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“John Mays uses his distinctive voice, so full of grainy splinters and tensile strength, to aim at both the heart and the gut when reinterpreting unobvious historical R&B, soul and gospel material. Mays' colleagues in the supporting Fathead band also hit the bull's-eye”. - Frank John Hadley, Downbeat magazine
" Fathead's new album Where's The Blues Taking Me is a real cracker! Unequivocally recommended! " - Blues & Rhythm magazine U.K.
“Where’s The Blues Taking Me” Another all original project (with the exception of the bonus track “Lonely Teardrops”), this CD is quintessential Fathead. Each member of the group is a master of his craft as evidenced by their multiple past Juno wins and Maple Blues nominations (along with several wins). Vocalist John Mays brings Al Lerman’s lyrics to life... particularly in “Lay It On The Line” and a wonderful ballad, “Don’t Leave Me Tonight”. -Ottawa Blues Society Magazine
"At Blues On Whyte this weekend, Toronto's Fathead blew through charged sets of music that were convincing reminders of why this band has won so many awards. Outstanding lead vocals from John Mays, punchy gang vocals from the whole crew and grooves that are alternately slippery and punctuated make for a satisfying evening."
FATHEAD/BUILDING FULL OF BLUES Long considered one of the hottest Blues bands in Canada, Fathead once Fathead - Building Full Of Blues (Electro-Fi Records) "Fathead's 'Building Full Of Blues' is smokin' from top to bottom and John Eric Cohen, WAER Radio, Syracuse, NY
The twelve animated songs - 11 are originals -aren't dramatically different from those contained on their pleasurable prior albums. Fathead knows what they do well, and they continue to do it remarkably well. The first time I heard this enchanting ensemble, I thoroughly enjoyed their party blues. BUILDING FULL OF BLUES reinforces how true those initial impressions were.
"The members of Fathead have honed their craft into an art form... Fathead "...FATHEAD with their fourth outing "Building Full Of Blues" on the oustanding Electro-Fi label. As usual there's plenty of variety here, with an underlying joie-de-vivre, even in the upbeat, Cajun styled "Katrina". Juke Blues magazine, UK "I really love the new Fathead album (Building Full Of Blues). This is some infectious stuff, so original and refreshing. It's definitely on my top 10 albums of the year list!" Roger Gatchet, KVRX, Austin, Texas
"The pedigree and polish is there to make Building Full Of Blues a winner. This is a CD that is well worth grabbing" Calvin Danies, Yorkton This Week newspaper Oct. 31, 2007 - Yorkton, SK. Canada
Met blues gerelateerde rootsband uit Canada, die wel eens vergeleken wordt met The Hawks, de legendarische begeleidingsband van Ronnie Hawkins, waaruit The Band ontsproot. Zelfs Levon Helm steekt in de lovende hoesnotaÕs. zijn bewondering niet onder stoelen of banken. Voor de vergelijking met The Hawks en bij uitbreiding The Band valt wel iets te zeggen. Het stemtimbre van de zwarte zanger John Mays is enigszins verwant met dat van Helm. Bovendien zingt bassist Omar Tunnoch, die beurtelings met saxofonist en harmonicaspeler Al Lerman het songwerk levert, een aardig mondje mee. Deze drie eerder genoemde muzikanten vormen sinds Õ92 de creatieve kern van Fathead. Na het titelloze debuut werd in Ô96 de originele gitarist Teddy Leonard vervangen door Darran Poole en Hayden Vialva die de drumsticks hanteert is ondertussen op zijn beurt alweer vervangen. Fathead wordt gemakshalve bij de blues ingedeeld, maar het is niet het plat gespeelde repertoire dat we te horen krijgen. Het zijn meer inventieve songstructuren die overheersen op het vijfde werkstuk ÔBuilding Full Of BluesÕ. Het vakmanschap van de afzonderlijke leden staat buiten kijf maar Fathead is ŽŽn van die dun gezaaide formaties waarbij vooral de muzikale interactie een uitzonderlijk eindresultaat genereert. De vergelijking met die andere Canadese muziekiconen is geenszins te hoog gegrepen. Meer info: www.fathead.biz Cis Van Looy **** -Keys & Chords, The Netherlands
