By Wildy of WILDY'S WORLD:
Review: MYSTR Treefrog - Swampadelic Hound Dawg
MYSTR Treefrog - Swampadelic Hound Dawg 2009, Ottomannix Music, Inc.
Very often I’ll try to give a very brief introduction to a band in the first paragraph of a review. There are occasionally albums I review from folks who really need no introduction, and then there are, from time to time, acts for which any introduction would be insufficient. Silver Spring, Maryland’s MYSTR Treefrog is one such artist. Born from the sweltering heart of Southern Blues with a punk attitude and some good, old fashioned Psychedelia thrown in, MYSTR Treefrog isn’t quite like anything that’s been heard in the popular music scene in a while. His album, Swampadelic Hound Dawg, is better heard than written about.
Swampadelic Hound Dawg opens with Walkerdawg, a delicious mix of Blues and Cajun styles that's guaranteed to get your musical libido swinging. The guitar work here is outstanding, and MYSTR Treefrog's voice sounds like part Leon Redbone and part Dan Akroyd. Jefferson Nova and Kelly Chevette is a "cautionary tale" about two young bandits from Maryland out on the road. It's an entertaining story-song but not one of the stronger tracks on the disc. How Gone Is Gone is a letter to a long-lost friend in song about letting go and freeing yourself from the ties that bind and about happiness. It's unusually personal and stands out from the rest of the album as a serious and introspective attempt at reaching out across innumerable miles to someone who may or may not be listening. God's Gift 2 Man is an old school intervention set to song around some of the filthiest blues licks this is of the Mississippi. It's an out-of-the-box story song that's entertaining and has a vaguely theatrical sensibility. Leonard is a strong blues/rock tune with great rhythm and some kicking collaboration between guitar and harmonica.
Other highlights include Chasin' Tail, My Babes A Mechanic and Nawlins Worm Dance.
MYSTR Treefrog forges eclectic mix of Folk, Blues, Rock and some Cajun seasoning on Swampadelic Hound Dawg in creating a listening experience you won't soon forget. I can't say I loved every song on the disc, but as a complete work it's unforgettable. I have a sense that MYSTR Treefrog isn't a complete experience until you catch him live. Do so, if you have the opportunity.Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)You can learn about MYSTR Treefrog at http://www.myspace.com/mystrtreefrog%20or%20mystrtreefrogsblitherfestival.blogspot.com. You can purchase a copy of Swampadelic Hound Dawg at CDBaby.com.
Posted by Wildy at 6:15 AM
Labels: Captain Beefheart, Dan Akroyd, Howlin Wolf, Iggy Pop, Jim Morrison, John Zorn, Leon Redbone, Tinkerbell, Tom Waits
Friday, August 21, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
SWAMPADELIC HOUND DAWG AT CDBABY !!
http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vY2RiYWJ5LmNvbS9jZC9NWVNUUlRyZWVmcm9nNOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
SWAMPADELIC HOUND DAWG
PRESS AND BLOG RELEASE
The New CD by MYSTR Treefrog is Now available on www.CDbaby.net
Some truly great people contributed to the sound of this album.
BleeChild played drums on most of the tracks on the Cd. It was great to be able to work with him again in the studio. We haven’t been able to do studio work since laying down rough tracks for what would be Mer De Mente by SHOCK OPERA. We’ve known and played music together since he was 14 years old. His enthusiasm for live performance hasn’t changed. He plays in three thousand bands in and around Richmond,Va…The SPLINTERED JELLY BABIES,THE STRAP-ONS, PURE AND SINFUL (just to name a few.)He refuses to be quiet or still or entirely un-demented.
It is also possible that he NEVER sleeps.
Check him out on http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmJsZWVjaGlsZC5jb20v
ELIJAH BRAYTON- Bass. I guess I had to grow my own. Luckily for me the genetics kicked in. His track on “Chasin’ Tail” was so supremely funky it made the whole experience worthwhile….besides- he’s way easier on the eyes for the female fans than M.T.F…his memory is amazingly intact AND he lifts all the heavy stuff- (including P.A., Drums, and M.T.F. after each performance.) Such a good Lad.
