STEVE HILL
“THE ONE-MAN BLUES BAND – LIVE IN CONCERT”
Album Review by Chris Palmer

9/10

Steve Hill hails from Canada and is considered to be one of the country’s most prolific and exciting guitarists. However, Steve’s talents don’t just end with his guitar. In fact, this incredibly talented musician has set the Canadian Blues Rock scene alight with his rather sensational One-Man Blues Rock Band exploits.

It has been said that Steve Hill has absolutely no limits. This guitarist and singer extraordinaire is a true one-man band. He performs standing up while singing and playing his guitar, his feet play the bass drum, snare drum, hi-hats and with a drum-stick fused to the head of his guitar, any other percussion within reach is played!

Steve has released nine albums since 1997 and his Solo Recordings Volumes 1 [2012], 2 [2014], and 3 [2016] have brought him huge success and recognition. On the 11th May 2018, Steve released “The One-Man Blues Rock Band – Live In Concert” via Manhaton Records. The album was recorded live at La Chapelle, Quebec on 30th November 2017, and Steve had this to say about his new release: “I wanted to capture a live album that featured all the energy of my live shows. There are no overdubs on this live album, I play everything myself in real time. There are no tapes or loops, what you hear is what you get.”

The album itself consists of fourteen tracks, runs for a total time of 1:09:03 and is chock full of excellent Blues Rock numbers that’ll get you boogying in no time at all. Things begin in excellent fashion with the rocking “Rhythm All Over” that’ll have your feet tapping and head nodding along to its infectious… erm… rhythm! The first thing that strikes me is, how on earth is this just one guy I’m hearing blasting through my speakers!?? Damn, this guy’s good!

I remain both impressed and hooked as I plow through the outstandingly Bluesey “Go On”, “The Collector” and “Damned”, which all contain superb grooves and guitar-play that’ll have you tapping your feet along to their rhythms whilst sliding your fingers along your air-guitar! This is terrific Blues Rock with great melodies and outstanding guitar solos. The kind of music that open-minded rockers like myself can really appreciate.

The tempo slows as Steve walks through “Tough Luck”, taking the listener on a ride back to the roots of the Blues and reminding me of the great Man In Black, a feat that continues with “Never Is Such A Long Time”, which contains some mind-blowing guitar-play and solos to die for! That outstanding guitar of his launches you into “Hate To See You Go”, a track that rolls along its 5:22 length in an impressive manner, bringing the first half of the album to a close.

The second half begins with the acoustic-driven and melodic “Emily” before the tempo slows to a crawl for “Nothing New” and “Out Of Phase”. After three slow-moving Blues numbers, I’m in need of a pick-me-up and Steve obliges with the rocking and contagious “Still Got It Bad”, which sets us up nicely for the remainder of the album.

With three numbers left, I really don’t want this album to end because Steve treats me to three absolutely fantastic rocking monsters. The mood is started by the truly outstanding “The Ballad Of Johnny Wabo” and is followed by the equally good “Dangerous”. I’d have been happy to finish the album there, but no, Steve goes one better by closing with his own take on the mighty “Voodoo Child [Slight Return]”, a version that even the great Jimi Hendrix would’ve been proud of.

And so a great setlist of songs comes to its conclusion. But, unlike the audience, I have the benefit of a repeat button, so I experience the music again, and again, and again….

To be honest, I’d never heard of Steve Hill before this CD dropped through my letterbox. I was also a little sceptical when I read the accompanying info sheet, proclaiming a one-man band. However, from the minute I pressed play, I fell in love with the music. The album is full of first-class Blues Rock and traditional Blues music. Steve Hill’s instrument-play is utterly mind-blowing. I mean, how seriously talented is this guy? By listening to this album, you’d never believe that he plays every single thing that you hear. His timing is perfect, his singing has a magical ability to take the listener back in time, and his guitar-play is out of this world. The guitar solos throughout are impressive enough, without everything else Steve plays.

“The One-Man Blues Rock Band – Live In Concert” is the perfect example of Steve Hill’s talents and musical abilities. The album is a perfect demonstration of how the Blues and Blues Rock can and should be played. This guy has a wonderful gift and I, for one, am absolutely delighted that he’s sharing his gift with the world. Whether you’re into a more heavier sound or not, you must check out this guy and his music. You won’t be disappointed. Steve Hill… I Salute You!

TRACKLIST

Rhythm All Over
Go On
The Collector
Damned
Tough Luck
Never Is Such A Long Time
Hate To See You Go
Emily
Nothing New
Out Of Phase
Still Got It Bad
The Ballad Of Johnny Wabo
Dangerous
Voodoo Child [Slight Return]

http://www.stevehillmusic.com/
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