"The Canadian based and Juno Award winning band "Fathead" have recorded "Building Full of Blues" on the Electro-Fi label, a strong CD with lots of variety in it. Guest vocalist Shakura S'Aida does a great job on the album. Fathead is as steady as a rock, yet smooth as silk. The songs: "Jellyfish Blues", "Fire in the Hole" and "Building Full of Blues" are jewels. Now I know why this band has already won one Juno Award. Now go on guys...you are ready for the second!" - Triple R Radio, The Netherlands "Who are those boys?! They can flat out play. And that boy singin' is good, man - he reminds me of Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland!" Mississippi bluesman Jimmy Burns "The joy, love and appreciation in the music here is infectious. These Canadians deliver the goods. - Blues Review magazine (U.S.) "Fathead play like a band at the top of their game and you owe it to yourself to lend 'em an ear." - Blueprint magazine (Britain) "Fathead is one of the best bands I've heard in a long while! The new disc (First Class Riff-Raff) is outstanding. I just love it." - Levon Helm "A great CD by a Canadian band that has paid its dues... all the songs are standouts" - Scene magazine (Canada) "Canada's hottest blues band scores again with new CD" - Toronto Star "...there was no mistaking the sound of a group of players who have been in each other's hip pocket for a lengthy spell. Tight, committed, focused and multi-faceted craftsmen can't help but make for an entertaining evening." - Edmonton Journal "...there is something goin' on with this band. It's one of those rare, much sought after but seldom achieved chemical/spiritual/musical/ reactions that happen when all the right ingredients come together: talent, personality, humour, united vision and and a little bit of hoodoo/voodoo. These guys have got a sound and identity that is quickly establishing them as Canada's top band." - Andy Grigg, REAL BLUES magazine "FATHEAD owns an undeniable groove... These boys boogie with heart." - Eric Thom, Exclaim Magazine "The sound quality and production are first rate and there's no doubt this CD contains international-calibre talent and music... one of the best blues/R&B recordings in Canadian music history. Fathead has found a winning formula. - Andy Grigg, Westcoast Blues Review "A five piece band whose main sounds come from the guitar and harp, Fathead has laid down an appealing album, filled with catchy rhythms of Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, and various other blues and R&B styles. The group's name and song titles like the "Backbug Song" and "Doot Do Doot" show that Fathead doesn't take itself too seriously. The diversity of styles, intelligent songwriting (mostly by the band members), and crisp production make Blues Weather a winner." - PJK, Living Blues MagazineÊ "There are a lot of bands who can recreate a certain style of music, but very few of them can combine several related styles and turn them around into something new, fresh, and uniquely their own. Fathead is such a band." - Andrew Galloway, President of ELECTRO-FI RECORDS "Among the best of Toronto's bands. They play a savvy and danceable mix of Chicago and delta styles loaded with tasty guitar riffing." - Lenny Stoute, Toronto Star "Crowd pleasing stuff with plenty of snap, crackle and punch." - Geoff Chapman, TORONTO STAR "A great collection of mostly original super funky blues and R&B." - Maev Brenna, THE DAILY COURIER "Very well done all around. A fine band." - Bruce Igluaer, ALLIGATOR RECORDS "Fathead is something of a blues super group... This is real blues, brothers, and recognition's coming its way..." - Lenny Stoute, TORONTO STAR "High calibre and full of soul. If the blues were a sports league, FATHEAD would be the equivalent of an all-star team." - Gary 17, T.O. NITE
