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With influences, such as, Junior Watson, Sonny Boy I & II, Carey Bell, Lurrie Bell, James Cotton, Gary Primich, Rick Estrin, Lynwood Slim, Sugar Ray Norcia, and Little Walter to name a few, Bad Brad & The Fat Cats brings us quite an infectious take on Traditional Music done up with a Modern Flair, infusing it with the styles of ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rory Gallagher, Robin Trower, and Jonny Lang, also to name a few. "Take A Walk With Me" consists of 13 really great non-stop Tracks, all originals and all written by Brad Stivers (Bad Brad). Putting out albums of all originals seems to be a creative habit of Bad Brad & The Fat Cats as their Debut album was also an all original affair. Bad Brad & The Fat Cats consist of one of my favorite orientations and that is as a trio, in this case, consisting of Brad Stivers (Guitar/Vocals), Nic Clark (Harmonica), and Alec Stivers (Drums). Additional performers on various Tracks were Gregg Mackenzie, Lionel Young, Dwight Carrier, Alissa Chesis, and Bill Shannon. For three favorites, and believe me there were a lot more than that, I chose Track 1 "Take A Walk With Me", Track 3 "Ego Trip", and Track 10 "See My Way". For opening and title Tracks, "Take A Walk With Me" was a real great one as Bad Brad & The Fat Cats wasted no time at all getting the party started ala Texas Style Boogie with amazing grinding Guitar work from Brad Stivers, whom really lets it loose with a fantastic one minute Solo starting around the halfway mark. "Ego Trip" is the longest Track on "Take A Walk With Me" clocking in at 7:11 and coming across with a great John Lee Hooker/Canned Heat feel. This beauty features additional Harp work courtesy of Gregg Mackenzie, whom along with Nic Clark makes for some mighty tasty double Harp playing. A really great Track. "See My Way" adds a Cajun flavor to this set as Dwight Carrier gets in on the action with his really nice Accordion work, all the way through this beauty. Dwight “Black Cat” Carrier and the Zydeco Ro Doggs are one of the best Zydeco bands to come out of Louisiana and Carrier's amazing Accordion work is certainly one of the big reasons why. This Track, I felt, was also one of the best in showing us Brad Stivers wonderful Vocals. Bad Brad & The Fat Cats are a really fun band to listen to and have really put out a great album in "Take A Walk With Me". It is an album, for with Summer approaching, will certainly be getting a good workout out on the Deck. 5***** for "Take A Walk With Me", certainly one of my favorites, so far for 2014, and one I highly recommend giving a listen to. Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network) Listen To Samples Here... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/badbradthefatcats12 Additional Artist Info... http://www.fatcatsentertainment.com/
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Frank Roszak of Frank Roszak Radio Productions has a wonderful habit and that is sending me absolutely wonderful albums for review with "Take A Walk With Me" the latest from Bad Brad & The Fat Cats being the most recent.