Ron Spencer Band – Into The Blue/Real Gone Records #104
“Future Retro”, is how the Ron Spencer Band describes their new release, ‘Into The Blue’ - Real Gone Records #104. While it wears its’ blues-based influences proudly on its’ sleeve, its’ topical lyrics and clever arrangements prove that the blues’ appeal is alive and well in todays’ music climate. With over 180 years’ collective experience, the Ron Spencer Band are no mere ‘retro’ imitators jumping on the current trend; they cut their musical teeth when this music was a current trend!
‘Into The Blue’, their third release, mines the cannon of American blues-based roots music; the Chicago shuffle sing-a-long, (I’m Doin’) Ah-ight, the New Orleans second-line meets B.B.King feel of, ’Cold Outside’, the swamp blues, ‘Addicted To You,’ , the autobiographical Memphis strut of, ‘Calllin’ To Me’, a Bill Doggett inspired rhumba, ‘So Wrong For Each Other’, and rockin’ boogie, ‘Fine, Fine Woman’; it’s all here! For the first time they have included two covers. O.V. Wrights’ soul classic, ‘Blind, Crippled & Crazy’ and the rockin’ Moon Martin penned, ‘Cadillac Walk’ join their eight head boppin’, foot tappin,’ dance floor fillin’ originals for an “all killer- no filler” listen! No skip button needed here! ‘Future retro’ is here to stay!
For over 30 yrs. Ron Spencer has honed his guitar skills to a laser fine focus. Inspired initially by the contemporary blues guitarists of the day, such as Jimmy Vaughn, Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl, and Jr. Watson, he eventually dug deeper into the catalogues of B.B. King, T- Bone Walker, Otis Rush, Albert Collins, to name just a few. Over the years he has lent his considerable guitar skills to Delmark blues diva, Big Time Sarah, Blue Wave Record’s, Kim Lembo , Backbone Slip, GRAMMY nominated Joe Whiting, W. C. Handy Award nominated Jimmy Cavallo. In 2006 Blue Wave released the all-star SAMMY Award winning, Ron Spencer & Jumpstart, featuring Savoy Brown’s Pat DeSalvo, Kingsnakes and Savoy Brown frontman, Pete McMahon, r&b pioneer, Jimmy Cavallo and Built For Comfort’s, Matt Tarbell.
Streamlining the lineup to a four piece group, the Ron Spencer Band was formed in 2007 and released two all original blues-roots based cds on Real Gone Records, ‘Roller Coaster Blues’, 2009 winner of Blues Revues’ ‘Sponsor the Bands’ contest, and ‘2013s’ Soul Reason’, which Blues Revues’, Tom Hyslop called, “an outstanding set of blues and soul”.
The Ron Spencer Bands’ latest, ‘Into The Blue’, raises the bar even further and reaches across the blues spectrum with a set of songs whose broad appeal is undeniable and groove is irresistible!
The Ron Spencer Band is:
Ron Spencer – guitar & vocals
Mark Gibson – vocals
Bob Purdy – bass, vocals
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