ALPHONSO “HOT”COLES- Djembe and Hand Percussion: Alphonso has been a key element to the SWAMPADELIC THUMP signature sound. His work with both the Electric and Acoustic textures of the band is pivotal by adding the go-go and Afro-Latin beat to the stew.Alphonso and MYSTR Treefrog often go out as a duo and play Acoustically anywhere they are allowed to do so. They may even submit to the indignity of applying for a D.C. busquer’s license. Or then again-maybe not.
GARY FRALIN- Organ on TRUTH SAFARI and SLOW SHAPES. This performance came about as a casual phone call from BleeChild for Gary to bump down to SNAKE OIL STUDIOS to lay down a track or two. What a great player. It was inspirational and added so much to the emotion and texture of the sound that everyone was blown away. NOTHING makes a song better than the soul of a B-3 and a Leslie Cabinet.
GARY BROWN of BUSHMASTER BLUES- Played Amazing Lead Guitar to M.T.F.’s Acoustic 12 string on GOD’S GIFT 2 MAN. Gary Brown is probably one of THE BEST live guitar players on The East(and West) Coast. This track is just a small sample of what he and his Stratocaster are capable of. He and his wife Trudi are true Blues Road Warriors and travel all over the area playing incredible live blues-rock. Do yourself a favor- Go check him out. One show will restore your faith in live Guitar Artistry.
http://www.myspace.com/bushmasterblues
ELE EDBERG- played a nearly perfect rimshot track on JEFFERSON NOVA AND KELLY CHEVETTE. He nailed the track a flawless first take. Ele is the son of a great musician from Takoma Park, MARK EDBERG of The FURIES. He and Eli were elementary schoolmates. He is currently studying Music theory at Temple University in Philadelphia.
This young Cat is gonna set the Jazz World on Fire- I guarantee.
COLEMAN O’DONOHUE- channeled his inner NAWLINS Funky Swamp Thang on LEONARD and added some great Hi=hat work on TRUTH SAFARI. Coleman is well known in The Md/DC area as a premier session and Live Jazz Drummer for anyone that matters. He is also the kindly, friendly and humorous cat who runs the Drum Kingdom at Chuck Levins Washington Music Center. He knows more about Plastic food shaped shake toys and maracas than anyone else alive. He’s kind of a Percussionist Mark Twain.
He’d probably disagree but he’s not the bragging type.
The Drum and Organ Tracks were recorded(with great patience) by
Dan-O DECKLEMAN at SNAKE OIL STUDIOS in Richmond, Va.
Dan-O is a veteran road-dog of years of touring in Europe and the U.S.-most notably with the band ADAM WEST. It takes a practicing live musician to understand what is needed to record excitable crazy people with manic ideas. A sense of humor and good micing technique will win out every time.
The final mix was done by FRANK MARCHAND, engineering legend of the Maryland Music Jungle at WATERFORD DIGITAL in Odenton, Md. Frank has been responsible for the sound of THE ALMIGHTY SENATORS,BOB MOULD,CHOPTEETH,NOTHINGFACE,MISS SARAH AND THE HELP,EAST IS EAST,JIMMY’S CHICKEN SHACK and nearly everyone else. He is also in great demand as a live touring sound engineer and has traveled the planet doing so. He will be moving to Takoma Park by Late Summer to be a partner in AIRSHOW STUDIOS. This will be a musical powerhouse…move over Stax and Muscle Shoals...
KELLY CHEVETTE added her vocal atmospheric flair to the opening track: WALKERDAWG. She will be responsible for starting and calming many a boot-slapping,bar-fighting Swampadelic sonic food fight. We look forward to the headlines…Her instant celebrity status will never change her -she may,however, be impossible to recognize with that solid black bar across her eyes.
SWAMPADELIC HOUND DAWG
PRESS AND BLOG RELEASE
The New CD by MYSTR Treefrog is Now available on www.CDbaby.net
Some truly great people contributed to the sound of this album.
BleeChild played drums on most of the tracks on the Cd. It was great to be able to work with him again in the studio. We haven’t been able to do studio work since laying down rough tracks for what would be Mer De Mente by SHOCK OPERA. We’ve known and played music together since he was 14 years old. His enthusiasm for live performance hasn’t changed. He plays in three thousand bands in and around Richmond,Va…The SPLINTERED JELLY BABIES,THE STRAP-ONS, PURE AND SINFUL (just to name a few.)He refuses to be quiet or still or entirely un-demented.
