FREE Subscription - For more information  CLICK HERE

 

 

Back To Reviews page

Dave Hoffheimer Band - This & That

Hoffrecords

Time-78:44

www.myspace.com/davehoffheimer

I had the task of reviewing their last cd release, “Kingpin”, by this band from Wilmette, Illinois. As they don’t include liner notes, the only thing I’m pretty sure of is that Dave supplies vocals and lead guitar. “Kingpin” was a crazy guitar assault on the senses with partially decipherable lyrics. The lyric situation this time out is easier to handle and they go for more of a blues-rock guitar attack. The songs amount to rock grooves, mostly void of catchy riffs and forget melodies. The crisp and clear production values remain. Organ, piano and awkward girl background vocals appear from time to time.

Dave sure knows his way around some stinging guitar licks. “Guitar-Heads” and “air-guitarists” will have a field day with this stuff. He rips off some fast and concise licks. On “No Control” the guitar burns holes in the stratosphere. The loping riff in “Can’t Get No” sounds like Duane Eddy-meets-Rockabilly, to which he overlays some scorching acid-drenched solos. They even throw in a hidden track of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” that includes a blistering acid-rock guitar version of the main riff. It actually works on a sort of “head banger” level.

This is the type of record were the songs leave your memory as soon as you here them. Dave’s voice is ok, but devoid of emotion. It gets monotonous after almost 80 minutes of listening time. To use the tired old cliché, this just isn’t “my cup of tea”. I’m sure there is an audience for this type of music. I’ve heard heavy metal music that sounds fifty times worse than this. Clearly the band likes this music, as seen in the attention to detail in the production. Everything sounds crystal clear. The drummer and bass player provide the necessary crunch for this type of music.

If you liked “Kingpin” you are sure to find much to like here. It has a more organized approach and the guitar playing is really top notch. If they applied their skills to a more traditional type of songwriting they could reach a wider audience. Ok, at the end of the day it is what it is. If what it is happens to be what you enjoy, go for it. As for me...I’m going to bang my head against the nearest tree.

Reviewer Greg “Bluesdog” Szalony hails from the New Jersey Delta.

To submit a review or interview please contact:

For more information please contact:

(Formerly IllinoisBlues.com)

Home  |  Contact  |  Submit Your Blues News - Advertise with Blues Blast Magazine
 
 Copyright - Blues Blast Magazine
2010    Design by: Moxi Dawg Design