Bo Weavil
EP: Roots EP
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 5
Website: www.boweavil.netai.net

One of the things I love about old timey music is that sense of occasion, a group of family and friends gathering to have a good time and whilst I'm a great fan of porch songs, whilst everyone gathers to share songs of people and places, poignant moments and the odd murder or two, the occasions demanded that people also let down their hair and have a good time.

Bo Weavil capture that sense of a good time and you feel they could deliver it anywhere from a hoedown in a barn to a good sized festival stage, from that gathering of friends to having half the town up and dancing.

The "Roots EP" is four tracks of foot tapping goodness, kicking off with a medley of three traditional tunes that really do set the stage for the rest of the recording. Bo Weavil are a top draw musical unit, the playing is superb, they've got a real swing vibe going that imbues the sound with a real sense of life.

They also know that people need to breath occasionally so even on the four tracks on this release, they include a slower more sultry number, "Mother's Blues", that provides a slower tempo that really allows you to take your partner close and look deep into their soul.

If that makes it sound like this is only an EP for a hoedown, barn dance type thing, far from it, though if it were, that would be more than enough. This is an EP that can equally be enjoyed for the music's sake, the musicianship is as sharp as the vocal, harmonies an' all, the band have chosen the songs well for an EP that positively rips it up.

Whilst just a four piece, the band come across as a positive string orchestra with some melodica and harmonica thrown in for good measure, arguably the only thing they appear to be lacking is a jug, on this performance, Bo Weavil are a band I want to see live and a band I want to hear an album from.

Neil King