Live To Be This
Gulf Coast, 2025
9/10
The Boneshakers, i.e. Jenny Langer and Randy Jacobs, are joined by many guests for these playful and powerful blues tunes.
“I’ll Kick A Brick (For My Man)” opens with Rodney Lee’s animated keys that align with Langer’s robust pipes and Mark Pender’s bright trumpet, and “They Say I’m Different” follows with a bouncy mood, where Greg Bissonette’s agile drumming and Lenny Castro’s lively percussion won’t go unnoticed.
Moving towards the middle, “Evil No More” recruits Charlie Musselwhite’s spirited harmonica amid the rugged qualities, while “Here I Am” makes great use of Joe Sublett’s rich sax that suits Jacob’s meticulous guitar and Langer’s expressive voice.
Closer to the end, “Tears Of The World”, the album’s best, benefits much from Tully Winfield’s soulful backing vocals via the rich delivery, and “The Cake And The Candle” exits with Scott Mayo and Charlean Carmon’s well timed voices complementing Langer’s intimate singing that’s poetic.
This is the duo's 11th album, and it’s a superb blend of blues, soul and rock that will tug on the heartstrings but also get you on the dance floor thanks to the funk, grooves and anthemic bouts.
Travels well with: Albert Castiglia- Righteous Sounds; Mike Zito- Life Is Hard