Reverend Organdrum – H-Fi Stereo
For those who have witnessed the spectacular fire of Reverend Horton Heat, it is tough to imagine the reverend/frontman Jim Heath taking a back seat — or even just scooting his psychobilly butt over to the passenger side.
But that’s what happens with Heath’s new side project, Reverend Organdrum. On this debut, the mostly instrumental trio plows its way through some basic roots music, and while Heath takes his share of raucous blues solos on his vintage Gretsch, it’s the organ playing of Tim Alexander that stands out.
Alexander, who has won five Grammys and has played most prominently with Asleep At The Wheel, makes everyone remember why the Hammond B-3 in the right hands is such a riveting and hypnotic instrument. His playing duly complements Heath’s guitar licks over the eighteen songs here, while Texas-via-Massachusetts drummer Todd Soesbe keeps everything within a steady groove.
This may be a bit of a curveball for Horton Heat fans, who have not heard new material from the Rev in three years. Still, you can almost hear Heath buoyed by doing something a little different as he makes his way through material ranging from Booker T & the MGs to movie and TV themes to New Orleans standards.