Best band noms from WBS in 1998 and 1999, 150 gigs a year,
an opening slot with Tab Benoit in June (Larry's on the 23rd, mark yer
calendars) . . . so, what's all the fuss about? Those who'd like to know
are advised to slide an ear along Swing Shift, the third CD from
Los Angeleno transplant Tim Casey and his rip-roarin', floor-stompin'
Bluescats. Jump, old-style rock & roll, even a bit of Texas or New Orleans
thrown in here and there, these guys do it all, laid over a solid swing
base. Swing Shift is a blend of classic covers and originals; of
course, the question that always emerges in such situations is, how well
does the new hold up to the tried and true? In this case, the answer is:
very well indeed. "Rock This Joint," the third track on the album, is just
as tight, lively, and all-around toe-tappin' as its two predecessors,
"Rockin'" and "No More Doggin'." The whole brings to mind an image of
swirling skirts and brightly-shined dress shoes, with fedoras and
cigarette holders in there somewhere, perhaps. This is due at least in
part to the sustained high energy of the album, though Casey does on
occasion tone things down: "Layin' in the Alley" lays back with a bit of
the down-at-the-heels, morning-after blues, and "Everything" alternates
between moody ballad and upbeat kicker. These, though, are simply
opportunities to catch your breath, maybe grab a drink or change partners.
This is sunny, upbeat, danceable West Coast-style swing of the first
order, the sort of stuff that proves that trendy or no, good music never
goes out of fashion.
-- Originally appeared in Bluesletter Vol.
13 No. 6, June 2001, p. 18