Wetlands

Tab Benoit

Telarc
www.telarc.com

reviewed by Clancy Dunigan

It’s #4 and out the door for Tab Benoit, from Louisiana [Houma] and when that cool southern LA night blows this disc onto your porch it will certainly stick to the wall !? Some have heard his 3 piece band at The Tractor or Bumbershoot, always a hard working showman. Wetlands is new material, and a few hat tipping covers. Benoit tours us around his version of Cajun blues a la a house rent party rocker tunes [“I Got Loaded”, “Her Mind Is Gone”, “Fast & Free” a quiet love song “When A Cajun Man Gets The Blues”, and a romping shuffle.

He works that worn telecaster, most songs have a noticeable fuzz tone applied. This would also be a Benoit trademark sounding disc. His vocal style is certainly apparent, strong yet pushing so one might see some neck veins popping, when he’s singing to the back of the room.

Telarc [as did Justice & Vanguard labels] allows him to be a strong vocal, regional story teller. This studio effort comes across sounding very much like a live show...no smooth edges, the guitar’s reverb rattles the speaker cabs. Even the slow vocals porch the larynx envelope. Benoit’s live shows mimic Wetlands studio sound. The 3 piece band is lean and mean, something like red peppered gumbo in a heat wave!! Dancing is optional though emotively imperative! Benoit was schooled by regional legends; Tabby Thomas, Raful Neal [Kenny Neal’s father] & Henry Gray [Howlin Wolf’s piano man]. They were all present on “Swampland Jam” Benoit’s second and live CD. With it’s southern, Zydeco nuances it is a different flavor than most of the NW blues sounds. Make no mistake, it is a good time disc and better live for my tastes. The Cajun, Zydeco blues man covers: Professor Longhair’s “Her Mind Is Gone”, Peppermint Harris, Little Bob & The Imperials “I Got Loaded’, Bozo Chavis’s “Dog Hill”. Otis Redding [Benoit’s major vocal influence] gets a salute on “These Arms Are Mine.” These covers extend the ‘live in your living room feel, I took it as an invite to check out his mentors and musical influences. Benoit is a blue collar musician, his worn, brown guitar yawns out raw notes, seconds as a washboard, and thirds as a squeeze box!?!? Under his fingers and heart we are all invited to take a listen and take it on home and spice up our mild summer days/nites...”Georgia” is the closer, a very soulful, slow, deliberately heartfelt ballad. Upon the 3rd listening...’ hell,coulda been done...on my back porch’, I started on my 4th listen with a smile. Hope you enjoy it even more.