Head Honchos: Bring It On Home

Bring It On Home, the debut album from Indiana newcomers Head Honchos, is a family affair. Father and son, side by side, guitars in hand and the blues in their hearts. The elder of the two, Rocco Calipari Sr, ain’t no new kid on the block, time already well served with respected outfit Howard And The White Boys. The younger - you guessed it - Rocco Calipari Jr, is his father’s equal, the mix of youthful exuberance and maturity serving the pair well as they blast out a smart mix of originals and covers. Aided by drummer Scott Schultz and alternating bass-men Roberto Agosto and CC Copeland, where this outfit truly make their mark is through their chosen blues-attack. Long known for its serious, maudlin, ‘heavy’ outlook, here the blues are delivered with a glint in its eye and the intention to bring the good times. Sprinkling a little funk here, a slice of soul there and some mighty fine fret frolics just about everywhere, the one thing you’re assured by the time the thirteen tracks have had their way with you, is that you’ll be grinning from ear to ear. “Lucky’s Train� even alluding to that fact, the lyrics talking of a shit eating grin as a deep harmonica fuelled groove thunders into the station.

Whether it’s the more familiar tones of “Fire On The Bayou� and “Going Down�, or the brand new and undoubtedly spanking “Not For Me�, with its tribal beats, and “Whiskey Devil� and its darting guitar and horns, there’s an irresistible up-tempo vibe that runs so deep through these songs that you just have to give in to it. The mix of the album from Mike Regan assures there’s also a clear picture of exactly what’s going on, while the mastering work from Grooveyard Records regular Stavros Papadopoulos is remarkably bright. Although the sheer force of the kick-drum and bass guitar in the opening pair of cuts on this album, does, at volume, dance maybe just a little too readily in your chest.

That, however, is the only minor quibble as “That Drivin’ Beat� careens past with no little precision and poise, and “Work� hits home with real force and passion. With Rocco Snr possessing a hugely convincing vocal bark and a serous flair on the frets, it’s Jnr who locks in tight with the rhythm men, as they lay down the unmovable foundations and allow the melodies and solos to weave their spell. Bring It On Home is exciting, it’s vibrant, but most of all, this debut from the Head Honchos is damn good fun.

Track Listing
1. NOT FOR ME

2. OLD AND TIRED

3. WORK

4. COME STRONG

5. NEXT TO YOU

6. MEAN OLD WORLD

7. FIRE ON THE BAYOU

8. LUCKY'S TRAIN

9. WHISKEY DEVIL

10. THAT DRIVIN' BEAT

11. 99 1/2 WON'T DO

12. GOING DOWN

13. SOUL FREE

Added: September 20th 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Bring It On Home at The Grooveyard
Hits: 1227
Language: english

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