Tag: Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil

Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil and Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs

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Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil

Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil “Shadow Play”

A plucky follow-up from 2015’s Cycle the folk duo of Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil continues to craft fine artisan music. The contemporary pop of “Chasing Angels” has layered acoustic guitars, and a workmanlike approach to open things off. The mood shifts with “Kickstart,” with its inspired melody and two-part harmonies in the chorus. Joined by XTC stalwart Dave Gregory, “Life on A Trampoline” is pure joy and an album high point.

The album plays between songs with a weary, ethereal touch and the occasional bursts of pop beauty. Highlights include the bouncy and catchy “The Way You Love Him” and “On Your Side,” and the beautiful warmth of “Make Amends.” The production here is crisp and this is definitely an album worth checking out.

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Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs

Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs “External Combustion”

If Mike Campbell sounds familiar you should know, he played with Tom Petty for most of his career as the Heartbreakers’ lead guitarist and launched The Dirty Knobs after Tom’s passing. Campell’s skill and talent keep the spirit and sound of Mr. Petty alive and well.

Campbell has the edge over any cover band as he is the real deal and the sound is uncanny. He opens with the rousing “Wicked Mind.” Mike is joined by Ian Hunter on “Dirty Job” and Margo Price on the ballad “State of Mind.” This is classic Petty, played with flair, wit, and precision. “Lightning Boogie” is another keeper, and overall this is an album that deserves to be heard.

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Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil and The Webstirs

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Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil

Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil “Cycle”

Steve Robinson, a transplanted Englishman (ex-Roger McGuinn, and the folk band The Headlights) teamed up with Ed Woltil of The Ditchflowers for the soulful Cycle. Add Fairport Convention drummer Dave Mattacks and guitarist Dave Gregory (XTC) amongst the guests here and you’ve got the makings of a stellar album. The catchy “Love Somebody” is an optimistic gem with violin accents added to the combination of electric guitars and acoustic strumming.

You hear some of Gregory’s influence in the pastoral “Wake Up Dreaming” and “Boy From Down The Hill.” The smart composition “Elastic Man” is a lush bit of psyche-pop, and “Godspeed” follows the joyful lyric “the sun will rise, you’ll open your eyes.” There is enough of a folk flavoring injected the songs to keep them grounded, and not too polished. “Wintersleeping” is an especially good mix of melodic chords and poetic lyrics. Woltil’s “Who You Are” and Robinson’s “Butterflies” both slow the tempo to acoustic lullabies. No filler to be found here, overall its like a musical shot of happiness with the overall theme “Seize The Day”. Simply beautiful and very highly recommended.


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The Webstirs

The Webstirs “Now You’ve Really Done It”

Chicago’s Webstirs have returned after a long pause, and again they still hit all the right notes. Preston Pisellini (guitars/vocals) and Mark Winkler (keyboards/vocals) are joined by longtime collaborator Matt Allison (Alkaline Trio).

Still catchy and upbeat, the songs have a darker edge than previous albums. “Saving The World” is a heroic theme about weekend warriors (armed with Mexican guns) saving the world. “Farther You Can Fall” is another terrific arrangement with a call and response chorus. “Answers” is a dramatic gem that layers guitars across the piano melody. The sobering “Easier By Now” fits into the theme of “live for today” being cold advice to ease life’s pain and its the centerpiece of the album, with a blistering guitar break between the main chorus.

“Ghosts” is a lushly produced piano-guitar combo that sounds like a mix of Billy Joel and The Barenaked Ladies. The band also addresses local history with “Haymarket Riot.” Finally “Chasing the Sound” is a grand tribute to the band’s longtime engineer Gary Rogers, who passed away in 2009. Overall a great album that deserves to be heard and proof that The Webstirs talent continues to thrive. Highly Recommended.

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