Local musicians revel in recent album releases
Always a hot bed of musical talent that has included a diversity of giants such as Lead Belly, Van Cliburn and Kix Brooks, the Shreveport area is blessed with a diverse set of outstanding musicians. Nationally touring Super Water Sympathy, Blues artists Professor Porkchop and The Dirty Dishes and indie rockers Hwy Lions are among the new crop of Shreveport talent who have recently released full-length albums.
Following their debut release, “Vesper Belle,” in 2011, Super Water Sympathy’s most recent release, “Hydrogen Child,” nds the band with a more con dent and assertive sound – one that establishes a cohesive identity for the ve-piece group.
Comprised of Ansley Hughes (vocals), Clyde Hargrove (guitar), Billy Hargrove (bass), Ryan Robinson (drums) and Jason Mills (keyboard), the band describes themselves and their sound as “self-made water pop genre is a synthesis of classic symphonic ambience with modern rock anthems.”
Released on Portland, Oregon’s highly regarded indie label In Music We Trust, “Hydrogen Child” shows an impressive growth in the band following two national tours, participation in the Vans Warped Tour and their decampment to London, England, last year to create the album with renowned producer Cam Blackwood. Blackwood has also worked with indie darlings Florence and The Machine, Take That and others.
Hughes’ vocals are more con dent and assertive than ever, putting her in the forefront of the group’s soaring sonic tableau. The well-placed chiming guitar work evokes, without copying, U2 and Coldplay.
From the opening assertive chords of “Uh-Oh,” the rst cut and rst single, SWS shows they are ready to play in the big leagues. On “The Girl With the Sunday School Dress,” SWS establishes that they can do poppy hooks with the best of them. The impressive and intriguing lyrics oat between the enigmatic and whimsical.
Catch Super Water Sympathy on July 3 at Phoenix Underground.
Recently establishing themselves on the blues charts is Professor Porkchop and the Dishes.
Chris McCaa is Professor Porkchop, and the Dishes are comprised of Jason Cof eld on guitar and sax, Danyelle Bryant on drums and Shawn Stroop on bass. The core group is augmented here by drummer Brady Blade and George Hancock on ute, baritone sax and percussion.
The Professor’s new album, “U R My Everything,” is being well-received by stations across the region. The New Orleans-rooted grooves re ect a funk in a long line of genealogy that traces through other Louisiana artists from Professor Longhair to Dr. John.
From the assertive opening chords of the title cut to the sweeping guitar of the closing cut, “I’m Gone,” the Professor and his cohorts paint a varied tableau of in uences while staying close to their New Orleans-style roots.
On the engaging “Blame It On The Moon,” McCaa is in ne Randy Newman form, offering an impressive self-penned piece that keeps him strutting through the French Quarter.
McCaa himself composed seven of the 11 cuts but also offers up some impressive covers such as Ray Charles’ “Roll With My Baby” and Louis Jordan’s “Early in the Morning.”
The Professor’s piano virtuosity is always uid and tasteful and his stints on the Hammond B3 add an old school avor to many of the cuts.
The Professor is currently getting signi cant play on B.B. King’s Bluesville XM Channel 70 as well as on the prestigious WWO2 in New Orleans. He is also being aired on stations across Europe in England, Spain, Italy and Poland. The Professor is bringing the New Orleans sound to the world.
Other upcoming local releases include the new CD from Grammy-nominated Blues icon Buddy Flett and Grammynominated songwriter Michael Garvin whose credits as a songwriter include Jennifer Lopez’s “Waiting For Tonight” and George Benson’s “Never Give Up On A Good Thing.” His debut album as an artist, “String Theory,” will be released in the next month and demonstrates his virtuosity on the jazz guitar instrumentals, which he has composed.
– Karl Hasten
