Darrell Mansfield Band
Last Chance Boogie
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
It's nice to hear this brilliant blues player still kicking out the jams. This album, Last Chance Boogie, lives up to its name on most of the tracks, slowing down every once in a while for a slower blues standard. Me thinks there's only a handful of harp players in the world that can match Darrell's talent on harmonica, and he's joined by longtime bandmate Eric Turner on guitar. This studio recording features mostly originals written by Darrell with his friends. While I think Darrell does well in all kinds of formats, from the acoustic blues in the Trimmed & Burnin series to the more straight-up live blues sessions with Larry Howard and Glenn Kaiser, I most enjoy his rockin' blues jams in a band setting. Fans of boogie rock like Foghat, blues rock like the Rolling Stones to George Thorogood to ZZ Top, and fans of blues guitar a la Stevie Ray all have something to really enjoy here. Available from Rad Rockers (see their full page ad in this issue for ordering info).