs ahead.......R.K." (Rick Kendrick - www.rorygallagher.com)
"Wikkid version of Seven Days - I love it!" (Barry Barnes - Sinnerboy)
"You're absolutely fookin stunning!" (The B-Man)
"It's good to hear the great old roots that you fellas' apply in your rock & rock & roll. Please don't ever stop!!"
(John Garner - Sir Lord Baltimore)
"A great tribute to Rory Gallagher" (www.rorysfriends.de)
"Sounds Good!" (Dumpys Rusty Nuts)
"Devils Creek really blew me away, and I can't for the life of me believe that it sounds so good. Every 2 minute snippet (cd baby) from this release had me wanting more!" (Kim -www.rocknrolluniverse.com)
"The band is driven beautifully by Terry Brown on drums and Tim Chapple on bass, the latter laying down a stomping beat on every number.......... on the showing of this album I would strongly recommend them" (Ian McKenzie - Blues In The South).
"One of the best Rock/Blues outfits in the whole of the UK - Keep on Rocking the Blues! - great talent" (The Rory Page)
"Devils Creek are a Cornish band which might, under some circumstances be called a Rory Gallagher tribute band. However, if that was so, we would not be reviewing this CD in BITS. Although there are, a couple of tracks which come directly from the Rory Gallagher songbook (strangely ex- cluding Bullfrog Blues: but see below) a significant number of the cuts are originals, many written by the band’s guitarist Guy Rosewall. Covers include, ‘Messing With The Kid’, written by Mel London, and made famous by Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, and Dave Hole’s, ‘Demolition Man’.
One of the surprises in the album is the inclusion of James Taylor’s ‘Fire And Rain’, one not usually heard in this rock blues format but none the worse for all that. The band is driven beautifully by Terry Brown on drums and Tim Chapple on bass, the latter laying down a stomping beat on every number! I am told by the boys in the band that although they have a following in Cornwall, they are looking for new pastures. Well, on the showing of this album, I would strongly recommend them. Finally, what about the missing ‘Bullfrog Blues?’ Well, Tim Chapple told me that in typical rock’n’roll style the band selected the artwork, chose the title for the CD and so on and then went into the studio to record. The only track that turned out duff was Bullfrog! Worse things happen at sea - but not many." (Ian McKenzie - March 2008)
"It's a great disc, and you can expect a very favorable review indeed! I'm loving the Rory cover, and it's refreshing to hear bluesy rock that's not the same ol' 12 bar. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's good to see a more 70's hard rock influence" (Nightwatchers House of Rock).
"You are doing a fine job!" (Steve Arvey)
"All sounds good, I hope it does well for you" (Bob Daisley - Ozzy Osbourne, Uriah Heep, Stan Webb's Chicken Shack).
"Guy Rosewall, guitar and vocals, Tim Chapple on bass and drummer Terry Brown could be described as a power trio....
The old Ten Years After classic Hear Me Calling suits Guy's heavy rock sound the best, and its the guitar sound that has a strong influence..... Guy's own foray into songwriting shows some interesting invention, particularly on the Family Song - good old 70's rock really. The others - Dead Man Walking, Poor Boy and Shadow City are built more on solid riffs, but Guy's also put in some worthwhile lyrics and not wasted the opportunity with rock cliches.... There's some worthwhile material in there" (Al Tait - Blues Matters)
"A driving and effusive mix of rock and blues" (Scrumpy 'n' Western - The Live Music Magazine)
"Sounds like you guys really do the business" (Rod Clements, founding member of Lindisfarne)
"Lawdy mama, that's some KILLER lead-guitar work!! Impressive precision, growls, and wahs. Yeah, ok, there's nothing "new" here, but geez-Louise, nobody [reviewer-wise] ought to be expecting "new" here! Not to say that THIS reviewer (uhh, YEAH, that would be moi) doesn't enjoy more "contemporary" stuff, but when she's in "blues-based-rock mode," then G-dammit, she wants to hear the real-deal ROCKIN' BLUES! And this crew delivers! So I'd say this was pretty damn cookin'.
But let's face it: This band is competing in a well-worn, time-honored genre, and it's pretty tough to sound "oh-so-novel-different." The thing is: Do they "rock" and "push the right buttons"? For my money: YES." (Garageband Reviewer)
"Superb CD" (Paul Alexander Radio CRMK)
"Blues Giants" (Crow Room Review - The Cornishman)
"Checked you guys out and y'all sound GREAT! That cat is smokin on guitar" (Chris Bell 100% Blues)
"FINALLY--A ROCKIN' GROOVIN, BLUES BAND - I just can't stop listening to you--great musicianship with a drivin' beat--I feel your music in my spine, and when I feel that, I know you are a band to be reckoned with.It's time you conquered the world!" (Jay Hill - eclatentertainment.com)
"Blues rock at its best. Solid rhythm section, awesome guitar work and mature vocals" (Swifty - The Barley Sheaf Liskeard).
"Just downloaded the CD from CD Baby. This is not fair....I'll be listening to this all weekend! I enjoy each song more than the previous. The G-Man would be proud. You took a seminal influence and infused it with your energy. I'll be turning many of my friends on to your page...." (myspace comments)
One of the hardest working bands in England finally spend some time in the studio.
Guy Rosewall - Lead Guitar / Vocals
Terry Brown - Drums
Alan Ibbotson - Drums (ex Blue on Black)
Tim Chapple - Bass
"She was a good looking Woman, but she was a bitch
Well she left me by a roadside down in a ditch
Well I had my mind opened - and that was no lie
I was looking in the shadows, reaching for the sky
I was a Poor Boy - Long way from my Home
He had a full metal jacket - he was born to kill
He had a heavy gunfire - on Hamburger Hill
Well he was lost in the Jungle and he didn't care
With a semi automatic and a thousand yard stare
He was a Poor Boy - Long way from Home". Poor Boy(Guy Rosewall)
Rock: British Blues