Tas Cru

All Natural Cage-Free and Fan Feed: Live

Sub Cat Records

Tas Cru lives in Chaumont, New York, not far from the Canadian border. He released his debut recording in 2008. Tas states his unusual stage name was bestowed on him by a Quebecois fan and roughly means “raw potato”. At the International Blues Challenge in 2014 Tas won a “Keeping the Blues Alive Award” in education. “For over 20 years, Tas Cru has been developing and conducting activities teaching about the blues”. He self-funded two children’s albums “Even Bugs Sing The Blues” and “Doggone Blues” and he donates copies to schools, community groups, and blues societies.

This new album was recorded live in Syracuse. All songs were written by Tas except for one co-write. Tas sings all vocals, except for several duets, and plays lead guitar throughout the recording. This collection of fan-favorites opens with 2017’s “Dat Maybe” from Tas’ Simmered & Stewed album. Tas sings “don’t say you will if you know you won’t”. Next up is the gospel influenced “Stand Up!”, “when it’s time for you to choose”. On “Brown Liquor Woman” Tas sings “she don’t drink no wine, only one thing will please her when she wants a good time…she’s got whiskey on her mind”. Scott Ebner plays keyboards.

The song “Have A Drink” from the 2018 “Memphis Song” album features vocalist Mary Ann Casale, a.k.a. Mia, as she sings “I tried talkin’ to you”. Keyboardist Scott Ebner takes a vocal on “Take Me Back To Tulsa”, he puts the “pedal to the metal” on this infectious classic from 2014’s “You Keep The Money”. Tas opens “Grizzle n’ Bone” with a great guitar riff on this ode to waffle house waitresses everywhere.

The funky “One Eyed Jack” includes the lyric “it’s hard to keep on winning when your just a one-eyed jack”. On “You Keep The Money” Tas sings if “you don’t believe in a better tomorrow, show me love, and you keep the money”. “Drunk Half the Time”, “talkin’ about my baby, she got lips that taste like cherry wine”. “Heal My Soul” was co-written by Tas and Mia and we get to hear Mia’s beautiful voice once again on this beautiful duet, with great rhythm from bassist Tom Terry and drummer Phil Diiorio.

Currently this album is only available on the bandstand after Tas’ shows. Fortunately I was able to obtain a copy. It will be officially released on September 27, 2024. This live recording also serves as a career retrospective, so better be sure and pick up a copy. I love it, and I’m sure you will too.

Richard Ludmerer
Contributing Editor/Making A Scene

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