“Wait a minute mate, there must be some mistake. So please let me get to the point, we might not be Jack White or the hottest guys in town – but we sold out your damn venue tonight.”
Black Banjo – The Contest.
That hook line is the perfect introduction to Black Banjo and what they do, fun, self-deprecating and classy – its also nonsense.
And its nonsense, because one look at who these boys have played with and what they’ve achieved tells you it is.
A look down the roster of Black Banjo gives you names like Deep Purple, Slash, Europe, The Scorpions and many, many more. The special guests on this include Nathaniel Peterson – who was the singer in Savoy Brown and others that have played Eric Clapton.
The point I’m making with all these clanging name drops is that BB are not some band of hopefuls that are making their way on the path. These four have been there, done it – and played the San Siro Stadium to boot.
Now, all this would be pointless if the chemistry was wrong – good grief, history is littered with Supergroups that just aren’t very good. And sport is littered with big name signings that just didn’t quite gel.
Not here. “Out Of The Skies” is purely and simply magnificent.
From the swampy, delta beginning of “Alive And Well” it is shot through with class. Catchy, but never gimmicky, it is southern rock – if you are looking for an easy reference point – but done on its own terms.
Alex Alessandrini Calisti has an almost effortless ability on the guitar, it seems – to pluck leads out of the air, while the other instrumentation they use is always so well picked out. “Stone Cold Killer” for example, has perfect harmonica.
That is the case pretty much anywhere you delve here. The title track is yet another masterclass from organ player Massimo Saccutelli – it’s the subtle nature of what they do that most hits home.
The key is on the ballads. “If It Wasn’t for The Music” underlines just how important all this is to them, and the horn section has a touch of Southside Johnny about it. “If it wasn’t for the music, I would never have made it home” – home, you suspect, is merely a metaphor.
There’s plenty of shade here. “Last Man Standing” adds a bit more of a strident rock riff than the others, and if “Youth Of The Nation” has a taste or two of the Allman Brothers than I imagine that this would be a comparison that the band might like too.
For all the dark themes in the lyrics – and there are a few – the overriding feel is one of fun, enjoyment, and warmth. “Miss Daisy” will appeal to Blackberry Smoke fans, and is perfect for cutting loose.
Another feature of this album is the brevity of it. Clocking in at just under three quarters of an hour, as if it was a homage to the home taping days (anyone under the age of 45 ask your parents….) and where most bands would jam incessantly, this is all about the songs.
The one instrumental they do is “Bumps Boogie” which is just as good as the other songs – and allows these fine musicians to cut loose. “Tainted Love”, built around a metronomic drum pattern from Archelao Macrillò definitely isn’t a Soft Cell cover, and the tender, acoustic ballad “Sue’s Gone Away” is another side to the band, but one that seems to fit in.
One of those rare gems that seems to emerge from nowhere – “Out Of The Skies” if you will – Black Banjo have made something with a rare warmth and skill.
Rating 9/10
