The Fabulous Thunderbirds Struck Down
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Struck Down
Stony Plain Records
“Don’t tell me I’m not tough enough,” Kim Wilson declares in “I Won’t Give Up,” a rollicking statement of purpose smack dab in the middle of Struck Down, the fabulous new Fabulous Thunderbirds album. Slyly referencing the 1986 Thunderbirds hit “Tuff Enuff,” Wilson demonstrates that he still rates as one of the all-time great blues voices and harp players, his sense of melody and tone incomparable, his potency unrelenting.
When Wilson and co-founding guitarist Jimmie Vaughan led the band during its initial 16 years, they were a Texas twister of original and vintage blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and later, R&B. Vaughan left in 1990 to work with his brother, Stevie Ray. Wilson then began driving the T-Birds into new territories with a constantly revolving cast of members, never losing sight of the sources along the way.
This 16th Fabulous Thunderbirds album (Wilson also a slew of deep blues solo albums and collaborations to his name) celebrates the band’s 50th anniversary. Over the course of nine brand-new tunes plus an inspired acoustic rendition of Memphis Minnie’s “Nothing in Rambling” featuring friends Taj Mahal, Bonnie Raitt, Mick Fleetwood, and Keb’ Mo’, the Fabulous Thunderbirds—Wilson, guitarist Johnny Moeller, pianist Bob Welsh, bassist Steve Kirsty, and drummer Rudy Albin—entertain with a signature sound enriched with a variety of fiery and joyous flavors.
“Struck Down by the Blues” kicks the album off on a thick, menacing groove augmented by guitarist Steve Strongman. The emerging Canadian blues star co-wrote the album’s nine originals with Wilson and proved himself more than up to the task. Together, they created a set both familiar and fresh, and exceedingly T-Birds worthy. “Don’t Make No Sense” hits next, its irresistible, butt-shaking flavor a mix of Zydeco and old Crescent City rock ‘n roll with Louisiana’s Terrence Simien supplying feisty accordion. The album’s first single, “Payback Time,” unfolds on top of that, featuring ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons accenting the rough and tumble tune with his growling voice and guitar.
Wilson blows and pulls trainloads of harmonica throughout Struck Down, his sweet notes and fierce gales comingling into exquisite expressions of the blues. In call and response with Moeller, a guitarist with vast experience and impeccable timbre, “The Hard Way” smolders slowly. I would have loved a cameo by Jimmie Vaughan on “That’s Cold,” which closes the album with vintage T-Birds four on the floor roar. Regardless, Struck Down commemorates 50 years of the Fabulous Thunderbirds flawlessly. Tough enough, and then some!
Tom Clarke for MAS
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