The Toneshifters
“Live! Raw! Vintage!”
The Toneshifters' new release, Live! Raw! Vintage, is a four-track EP re- corded on vintage equipment which captures the remarkable virtuosity of this five-member band. In fact one has to think that the driving purpose behind this recording was to demonstrate just how diverse the band's talents truly are, in ways which can perhaps be best ap- preciated by other musicians, who will understand the difficulty of switching from one nuanced style to another and to do it well, live, and raw.
The first track, Jitterbug, captures the sound and style of late '40's to mid '50's dance music, complete with hollow- body electric guitar, lots of rhythmic, chord-rich melody, and, one assumes, a stand-up bass. There is an intensity and energy that conjures images of young people enjoying a Saturday night on the dance floor, while V-8 Fords and Chev- rolet's wait outside in patient rows. The next track, Coming Back To You, is a New Orleans French Quarter Zydeco number, complete with accordion over the bass with that unmistakable hus- tling shuffle beat. The singer announces he is Coming Back To You, if just for one night.
Seen Some Things is a blues-rock song that recites in rapid sequence the good and bad things that have hap- pened in his life ("made some cash, lost my shirt"). The EP closes with a fast paced, drums driven, rocking gospel tent revival number, each verse ending with Jesus' Got My Back now. This col- lection is a fun listen throughout, living up to the Toneshifter name as the band moves easily and masterfully between styles, making it all sound so easy which, assuredly, it is not. More info may be found at www.toneshifters.com.
- Jon Persson
