Larry Howard
Cornerstone Blues Jam
Reviewed by Spiny Norman
Here's a 17-song collection of a live blues/Gospel jam recorded at C-Stone '92. A few of the tunes will interest those headbangers with diverse interests. Some gritty blues are kicked out in "Love Will Make You Change Your Ways," "Evangelistic Blues" (with Darrell Mansfield accompanying on harmonica) and "Judgement Day Blues" (by Mark Farner), which is probably the heaviest tune here. The former Grand Funk Railroader makes a couple more appearances with Mr. Howard, including "Some Kind of Wonderful" with Margaret Becker on vocals. The most interesting tune is Guardian's appearance with an electrified version of "Take Up Your Cross." Tony Palacios' guitar tone is superb and authentic slide blues guitar. The majority of tunes here would not interest even the most open-minded metalhead, unless he's had a few rivets knocked out in the moshpit. Most of it's hardcore black Gospel, like Jessy Dixon's snappy rendition of "Operator." There ain't no metal here, but some of this stuff does jam. It's labeled "Volume One," so maybe next year's jam will include Bride.