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Blues Underground Network Cameo Blues "10,000 Hours" (Canada) |
 They say if you want to get good at something, really good, you got to commit at least 10,000 hours to it. Cameo Blues has down that and more over the years and it certainly seems to have paid off, especially with their new release "10,000 Hours".
According to Wikipedia, "the Cameo Blues Band is a Toronto-based blues band, originally formed in 1978. It is particularly notable for its association with several of Canada's leading blues singers, including Richard "Hock" Walsh, Tony Flaim and Chuck Jackson, all of whom were also associated with the Downchild Blues Band."
The band was named after the Cameo Lounge which was situated in Toronto's Hotel Isabella, and up till the mid 80's, they were the Lounge's House Band.
Cameo Blues now consists of Ray Harrison (Piano), John Bride (Guitar), John Dickie (Vocals), Mike Sloski (Drums), and Tommy Griffiths (Bass). This core of members has been with the band since 2002, with Ray Harrison and John Bride being with the band not long after it formed in 1978. Ray Harrison, by the way, was a former Keyboard player for Crowbar. The Cameo Blues band, whom had gone their way on different projects, officially reunited in 2009, to celebrate their 30th Anniversary.
"10,000 Hours" marks only the 2nd release by Cameo Blues, the first being "All Work And No Play", released in 2002. "10,000 Hours" consists of 11 Tracks, of which the first 7 are Originals and the last 4 are a very interesting mix of Covers of music by Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, Page/Plant, and Jimmy McGriff. John Dickie wrote 1 Track and co-wrote the other 6 Originals, with all the other band members getting in on co-writing 1 or more songs, with all of them co-writing Track 7, "Talk Radio".
"10,000 Hours" doesn't waste anytime getting started as it jumps right into "Penguin Walk", a hard driving ZZ Top Style Boogie number. The great Vocals from John Dickie, are apparent right off the bat, as is the none stop Guitar Grinding of John Bride. Ray Harrison kicks the Keys in real nice around the halfway mark. Great opening number.
In addition to the opening Track, one finds Ray Harrison's Key work peppered very liberally throughout "10,000 Hours", especially on Track 3, "21st Century Rocket 88", Track 5, "Gasoline", which come across as 50's style Rockin', Track 7, "Talk Radio", and Track 11, "All About My Girl", in which he really lets the Organ grind to this great Jam style tune that has everyone getting their turn to shine.
My favorite Track of the originals was Track 7, "Talk Radio", which again features Harrison's amazing Organ playing throughout. This one is a real catchy tune, with as always, great Vocals from John Dickie. John Bride also kicks in some great Guitar around the halfway mark.
For the Covers on "10,000 Hours", Howlin' Wolf's "Sittin' On Top Of The World", was probably the best, but being a complete Led Zep fan, I enjoyed "Rock And Roll" the most. Cameo Blues did an amazing job with their own take on this Rock Classic. It was really really neat to hear this song done with the addition of great Key work. It really gave it a special feel.
Cameo Blues "10,000 Hours", for me, was a great introduction to a band I had not heard of and although they have been together for 30+ years, their music sounded amazingly unique and fresh.
"10,000 Hours" was a lot of fun to listen to and an Album I am sure will please not only their longtime fans, but also those that had not heard of them before.
Highly Recommended and Thoroughly Enjoyed...
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network)
https://bluesundergroundnetwork.com/
Listen To Samples Here... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cameobluesband
Additional Artist Info... https://www.facebook.com/CameoBluesBand
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