Review: The Wicked Lo-Down – Out Of Line
The Wicked Lo-Down – Out Of Line
Format: CD – Digital / Label: Gulf Coast Records
Release: 2024
Text: Pascal Wilhelm
When reading about the musicians in this band (Nick David, Brad Hallen, Jeff Berg, Nick Toscano and Paul Size), the image of an all-star outfit came to my mind. Packed with years of experience this blues/rhythm ‘n blues band from New England released their first cd “We hot” in 2022.
‘Out Of Line (Gulf Coast Records) will be released this year (2024). Singer and harmonica player Nick David is frontman and is a hell of a shouter. The band moves back and forth between the style of blues The Red Devils were known for and the “poppy” side of The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
So, expect a mix of raw blues and pop. Guest appearances on this record by Mike Zito and Monster Mike Welch. Nick David has a big stage performance, but the presence of Paul Size (former lead guitarist of The Red Devils) is of course remarkable.
The band pays tribute to his former band and especially its frontman Lester Butler who left the soil of the earth in May 1998. The Wildest One (Lester’s Boogie) tells the story about Lester and the video of the song shows Lester explaining about the nature of the blues. We also see footage of him playing with the Devils at the 1993 Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands.
His legacy lives on in tribute bands (for example with the great Big Pete from Holland) and with the Wicked Lo-Down because of Size.
But this band is by no means a successor (although they can play the style well!), the Wicked Lo-Down makes its own choices and that works out well. Their approach is fresh and will definitely be noticed by blues fans when they hit the big festivals. Go see them. They hot! And do you like baritone guitar? Check Put Up With You, my favourite song on this record.
Tracks:
01. Kill Me or Keep Me (J. Berg)
02. Marchin’ On (N. David, P. Size)
03. Bogeyman (N. David)
04. Out of Line (N. David, P. Size)
05. The Wildest One (Lester’s Boogie) (N. David, P. Size)
06. Toxic (C. Dennis, H. Jonback, C. Karlsson, P. Winnberg)
07. Action Woman (N. David, P. Size)
08. If I (J. Berg)
09. Dime Store Darling (J. Berg)
10. You Don’t Know Me (J. Berg, N. David)
11. Vanna Be (P. Size)
12. Put Up With You (N. David)
13. Just Can’t Make It (T.R. Taylor)
Website: https://www.wickedld.com/