Junkyard Dogs are Let off Their Leashes

If I’ve spent some days now, highlighting a wealth of local talented teenagers, forming new bands, and creating a blossoming scene, this isn’t one of those days. And if I’ve reviewed musical releases breaking new ground, this isn’t it either. This is about the Junkyard Dogs, a popular Trowbridge based blues band who kindly posted their CD, Off The Leash, through my letterbox…..

It’s nice to receive something other than bills from Pat, and I’m mature enough to recall a day pre-spotty-fly and Deezer-not-a-geezer, when all music for reviewing was sent via this antiquated method; it’s nice to have something to hold too, something physical. And if I convey ageism I’m hypocritically in the same boat, but on the grounds they’ve a self-penned song titled Too Fat, too Old, Too Bald, I’d imagine and pray they don’t mind; old enough to know better, too old to care, they are Junkyard Dogs, after all.

For I was wondering, when they announced they had an album coming out if they’d polished their pub circuit act and glossed it with a studio makeover, and I furthered it with intrigue but also with concern that this route may not have had the same dynamic blast of their live show. Which is justified, it can and has happened to others.

But it hasn’t here, they’ve rightfully opted to give us a disc recorded live, at The Mason Arms in Warminster last year, only mastered at Sonic Temple, and this simply works, as I don’t believe it’s the kind of groundbreaking CD to be rushing off the HMV shelves, rather the kind of keepsake you pick up after being blown away by a stupendous show, and can happily take a little piece of it back home with you; a secret treasure.

So, if you do catch these guys live, do also beg them for this CD, it has a cover parodying Tarintino film Reservoir Dogs, despite this being a blessing on the ear rather than the slicing of one as seen in the film, and you will love it!

I trust myself to divulge this fact, as many readers are Devizes based, and Devizes is a blues town, I’ve mentioned before what I call the Mel Bush Effect. But personally, I love it because I love my blues rooted, and though the Dogs are electrically amplified their style is deeply rooted too; harmonicas aplenty.

The opening song proving my point, the 1955 prototypical rocker Flip, Flop and Fly, Big Joe Turner’s similar follow-up arrangement to Shake, Rattle and Roll, a tune covered by Bill Haley which essentially spurred a musical revolution, but quintessentially was originally deemed jump blues.

And I favour that term above the later coined rhythm and blues, as it defines it, it encourages a jump rather than melancholic contemplation of delta blues, and it makes for a massive percent of the Dog’s set, it’s lively, it’s carefree, it’s songs about long-legged women, ambiguous usage of the term jelly roll, and flying by the seat of one’s pants; I rest my case.

Off the Leash is the kind of truckload of fun which could instantly turn a reading room into a juke joint! This said, there’s a fair quantity of this on our circuit, I accept the point, but few do it with the gusto, proficiency and authenticity of Junkyard Dogs.

Mostly self-penned nuggets of blissful blues, other covers include Dale Hawkins’ Susie Q, definably from the golden age of rockabilly, and Robert Parker’s rhythm and blues signature Barefootin’, but the most adroit is the finale of the gospel classic Jesus on the Mainline, originally recorded by Rev. Gatemouth Moore, but covered extensively by the likes of Ry Cooper and Fairport Convention. The tune features Cindy Wilson on vocal harmonies with Jonboy, Craig and Danny, and it highlights a certain diversity in Americana the Dogs will stretch too, making a poignant finale.

But for the most part, this CD is about letting the good times roll, and for this it works a treat. Who, who, who, whoever lets these dogs out, need walkies themselves, to go see them live, this album only stands a testament to why.