Ra’Shad The Blues Kid

Live In Clarkdale

Independent

This is the fourth album from Ra’Shad The Blues Kid. Ra’Shad is from the town of Laurel Mississippi. He blends southern soul, Delta Blues, and country blues and has captured the attention of fans in both Mississippi and around the world. In May, a 6-page Living Blues magazine article talked about how his parents instilled in him a love of music, from B.B. King and Bobby “Blue” Bland, to Los Lonely Boys and Toby Keith. He has so far produced several singles, and music videos, and has toured with his band across the U.S. and Europe. At the prestigious 2025 International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, Tn. Ra’Shad The Blues Band took home 2nd place in the Band competition. This remarkable achievement showcases his dedication to the blues genre. Along with his eight-piece band, his performance truly captivated the audience and is a testament to his hard work ethic and passion for the Blues. Jock Webb, Sr., his harmonica player, also took home the Lee Oskar Award for Best Harmonica player.

The ensemble includes Ra’Shad, Christopher Gillard, and Pierre Bramlett, electric guitars; Gabriel Spells, keyboards; Webb, harmonica; Omari Jones, bass; and Devin James, drums. The background vocalist is Tyler Criglar, and/or Jadarion Taylor. All of the songs are new, never previously recorded, originals. “Live in Clarksdale” opens with “Feel Alright” as Ra’Shad sings “woke up this morning, washed my face, brushed my teeth…said sometimes I feel alright”. “Juke Joint”, “I came to have a good time ’cause I feel alright, welcome to the juke joint…party with me, at the juke joint, I want to party, you want to party, at the juke joint”. “Do It Right” includes the lyric “when you do what you do, baby you do it right…shake it up babe  shake it off the ground”.

On the narrative “Ah Shyt” Ra’Shad chimes “I’m gonna tell you a story, my family resides down in Laurel, Mississippi…” with some great piano from Spells, bass from Jones, and harmonica from Webb. On “Bad Girl” Ra’Shad sings “Went to the Juke Joint the other night… can’t you see, you’re bad…you drove me crazy as a man can be”. “That’s What You Are”, “that’s what you are…your my sunshine on a cloudy day…your my shining star, baby that’s what you are, every day”.

“Get High” features the great rhythm section of bassist Jones, and drummer James, “woke up this morning, got out of my bed, I wanta’ get high, high, high”, with some great beats, and Spells on both piano and B-3. On “Singing The Blues” Ra’Shad takes us back with the Pine Belt blues, “I just got the news, that another mule was kickin’ in my stall…you can’t be trusted baby”. The funky “Hey Baby” includes the lyric “what you tryin’ to do…I want to hold you real close, squeeze you real tight, and let me rock you baby, for the rest of your life”. On “Hey Y’all”, Ra’Shad chants “we gonna, find us a juke joint and do it right, hey, hey, hey, hey, Y’ all, we’re gonna find a juke joint and party tonight”.

“Tin Pan Alley” is the only cover written by Bob Geddins, as Ra’Shad sings “the Tin Pan Alley, the only place in town, if you ever see my baby, she’s Tin Pan Alley bound”. “Move Sumthing” might just be my favorite, “baby, like I do, dance with me, move Sumthing, come’ on and move sumthing, get on up…If you know how to have a good time, let me see ya move sumthing”. On
the closer “Juke” Ra’Shad croons “can’t you hear me call, yoohoo, ya’ hoo, yoohoo, don’t you play with it…shake your money maker, come on and give me a little help, baby it’s all right, to have a good time ya’all”.

The Mississippi born Ra’Shad captures the essence of the Blues through his storytelling, of heartbreak, resilence and joy. The album posesses a cohesiveness, in that all of the songs compliment each other, making it one of the best party albums I’ve ever heard. If you want to have a good time, get down with Ra’Shad The Blues Kid.

Richard Ludmerer

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