Reverend Shawn Amos

Kitchen Table Blues Vol 1 and Vol 2

In February of this year, Rev. Shawn Amos released Kitchen Table Blues Vol. 1, Recorded Live Over Breakfast, Van Nuys, CA 2016, and also Kitchen Table Blues Vol. 2. Each volume contains five fabulous songs which came from f a podcast Amos did in which he invited friends over to have breakfast and make music. The Reverend handles vocals and smokin’ harmonica and manages to turn surprising songs into blues as only he can. Just wait until you hear what he does to Devos’ “Whip It” and The Faces’ “Ooh La La.”In Vol. 1, He also transforms The Alabama Shakes’ ‘Hold On,” The Sonics’ “Have Love Will Travel” and Tom Waits’ “Jesus Gonna Be Here,” which Amos got from The Holmes Brothers. I don’t have the info about who is on Vol. 1 with the Reverend, but this EP is so much fun you will be eager to see if Volume 2 is just as good.

Well, yes it is! This selection of five songs comes from podcasts from 2016-2017. Here, Amos moves away from the rock and pop sources of the first volume and roams other musical fields. For the first number, he returns one of the most sung blues classics to its roots with “Sweet Home Chicago” with guest Jean McClain providing background vocals. Robert Johnson would be so proud to hear this version of his song.

As soon as you hear The Mudbug Brass Band kick off “Lil Liza Jane,” you know you’re headed for The Crescent City! The Rev, says, ” This set a record for most musicians in my kitchen at any one time.” It really sounds like a party!

“Bright Lights, Big City” is a duet with the great Mindi Abair and turns that country classic into a fantastic blues, with some hot harmonica too! Another duet is “Whatcha Gonna Do” with Amos’ friend Lester Lands. There is nothing like hearing two well-matched singers having fun with a song!

For the last song, “Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean,” Amos turns the vocals over to his daughter, Piper, who obviously inherited her father’s talent.

Rev. Shawn Amos calls his music “joyful blues” and you will feel joyful after listening to these two volumes! This is real, feel-good music that you will want to share with all your friends.