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Toronto's Silver Dollar saw a lot of exciting music during the recording of "Livelier Than Ever!" (Fathead 1388). FATHEAD sound much larger than their four pieces (guitar, bass, drums, sax/harp) plus voice, and are extremely tight - just check out the shifts in "Cockle Doodle-Do." The usually jumping material matches their enthusiasm, with excellent covers of "Crawfishin', Fats Domino's "Grow Too Old" and "Why Are People Like That?" mixed along with the band's own songs - notably "Blue Water", a nice slow blues; an upbeat "Hard Times"; "Steak & Potatoes"; the low down "Monkey Time"; and the jazzy "Low Life". Fathead practically force you to have a good time. Recommended. Blues Revue magazine "Fathead... ultra-catchy tunes, great vocals, and the joyful experience of a well rounded band." Blues Beat magazine Fathead Livelier Than Ever! The good news is that Fathead is back and this live workout from Toronto's Silver Dollar provides 16 good reasons why their return is essential to party-friendly Canadian blues. A sometimes odd amalgam of forces come together to consistently produce standout recordings. Bobby Charles' "Why Are People Like That?" dropkicks the groove into serious overdrive. Vocalist John Mays' showpiece "Hard Times" blossoms into a guitar and harp driven jam that resonates well beyond the room. A favourite track is the uppity "Am I Wrong?", an infectious combination that distances them from the nearest competition. The triple threat of Al Lerman's harp, John Mays' voice and Teddy Leonard's lethal guitar help make Livelier an all-important fifth disc that underlines the band's hard-earned reputation as a crack live powerhouse with more than their fair share of soulfulness. Exclaim magazine, April 2005 Jan. 27/05 FATHEAD Livelier Than Ever - Rating NNNN This live album starts out at maximum voltage, then red-lines the VU meter for pretty much the entire 70 minutes. Still, you might as well blow your amp and fry your speakers, because it's probably been a while since you've had this much fun listening to an album. Recorded at the venerable Silver Dollar, Livelier serves up one shimmying tune after another, from Let The Goodtimes Roll and Steak & Potatoes right on down to I Want You. John Mays's voice is in top form, Al Lerman's harp is down and dirty, and the rhythm section bites on a groove with the ferocity of a pit bull on a bone. With the exception of the Dirtbomb's Ultraglide In Black, I can't think of a recent album that mixes such high intensity with uninhibited fun. Brent Raynor, NOW Magazine Fathead Livelier Than Ever FH 1388/Festival This band's live shows are legendary and this CD proves it in a perfect way to end the band's brief hiatus. Recorded at last year's New Year's Eve Party at the Dollar, it shows the band in full flight. John Mays is on vocals, Al Lerman on harp & tenor sax, Teddy Leonard on guitar (plus lead vocal on "Let's Have a Party), Omar Tunnoch on bass and new member Hayden Vialva on drums. They took the crowd then, and now they take you, on a 70-minute journey through the last three CDs (plus some new songs) to bring in this year in rocking style. "Let the Goodtimes Roll" is not a plea to start off the program, it's a command! "Cockle Doodle-Do" I'm sure kept the dance floor full. New to CD are "Crawfishin'" and Bobby Charles' "Why Are People Like That?" adding some more Louis Jordan and then Junior Wells to the mix. Their own "Hard Times" and "Blue Water" are up next. Keb' Mo's "Am I Wrong" brings the tempo back up for "Number Nine Train", showing that the strong version on Willie `Big Eyes' Smith's Bluesin' It had a lot of preparation. One of my favourite Fathead songs, "Somebody Else's But Mine" is up next and then things slow down once again with their "Same Old Thing". Mays gets a break for the rocking "Steak & Potatoes", giving us a closer look at why these players win so many awards. More Bobby Charles via Fats Domino with "Grow Too Old" is up next before the CD goes out with four Fathead compositions. "Monkey Time", "Low Life", "Let's Have a Party" and "I Want You" leaving everyone exhausted. The official release is back at The Dollar on January 27. Maple Blues Newsletter January '05 (http://www.torontobluessociety.com/0501johnspicks.htm) |
