Watermelon Slim
(Northern Blues)
Somewhere in the hinterlands of our more provincially-populated cities (San Diego's profile until about 10 years ago, for instance), or planted in what used to be called the country, are there bars filled with lovers of both Country and Blues licks? If so, "Look what our boy's done now!" may be ricocheting the walls of suchlike. And kudos are always likely from those warmed by Slim's ‘Nam vet success. Heck, Bill Homans', a.k.a. Slim's, mud ‘n' ‘pone bio could make any patriot, or just lovers of all things grassroots, want to cheer his every move. However, at first it's a challenge to "get right" with Homans' morph to Country, which could spell at least a temporary loss of a born Blues-weaver.
Anyone who hasn't heard Slim's well-tempered Blues playing and emoting would think he was born to spout Country. Turns out his idea of the latter is pedal-steel guitar, mandolin, and banjo painting a colorful mix that's light years behind, above, or beyond contemporary, whatever-it-takes-to-hit-big Country. Matter of fact, some of this stuff could be kin to work by Kris Kristofferson.
From the jauntily-proffered nostalgia of "Good Old Boys Never Change," some serious shit-kickin's goin' down. With some editing (axing the relatively tedious ""He Went To Paris" and "Tight-Fittin' Jeans," along with a couple more textbook C&W snore-inducers), this could have been a five-star crossover. Before "Letter to Stoney" spreads the last slurp of gravy over the toast, Slim's given nearly equal time to a good one as to its denouement; closing-time contemplation. Delivery includes laidback Blues ("I Appreciate That"), Country that would rather be Blues, and Country with a jangly, spur-jinglin' strut.
Yup, it's time to start tracking the whereabouts of Slim's tour bus. Who'd want to miss the party-in-a-song of "No Way to Reach Nirvana"? With female gospel back-ups over an upbeat escalation, it's not too far from some of the Stones' Country Blues/Gospel romps.
DOWNLOAD: "Good Old Boys Never Change," "Truck Drivin' Buddy," "No Way to Reach Nirvana," "Letter to Stoney" MARY LEARY
