Flaming Chicago Blues
Dave Weld and the imperial Flames play raw Chicago bar band blues that rocks so hard it’ll make your ears ring and your feet stink. Its house-rockin’, window bustin’ music fit for a lease-breakin’ throw down.
Mentored by J.B. Hutto, Weld honed his skills playing with Hound Dog Taylor sidemen Brewer Phillips (rhythm guitar) and Ted Harvey (drums) before hooking up with Hutto’s nephew’s band Lil’ Ed and the Blue Imperials, where he played rhythm guitar for a decade.
Even when he labels it soul, its still raw rock on “Sweet Rockin’ Soul,” with rattly, screamin’ guitar, not as fuzzy as Hound Dog but more hysterical.
Co-composer/vocalist Monica Myhre jumps into the fray, wailing like an air raid siren on “Take Me Back,” Weld scratchin’ like a man with a serious flea infestation, vocalizing like Louis Prima on a hot night in Vegas.
There’s Hound Dog and Hutto filtered through Lil’ Ed guitar scrambled up throughout the session. “May Be Right, May Be Wrong” has that funky aluminum kitchen table leg Hound Dog slide sound, drummer Jeff Taylor and bassist Dave Kaye conducting a back alley mugging session, walloping you upside the head relentlessly while Monica Myher screams like a gut shot panther.
Monica Myhre’s “Louise” sounds like Little Richard getting in touch with his feminine side, “Lucille” sung by a woman lit by a hotter torch. Sax Gordon lends a hand, blistering the paint with his tenor and bari saxes.
“Tremble” starts off like fallout from the Link Wray catalog, ominous and fuzzy, till Weld cuts in with some Hound Doggery, his guitar sounding like he’s plugged into a toaster and using an electrified fork as a slide.
All but two of the songs are originals that sound like deep dish Chicago fare from the ’50s and ’60s, rockin’, raucous stuff punched up by a righteous horn section and a rhythm section that hits like brass knuckles to the kidneys.
The title is a bit misleading. There ain’t much slippin’ going on here- these guys go headlong, full tilt and if it’s a dream, waking up is gonna be a real comedown. Sleep, Dave Wild style, never sounded so good.