The photo strikes out at you in the aspect of a dormant viper: at first sight, it appears simple and exhibits a black and white photo of the band. Upon second glance, you notice the postures where confidence and determination cast out and off the page. This is no other than The Bad Day Blues Band and their debut album Table by the Wall.
Released on February 5th, it fits perfectly into the timeline - how better to start the year than with a new band? It appears rather bold at first glance when you notice that this debut album contains twelve tracks, but boldness is welcome as it is simply a byproduct of the confidence and determination that oozes from the album cover.
And the music is bold, too - right from the beginning with an electricity-filled cover of Sam & Dave’s classic “Hold On (I’m Coming)” that keeps the soul origin but allows for pure lightning to fly across the track in the form of a blazing guitar. The roots are still present and exhibited, but the pure energy that rolls off the song forms an instant hook. Adam Rigg’s vocals are the kind that grip you from the first note and are supported so strongly by the music.
It is this kind of ruthless rock-n-roll energy and spirit that makes rock-n-roll music so authentic. This aspect carries throughout the album, but it is not until the second track that you hear the band purely for who they are with their sound that carries ties to the past but remains original all the while.
The band has an earlier release of live material, including some of the tracks that line this album, but I found myself amazed again at just the energy that pours off the music. Sometimes studio recordings sound flat and leave the energy for the live shows. This is not the case with The Bad Day Blues Band. As the album carries on, the energy is not lost but seems to instead be building with each passing track.
Harmonicist Sam Spranger carries the melody as much as guitarist Nick Peck on many of the tracks which allows for an intriguing, pleasant mix of blues and hard rock. You hear flickers of soul as well that dance across the music, an aspect exhibited strongly on “Be Careful What You Wish For” in particular. Drummer Andrea Tremolada holds the music altogether. The connection between the band allows for the music to flourish off into mesmerizing solos where you discover there is no loose end in this band.
After a quick dive into soul on “Be Careful What You Wish For”, the energy resumes its build on the next track “Hurricane”, the midpoint of the album. Adam Rigg’s bass on “Hurricane” holds the spotlight briefly. “Hurricane” was released as a single and continues to display the hard rock and blues combination that hooked me right from the start. Another single “Stop” represents an initial softer side of the band but quickly the driving rock-n-roll sound returns. “Stop” also contains one of the most striking parts of the album - a harmonica solo that is hypnotic and steals your attention, leaving you in equal wonder and amazement.
The latter half of the album carries the energy from the first track, as it seems to be a force that simply cannot and will not be diminished as the music goes on. Producer Chris Bolster, who has worked with legends including Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters, and Oasis, knows how to make the music pop and shine with flaming lightning. Simply if you dig the blues, you will dig The Bad Day Blues Band.
And twelve tracks for a debut - how often do you hear of something like that? But in this case, I completely understand how and why one would do such a thing. The music is just too awesome to limit to a smaller number of tracks. Yet, there is no filler, no wasted energy. There is only music of these self-confessed bad boys of the blues - and you don’t need anything more than good music to have a good time. Just hit “PLAY” and let the energy hook you from the very start where electricity and boldness jump from the music freely. It certainly will not be a bad day when you have this sort of music in your ears.
Dig the blues? Come on and dig the music of The Bad Day Blues Band.
Personnel
Adam Rigg - Vocals and bass guitar
Sam Spranger - Harmonica
Nick Peck - Guitar
Andrea Tremolada - Drums
Produced by Chris Bolster
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