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The Paladins - El Matador Star Star Star Star Star

The story of the Paladins is a story that covers over 20 years and more than 2 million miles of traveling. And again the San Diego based trio surprises with a record that proves that American roots music still can be really cool. On their eighth album "El Matador" (Lux/Munich LP 01) 15 songs demonstrate their great songwriting talents. From the opener and title track El Matador (a surfabilly instrumental) through (country)rockers like Don't come callin' and It's too late baby  to a couple of beautifully sung ballads ( the Del Shannon-like Will it ever get easier, together with  You're so fine my personal favorite)). Spiced with some soul, blues, swing and funk this is the Paladins most varied album since Ticked Home. Dave Gonzalez again shows that he is one of the best rock'n'roll guitar players alive. Where some colleagues use instrumentals or soli  to display their virtuosity, Gonzalez plays restrained, but with heart and soul, and with balls (Dancin' with Leela). On this album he also plays some really to the point keyboard parts. Bass player Thomas Yearsley sings on his own contributions, like the bluesy Firebird and the rocker Li'l more love. And, as always, drummer Brian Fahey puts down a metronome rhythm. On this album Fahey also co-wrote three tracks. A (minor) weak point of the record is the strange mixing of some of the tracks. It sounds as if mixed through a stage-monitor.

In summary: a quality record that raises expectations to The Paladins' upcoming concert tour. I'm sure that most tracks sound better when the guys are playing their asses off on stage. Hell, those songs swing: four stars out of five.

Grey DeLisle and the Homewreckers Star Star Star Star Star

“In America we usually don’t get this kind of response,” Grey DeLisle exclaimed last Friday after another round of applause. Well, the audience in “ut Sjor”, Roggel, Holland, knew Grey DeLisle and responded accordingly to a steamy, rocking, but still intimate concert.

 

Before ms. DeLisle and her Homewreckers performed, the Ohio based singer/songwriter Tim Easton was strumming himself through his first ever European gig. He had a rough time, mainly because part of the crowd preferred to have their own (loud) conversations, a phenomenon that, alas!, gains followers in our country. In about three quarters of an hour mr. Easton performed a couple of songs from his latest album ( Break your mothre’s heart, New West Records) and a couple of new songs. His voice sounds fine, a bit gruffy, and his guitar playing is excellent. My favourites were his finger picking songs. His Eldridge Cleaver-inspired Poor, poor LA also impressed. Great performance!

 

After a short break, Grey DeLisle and her band climbed the stage. Impeccably dressed, lookin' cool. They started their show with a rocking That’s allright, followed by Twas her hunger from her most recent album Homewrecker. These songs set the pace for the rest of the show, only to be interrupted by a semi-acoustic interlude, where mw. DeLisle was accompanied by her husband, Murry Hammond on electric guitar. The show’s playlist was nicely set up. DeLisle and the Homewreckers played most of the songs of Homewrecker, only one song from het début album The small time (an outstanding rocking version of Blue state of mind! [Were was Sabor a mi?!]), a handful of new songs that will appear on DeLisle’s upcoming album (ao. Bloody bucket), and some very surprising covers - I never dreamt liking Pink Floyd’s classic Wish you were here in a country rock rendition! The audience’s enthusiasm persuaded ms. DeLisle to three encores, finishing the show with another beautiful duet with Murry Hammond, this time on bass guitar.

 

What I particularly liked about the show was the contrast between the beautiful, clear voice of Grey DeLisle and the loud, trashy and dirty sound of Homewrecker and producer Marvin Etzioni on Strat. For me this makes the difference between DeLisle and her Homewreckers and many other “guys/girls with guitar and backing band” in the Americana genre. If Grey DeLisle and her Homewreckers keep up the enthusiasm and drive from their yesterday show, we can easily forgive her sometimes singing out of tune, and the once in a while way too experimental chords mr. Etzioni strikes. Whenever ms. DeLisle plays in your vicinity, do yourself that favour and go to her show! You won’t regret it!