Thomas Wynn & The Believers – Wade
Waist Deep
Every now and then, a band comes along from
out of the blue that makes you smile, makes you sit up and notice, or just
makes reviewing an absolute dream for all those times that make an average
album difficult to write about. It’s also an album worthy of reviewing months
after its release, as I hope new fans will find them just as I have only this
week.
Great music is easily reviewed, average
isn’t. Words can pour out with platitudes easily. If it weren’t for a gig this
week watching The Temperance Movement, I very much doubt that Thomas Wynn &
The Believers and me would have crossed paths….ever! I’m very much pleased that
our paths crossed.
Here I am, witnessing a band, three albums
into their carrier. I can’t tell you much about their previous albums, as I’ve
not got them. Their performance at The Ritz Manchester was nothing short of
stunning. It was pure Rock & Roll, Southern rock, with Blues and Gospel
thrown in for good measure. If church were like this, I’d be there every week!
So what of the album? Does it cut the
mustard? Well, yes it does. Because if
you can perform like likes guys can live, then the songs are the foundation.
The band is basically set up around Thomas Wynn (Vocals, Guitar), and his
sister Olivia (Vocals, Tambo). It does not stop there. There is Dave Wagner
(Bass), Ryan Miranda (Drums), Colin Fei (Keys), and last, but by no means
least, Chris ‘Bell’ Antemesaris (Harmonica). This guy plays his harmonica like
a lead guitarist, I shit you not!
When all of ‘this’ comes together, Thomas
Wynn & The Believers makes for one very pleasing listen. Thomas provides
most of the lead vocals, but to suggest Olivia is anything less than a lead
vocalist herself is wrong. Her vocals complement and ride along with Thomas’s
in perfect harmony. It’s layered, explosive, and just great. The opening three
songs are a mix of styles, - ‘Man Out Of Time’ has its roots steeped in the
Blues, whilst ‘Wade Waist Deep’ is every inch Southern gospel, and ‘Heartbreak
Alley’ is country. Thomas Wade & The Believers don’t care if you want them
to pick a style, they are comfortable any way they want to go. So far it’s all
excellent.
‘I Don’t Regret’ is a moving performance,
and ‘I Don’t Regret’ features some fantastic vocals and is one of the
highlights of Wade Waist Deep. The chorus pounds along with the bass and drums,
with the Hammond whistling along subtlety in the distance, whilst the Wynn’s
provide the spark and fire. Sandwiched between these is ‘Thin Love’, a perky
little song that gets close to a pop song, as they are likely to get. ‘You
Can’t Hurt Me’ is a harder rocking song based around the Hammond, with a
classic rock chorus. It’s a song set in the late 60’ s from bands like Cream
and Blind Faith. Throw in the fuzzed up harmonica and its like listening to
Hendrix jamming along for good measure. ‘Mountain Fog’ doesn’t get out of third
gear, but….it doesn’t have to. It’s potent enough as it is. ‘Burn As One’ is a
showcase for their Southern Rock roots and vocally its like Ann Wilson has
joined in for added oomph! It an up-tempo rocker that fizzes along.
‘Feel The Good’ fits alongside ‘Thin Love’
in its composition. ‘We Could All Die Screaming’ sets its stall out right from
the first few bars – a decent heavy rocker with it’s John Lord influenced
organ, and its brooding, dark guitar riff.
The last song on the album is just simply
one of the best rock songs I’ve heard. TW&TB throw everything at it. It
reminds me of Bigelf, Skynyrd, and Deep Purple all rolled into one great
performance. It starts off slowly,
maintains this pace of not going anywhere until the mid point, then, ‘Wham!’
The bass riff is like Kiss’ ‘Detroit Rock City’ and it’s off into heavy rock/prog
territory. In the 70s this was the kind of song a band could easily get 15-20
minutes out of. They ended with this at their recent gig, and I had no idea
where the song was going – it just picks you up and carries you off before
putting you the mixer and spitting you out, muttering ‘WTF just happened!’
Plaudits are most likely directed at Thomas
and Olivia, but every single person in the bands comes together and makes their
mark for what is a truly great performance.
I now have another reason to visit Florida
other than going to Disney!
If I were to do my Top Albums list of 2017
again, I’d need to make some room in the Top 10!
8.5/10
Tracklisting –
Man Out Of Time
Wade Waist Deep
Heartbreak Alley
My Eyes Won’t Be Open
Thin Love
I Don’t Regret
You Can’t Hurt Me
Mountain Fog
Burn As One
Feel The Good
We Could All Die Screaming
Turn Into Gold
Thomas Wynn & The Believers
Thomas Wynn (Vocals, Guitar)
Olivia Wynn (Vocals, Tambo)
Dave Wagner (Bass)
Ryan Miranda (Drums)
Colin Fei (Keys)
Chris ‘Bell’ Antemesaris (Harmonica).