I
was unable to do so. It is rare that a band
you get to hear live for free is one that
you’d
actually
pay to hear. The Mike Reilly Band turned
out to be one of those. Because of Mike
Reilly’s affection for Harleys, the
band has become loosely linked to the biking
scene. They played at the Broken Spoke Saloon
in Daytona, they were performing at Sam’s
Town and they’ll be at the Broken
Spoke in Sturgis on August 24.
The
Mike Reilly Band has a new CD appropriately
titled
“Ol’ Knuckleheads” (Atlas
Records #0005). Like their live performances,
the CD is a sampler of their various musical
styles. Technically classified as a blues
band, their music really transcends many
types, including rock, funk, and blues.
Reilly has played guitar with many well-known
artists, including Elvin Bishop, Gregg Allman
and Dr. John. It may be unfair to say that
their influence is seen on some of the tracks,
so we’ll say their types of music
are reflected here. After 28 years of hanging
out, Reilly may have influenced them as
much as the other way around.
Bishop
and Allman contributed a song apiece to
this new CD. Bishop’s “Party
till the Cows Come Home” has a rich,
rockin’ sound that you just kind of
move around with. Surprisingly, Allman’s
“Queen of Hearts” is the opposite,
being a slow, bluesy number, the most laid-back
song on the CD.
One
of the characteristics of the Mike Reilly
Band that gets the listener’s attention,
whether live or recorded, is the richness
of their sound, due in part to the fact
that they are a five piece group. That one
of those pieces is a Hammond organ also
adds a sense of depth to the MRB that is
absent in some groups.
The
sole song on this CD written by Mike Reilly
is an instrumental with a definite jazz
flavor. It’s called “Lamar’s
Tune,” and was co-written by the late
Allman Brothers bassist, Lamar Williams.
Bouncing
all over the musical map, the band follows
up the catchy opening rocker, “Band,
Bang, Bang,” with a funk-laden “Living
on Love” that has the listener expecting
to hear Sly Stone join Reilly in duet. “I
Forget to Forget You” is one of those
catchy songs that you’ll be singing
all day if it’s the last one you hear.
I speak from experience.
Overall,
I’d give “Ol’ Knuckleheads”
three out of four stars. While not an earth-shattering
release, it’s a fun collection from
a very good band with a multifaceted style.
It’s one of those you’ll play
over-and-over, because it has variety and
a quality sound. Besides, the Mike Reilly
Band is made up of some guys who look and
sound like they are having fun while they’re
makin’ a livin’. We get to have
fun while they do it too.
If
you are headed to Sturgis this year, drop
in and check ‘em out at the Broken
Spoke. They are definitely worth a listen.
You’ll likely leave as a fan. More
info on the band is available on their website,
www.mikereillyband.com.
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