Mark Cameron On A Roll
Mark Cameron
On A Roll
Cop Records
Mark Cameron hails from Minnesota where he has been making music for over forty years. In the early seventies he began performing in folk rock bands. In 1984 Cameron founded the twin cities based “Citizen’s Patrol” and released three albums with them. He turned to the blues and released his solo debut “Life of Illusion” in 2008. Cameron came to national attention with the release of his fourth album “Playing Rough” in 2016. His follow up recording, 2017’s “Live at the Chippewa” featured songs reprised from “Playing Rough”. The charismatic front man recently represented Minnesota at the International Blues Challenge.
Today the band includes guitarist, vocalist Cameron; the rhythm section of Scott Lundberg, bass and Dan Schroeder, drums; harmonica ace Rick Miller; and Mark’s wife Sheri Cameron on sax, flute and percussion, who also drew the cover art. All of the songs are written or co-written by Cameron who proves himself a skilled storyteller. The album was recorded at The Bathtub Shrine Recording Studio in Minneapolis, and at The Closet Studios in Owatonna, MN; between March 2018 and 2019.
Opening with Miller’s harp “Trouble Brewin’” tells the story of the rocky relationship between the vocalist and his gal. “Ridin The Rails” is dedicated to the late bassist Serrin Andreas, and Sheri’s flute and the boogie beat, reminds me of Canned Heat. “Where I Got You From” is a fabulous Delta Blues tune with some great slide from Cameron. “Dicey” is a studio version of a song that that first appeared on the “Live at The Chippewa” album.
Three songs are currently receiving considerably airplay. The funky “On Your Way to the Top” featuring bassist Schroeder; the Louis Jordan inspired “Back Seat Boogie”; and the tongue in cheek title track about a man “getting in touch with the deepest, darkest places in his soul”.
Cameron excels vocally while the band works out. The Mark Cameron Band proves to be the most improved blues band I’ve heard so far this year. This is truly an infectious album.
Richard Ludmerer