The White Knuckles Blues Band
Album: It Might Just Be Too Late
Label: Krossborder
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.wkbb.co.uk

The White Knuckle Blues Band comprises of Steve Roux on guitars and vocals, Bernie Fox on drums and Rob Vick on bass. The band have been together for over 15 years and are based on the south coast and have quite a large live following. This CD is a collection of covers they have played live many times and pays tribute to the music, influences and artistes they love, it also a couple of self-penned tunes. The band is joined on a number of tracks by Matt Beckwith on harp, Steve Grainger on alto sax and Josh Philips on piano and Hammond organ. The overall feel to this CD is of slow, late night blues to chill out too, played and produced to a high level and one that will be staying in my car CD player for a while yet.

The opener, "Gotta Get It Worked On", a Dilbert McClinton tune, sets the scene for the rest of the CD and is quickly followed by "It All Went Down The Drain" with its haunting guitar rift and great solo from Steve. "Rendezvous With The Blues" is a soulful, late night ballad, which is perfectly suited to Roux's voice, plus there is some jazzy keyboards from Philips to help it along the way. Another standout track is their slower alternative version of Sonny Boy Williamson's "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" and reminded me of the Paul Rogers version on his Muddy Waters Blues CD. The self-penned track "Can't Change The Time", a slow blues number closes the album and is from Steve Roux first album, this version was recorded at the end of a recording session , it was late, lights dimmed and you can just imagine a dark, smokey, whiskey filled atmosphere full of great blues breaks from Steve's guitar.

A very good collection of songs which you will enjoy listening may times over.

Gary Emberson