It is also possible that he NEVER sleeps.
Check him out on http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmJsZWVjaGlsZC5jb20v
ELIJAH BRAYTON- Bass. I guess I had to grow my own. Luckily for me the genetics kicked in. His track on “Chasin’ Tail” was so supremely funky it made the whole experience worthwhile….besides- he’s way easier on the eyes for the female fans than M.T.F…his memory is amazingly intact AND he lifts all the heavy stuff- (including P.A., Drums, and M.T.F. after each performance.) Such a good Lad.
ALPHONSO “HOT”COLES- Djembe and Hand Percussion: Alphonso has been a key element to the SWAMPADELIC THUMP signature sound. His work with both the Electric and Acoustic textures of the band is pivotal by adding the go-go and Afro-Latin beat to the stew.Alphonso and MYSTR Treefrog often go out as a duo and play Acoustically anywhere they are allowed to do so. They may even submit to the indignity of applying for a D.C. busquer’s license. Or then again-maybe not.
GARY FRALIN- Organ on TRUTH SAFARI and SLOW SHAPES. This performance came about as a casual phone call from BleeChild for Gary to bump down to SNAKE OIL STUDIOS to lay down a track or two. What a great player. It was inspirational and added so much to the emotion and texture of the sound that everyone was blown away. NOTHING makes a song better than the soul of a B-3 and a Leslie Cabinet.
GARY BROWN of BUSHMASTER BLUES- Played Amazing Lead Guitar to M.T.F.’s Acoustic 12 string on GOD’S GIFT 2 MAN. Gary Brown is probably one of THE BEST live guitar players on The East(and West) Coast. This track is just a small sample of what he and his Stratocaster are capable of. He and his wife Trudi are true Blues Road Warriors and travel all over the area playing incredible live blues-rock. Do yourself a favor- Go check him out. One show will restore your faith in live Guitar Artistry.
http://www.myspace.com/bushmasterblues
ELE EDBERG- played a nearly perfect rimshot track on JEFFERSON NOVA AND KELLY CHEVETTE. He nailed the track a flawless first take. Ele is the son of a great musician from Takoma Park, MARK EDBERG of The FURIES. He and Eli were elementary schoolmates. He is currently studying Music theory at Temple University in Philadelphia.
This young Cat is gonna set the Jazz World on Fire- I guarantee.
COLEMAN O’DONOHUE- channeled his inner NAWLINS Funky Swamp Thang on LEONARD and added some great Hi=hat work on TRUTH SAFARI. Coleman is well known in The Md/DC area as a premier session and Live Jazz Drummer for anyone that matters. He is also the kindly, friendly and humorous cat who runs the Drum Kingdom at Chuck Levins Washington Music Center. He knows more about Plastic food shaped shake toys and maracas than anyone else alive. He’s kind of a Percussionist Mark Twain.
He’d probably disagree but he’s not the bragging type.
The Drum and Organ Tracks were recorded(with great patience) by
Dan-O DECKLEMAN at SNAKE OIL STUDIOS in Richmond, Va.
Dan-O is a veteran road-dog of years of touring in Europe and the U.S.-most notably with the band ADAM WEST. It takes a practicing live musician to understand what is needed to record excitable crazy people with manic ideas. A sense of humor and good micing technique will win out every time.
The final mix was done by FRANK MARCHAND, engineering legend of the Maryland Music Jungle at WATERFORD DIGITAL in Odenton, Md. Frank has been responsible for the sound of THE ALMIGHTY SENATORS,BOB MOULD,CHOPTEETH,NOTHINGFACE,MISS SARAH AND THE HELP,EAST IS EAST,JIMMY’S CHICKEN SHACK and nearly everyone else. He is also in great demand as a live touring sound engineer and has traveled the planet doing so. He will be moving to Takoma Park by Late Summer to be a partner in AIRSHOW STUDIOS. This will be a musical powerhouse…move over Stax and Muscle Shoals...
KELLY CHEVETTE added her vocal atmospheric flair to the opening track: WALKERDAWG. She will be responsible for starting and calming many a boot-slapping,bar-fighting Swampadelic sonic food fight. We look forward to the headlines…Her instant celebrity status will never change her -she may,however, be impossible to recognize with that solid black bar across her eyes.
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