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BOB MARGOLIN
Hold Me To It (Blind Pig)
Reviewed by Eric Steiner
To hard-core Chicago blues fans, Bob "Steady Rollin" Margolin needs no introduction. He was a mainstay of Muddy Waters' band in the 1970's, and after that, The Legendary Blues Band and the Muddy Waters Tribute Band. Bob's one of the few musicians who's chronicled the blues as a first-class journalist and player. He's a senior writer for Blues Revue and his website, http://www.bobmargolin.com, has archived many of his insightful essays, all the more valuable as he's helped make blues history not only as one of Muddy's sidemen but a blues original in his own right. From sharing the stage with Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter, to solo discs on Alligator and now Blind Pig, he's got quite a story to tell. Hell, I think he could put many music journalists out of work if he'd put down that slide guitar of his once in awhile. On his Blind Pig debut, I'm thankful he's turned his energy to what he does best. That is, playing the blues. Plugged-in electric blues. "Hold Me To It," supercharged by Tad Walters' harp and Wes Johnson's drums, is pure, unadulterated Chicago blues and it's the real deal. Bob's searing intro to "Mean Old Chicago" recalls its inspiration of "Sweet Home Chicago" and Margolin's slide shines. Few blues players can bend notes with a slide like Margolin. Maybe that's why Muddy enlisted in his band during a stopover in Margolin's native Boston in the 70's. One surprise on Hold Me To It is Bob's cover of Bob Dylan's "Not Dark Yet." It's also a reminder that Hibbing, Minnesota, too, has produced a great blues songwriter. Bob gets a little funky on "Ice or Fire" and the set's acoustic closer, "Wee Baby Blues," is one of my favorites. It features Bob and Muddy's son, Big Bill Morganfield, sharing the mic and playing slide with Kaz Kazanoff on harp.
Track List:
All You Left Behind * Hold Me To It * Mean Old Chicago * Slam 'em Down * No Consolation * Ice or Fire * Lost Again * Hard Feelings * Not Dark Yet * Stick Out Your Can * Wee Baby Blues
© 2000 - Eric Steiner