Devon Allman: The Blues Summit Review
Devon Allman’s new album The Blues Summit releases this month, as he prepares to head out on a supporting tour. Allman, something of a newer legend himself (and of course, son of one of the greatest southern rockers of all time), is joined by several contemporary blues legends, including Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Robert Randolph, Jimmy Hall, Larry McCray, Sierra Green. Nearly half of the album features these guest musicians in the spotlight. The effect is a great blues record that showcases some of the greatest talent the genre has to offer.
The Blues Summit starts off with three of the strongest songs on the record, “Runners in the Night,” “Blues is a Feeling,” and “Peace to the World.” All three songs are terrific blues rock numbers that showcase various influences on Allman’s playing and songwriting. These opening songs are in order, exemplary of smooth blues that feels almost like Tom Petty, country blues leaning heavy on harmonica, and an organ heavy anthem to world peace that feels almost like Three Dog Night.
The middle of the album is held up by “Wang Dang Doodle,” a rocker’s take on the Willie Dixon storytelling classic, and “Hands and Knees,” a sultry Larry McCray vehicle that would feel at home at a B.B. King show. Though “Blues is a Feeling” is probably the thesis of the record and is definitely the big single, for my money “Hands and Knees,” is the best song on the record and maybe not incidentally the most traditionally bluesy, with McCray providing downright elemental vocals.
The remaining songs on the record range from the respectable “Little Wing” with it’s grand opening sound and groovy spiritual vibes to a couple of (mostly) instrumental tracks, Gettin’ Greasy With It” and “Midnight Lake Eerie”, which, while not bad by any stretch, don’t quite measure up to the intense highs of the record. The Blues Summit ends on a slow R&B infused number called “Real Love” featuring Sierra Green on vocals that reminded me of a big 90s pop-soul ballad.
Ultimately, the real successful tracks on The Blues Summit show why Allman is among the leading guitarists and songwriters working in blues rock today. There’s nothing really to be said about this record worse than “it is very good.” Allman is also stellar live on stage, so the upcoming tour should be a great time for blues rock fans.
The Review: 8/10
Can’t Miss Tracks
– Hands and Knees
– Peace to the World
– Runners in the Night
– Blues is a Feeling
The Big Hit
– Blues is a Feeling
