Doyle Bramhall II & Smokestack | Welcome

If the music business - or, for that case: The World - was fair, Doyle Bramhall II (DBII) would be on top of it. He grew up in the midst of the Austin music scene, as his dad played as a drummer for names like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lightin' Hopkins and Anson Funderburgh. Plus Doyle Sr. knows how to write a tune or two, as he did with Stevie. It would prove to be a very healthy environment to grow up speaking in terms of music, a little bit less in terms of healthy and steady living. But I'm certainly not going into the demons he had to deal with; if you listen to his songwriting, guitarplaying and singing, it's obvious that DBII took a lesson from past times. Thru the years, DBII played in or collaborated with the likes of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Arc Angels, Sheryl Crow, Roger Waters and lately Eric Clapton, Susan Tedeschi and Joe Henry. But when you listen to his 2001 album Welcome, you just know that this extreme talent shouldn't be someone's sideman. This is the real deal.

Welcome kicks off with the step-on-it soul rocker Green Light Girl. I could mention a few names that pop up when listening to this song, but I think that wouldn't be fair - in the end, DBII just sounds like DBII. On with Problem Child, where it's again a powerfull riff that sets the mood. Don't let the riffs distract you from the intelligent and daring songwriting, because DBII has more to offer than that. Try getting into So You Want It To Rain, Life or Send Some Love, a couple of über-Soul songs with a soft yet rocking touch. And DBII keeps on building up the tension, swiftly but intentionally straying with rocker Smokestack for a while, eventually leading to the deep Soul of Last Night, Blame, Thin Dream and the unbelievable Cry. Let the music tell you what DBII felt when he wrote these songs, although his lyrics are as equally deep, honest and strong as the music. Hats off to DBII's band Smokestack that truly lets DBII lock in and together they set the mood for a '70ish album with a modern vibe. And that's all I'm gonna write about this record: be good to yourself, just go and get your copy.

The rough, old school production of Welcome is a statement by itself, with which DBII raises a big, well-meant f*ck you to the mainstream music industry with which he had a flirt, but she dumped him stone-cold. DBII strikes back with this album, although the commercial success doesn't add up to it. At least he had the balls to do this album in this particular way. In comparison to DBII's earlier albums DBII and Jellycream, Welcome sure sounds more raw. Word is DBII is working on a new album at this very moment, I personally do not expect such raw energy and positive aggression but I'm sure it will be - again - something completely different and soulfull. Please support DBII - if anyone deserves it, it's him!

Mike

www.doylebramhall2nd.com
View video for 'Green Light Girl'