Wayne Riker Gathering – Alphabetical Blues Bash Volume 2
Fretfull Records 2023
13 tracks; 42 minutes, 27 seconds.
On Alphabetical Blues Bash Volume 2 (2023), blues veteran and author Wayne Riker once again proves himself a master curator and handy acoustic and electric guitar player. Riker features an impressive assembly of San Diego vocalists, 12 in total, creating a rich blues tapestry that expands on Alphabetical Blues Bash Volume 1, a 2022 release.
Sandi King’s elegant voice eases the listener into the album in a silky smooth cover of Jimmy Cox’s blues standard, “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out.” Riker’s guitar notes hit just right as he shuffles up and down, creating a balanced sound with bitter sweet tinges of sorrow.
One of the strongest tracks, “Parchman Farm Blues” is undeniably funky with mean guitar and bass grooves as Steve Gouveia sings, straining his voice, “I’m going to be here for the rest of my life when all I did was shoot my wife.” The auto-biographical song written by Bukka White details his sorrowful state, ending up in the brutal prison work farm, Mississippi State Penitentiary.
The LP closes with “Zeitgeist”, a song emanating psychedelic rock vibes along the lines of Meddle by Pink Floyd. Deep, moaning guitar creates a surreal space with introspective vocals– the feeling is that of being in the desert, while the guitar wails of isolation. Naathan Raney sings “The answer is buried underground…. Lost in time, I wonder if my ship will be found.”
Riker provides a fresh cover of “Ventilator Blues”, written by the Rolling Stones. Deanna Haala delivers an electric vocal performance and the band leans into a bluesier take, with distorted, raw guitar, a constant groan. The gritty tune digs into the dark depths of humanity.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Ian Sutton, and recorded at Studio West in San Diego, the LP’s production is smooth and crisp.
Joshua Taylor sings about losing his money, his lover, and his friends in “That’s What The Blues is All About”, with Riker providing tasteful, fast strumming guitar and powerful solos. Taylor calls out “When your dog turns his back on you, that’s when you know you don’t have a single friend,” and relays that he can no longer pay his bills.
In perhaps the best song on the LP, “Unchain My Heart”, Rebecca Jade’s smoky vocals pour through as an absolute force of nature. Chloe Lou and Cassie B provide heavenly, silky smooth, backup vocals that balance out Jade’s fiery, spicy outbursts. Marty Dodson delivers unique, rocking percussion. The song tells the story of a bereaved, mistreated woman, pleading for freedom: “Let me go my own way… Set me free baby.”
Lou and Cassie B again offer excellent female harmonies on “Your Time is Gonna Come”, a song about an empowered, strong woman moving on past a man who did her wrong. Lauren Leigh takes the reins on lead vocals, singing about the “lyin’, cheatin’, hurtin’” and how she is going to make the man “pay for that big hole in my heart.” Riker’s tender guitar melodies compliment Leigh’s passionate vocals.
Several high energy tracks extoll a life of partying, including “One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer”, “Quarter to Three”, and “Still Can Boogie”.
In “One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer”, Riker opens up with guitar evocative of Earl Hooker shuffle guitar. Stacy Antonel sings as a fun loving woman truncating steady drums played by Dodson.
“Quarter to Three” is a jolly, high energy bop, with smooth female vocals (Shelle Blue, Lou, B.) extolling late night life in a dreamlike atmosphere.
Confident, funky swagger dominates “Still Can Boogie”, where an off beat drum pattern gives a solid, danceable rhythm. Riker shows off slick shuffle guitar and sings “Boogie woogie all night long. I’m going to boogie til the break of dawn.”
“X”, the 11th track, an instrumental, feels out of place on the album, with the rest of the LP dedicated to vocalists. “X”, an instrumental featuring flashy, distracting guitar, fell short. That said, on the whole Riker assembled a phenomenal group of vocalists, highlighting their strengths with a carefully selected collection of songs. The diversity, passion, and depth on this album make it a must listen. Riker has something special here.
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