The HomeSkillet Records Blog

Great Review for Strummin Dogs 'A Sign of Life'

Great Review for Strummin Dogs ‘A Sign of Life’ by by Mike Garner from New Zealands http://www.blues.co.nz/

Down The Line; Prayin’ Boy; Tango Blues Bar; Through The Day; I Like My Whiskey; Do Anything For You; Stumblin’ Blues; Leavin’; Gonna See My Baby; Rumble; Natalie’s Lullaby Blues; I Like My Whiskey

It’s wonderful to receive a CD for review from another NZ Blues Club and this one is a special treat partly because it’s from our newest club, the Poverty Bay Club in Gisborne and partly because it’s so good!

“Strummin’ Dog, real name, Dave Galanin, is an artist, a silver carver, who came to NZ from Alaska. That same creativity and cultural blending follows through to his music. All the songs are originals and cover a rootsy, blues part of the spectrum, played on beautiful guitars - a 1929 National Triolian Resonator and a Taylor. This is good gear!

“Prayin’ Boy” has slide on the steel resonator in a minor key and a big sound while Galanin intones sombre lyrics, a most powerful song. “Tango Blues Bar” reveals a wicked sense of humour as Galanin not only includes Tom Waites in the narrative but slips into a passable imitation as he does it - a cool song.

“Through the Day” is another big sound from a tuned down guitar and Galinin’s growling voice. “I Like Whiskey” is featured twice, one as a studio version the other, for some reason recorded outside, and is a love song - he likes his whiskey and cigarettes, staying at home and wants to be loved for who he is!

“Stumblin’ Blues” is a blues picked on the Taylor guitar and Galanin captures an authentic old time feel - it sounds as though it’s a lost blues from the 30s. “Leavin’ ” shows off some skilful picking from Galanin - and is another that sounds seventy years older than it really is. “Natalie’s Lullaby Blues”, is an instrumental which, we guess, is dedicated to a young Galanin.

This is a fine first album from Galanin. It is raw, original and authentically just his big guitar and big voice delivering fine original blues. It’s available form his shows or visit Galanin’s web site:
www.homeskilletrecords.com
or from iTunes or eMusic

Heres the link

http://www.blues.co.nz/features/article.php?id=275

Keep up the good work repping Homeskillet down under Strummin Dog!