The Irish Times - Friday, November 7, 2008

BLUES

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Joe Breen on this week's blues release

HOLLYWOOD SLIM & THE FAT CATS

Tryin' to Make a Living

****

Slimster

This Dublin-based band describe their music as 1970s California blues. But, really, their remit travels far and wide, from Texas to New Orleans, from Chicago to the Mississippi Delta, and tips the hat

to a whole slew of blues styles and heroes along the way. Blues bands come and go, and it takes something exceptional to make them stand out: Hollywood Slim is an impressive vocalist with a lively harp sound, the rhythm section of Papa Hynes and Reverend Priestly fits like a glove, and the guitar playing of Graham "Junior" Hynes is a constant surprise, never taking the obvious solo.

Here I must admit bias; he works for a newspaper - this one.

However, along with the silken piano skills of guest Gavin Povey, Hynes adds a real sheen to the proceedings. The 10 tracks feature a couple of originals, including the excellent opener in the T-Bone Walker style, Shouldna Done That .

JOE BREEN