Size: 138,1 MB
Time: 59:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2026
Styles: Contemporary blues
Art: Front
1. Welcome Wagon (3:44)
2. What Part Of Broken Up (4:17)
3. Check Her Mama (4:29)
4. Jody (3:26)
5. Worried Life Blues (5:32)
6. Key To Love (3:06)
7. Blues Of The Month Club (5:03)
8. Afraid Of My Phone (4:15)
9. Don't Knock My Love (3:18)
10. Muddy Waters Is Home (4:57)
11. Goin Down Slow (10:46)
12. Too Big To Cry (3:03)
13. Born Under A Bad Sign (3:32)
The Wildcat O'Halloran Band returns with a new record, Welcome To Sunderland, their first release on the Guitar One imprint. This 13 song set is everything we have come to know about this slippery little band out of New England. Exceptionally clever lyrics, tasteful playing and vintage sounding recordings. This band always has 70's lo-fi sounding production, which is refreshing to hear in a time of pristine digital recordings. A little dirt goes a long way!
The album opens with a cut called Welcome Wagon. A story about the police pulling over the late night drunk drivers coming out of the college bars in town. This song has a bit more of a rock and roll approach that would be at home on a Warren Zevon album versus a straight 12 bar blues. However, it would be impossible to extract the blues instincts from this outfit. You simply can't take the salt back out of the soup, and this is some pretty salty gumbo. A cool rumba Check Her Mama is the classic story of taking a good look at the mother of your love interest for a glimpse into the future. The band lays down a solid pocket on the classic blues groove with sweet guitar and harp solos peppered throughout, providing lots of heat to the already spicy rumba beat that has become a standard on most blues records.
Too Big to Cry is a fun track that embodies everything that this band brings to the blues table. Always a cool lyric that is much more thoughtful than a typical blues song. Wildcat is a storyteller at the core that clearly has a love for the blues, but a sense of humor and a contemporary spin on his words. A modern wordsmith with an old school approach to the music and production makes for an interesting listen for sure. A less typical funky approach to the Albert King classic Born Under A Bad Sign is an unexpected surprise. Cat's guitar playing seems to have the influence of the British Blues Invasion more so than any other influence. His playing on this cut is less Albert King sting and more of a Peter Green or early Clapton approach. His playing always sounds unforced and comfortable. He seems less concerned about total precision and more interested in the overall vibe.
Wildcat and company never disappoint with their dirty delivery. If you are a fan of a grittier approach to the blues there is a lot here to like. It's not overly aggressive at any point, but never dull either. The production is charmingly real as is the performance. It has the feel of the band live in the room and whatever happens is what is printed to tape. It's an approach that isn't for everyone, but has a very human quality to it that is missing in most records these days. Cat's ability to tell a story is on par with the likes of Billy Joel and Tom Waits, wrapped into the blues. Pretty solid lyrical company to say the least. If you are looking for a more light hearted approach to blues music with a contemporary approach to the lyrics this is a slam dunk. /Luke Wolk, Radio Guitar One
The album opens with a cut called Welcome Wagon. A story about the police pulling over the late night drunk drivers coming out of the college bars in town. This song has a bit more of a rock and roll approach that would be at home on a Warren Zevon album versus a straight 12 bar blues. However, it would be impossible to extract the blues instincts from this outfit. You simply can't take the salt back out of the soup, and this is some pretty salty gumbo. A cool rumba Check Her Mama is the classic story of taking a good look at the mother of your love interest for a glimpse into the future. The band lays down a solid pocket on the classic blues groove with sweet guitar and harp solos peppered throughout, providing lots of heat to the already spicy rumba beat that has become a standard on most blues records.
Too Big to Cry is a fun track that embodies everything that this band brings to the blues table. Always a cool lyric that is much more thoughtful than a typical blues song. Wildcat is a storyteller at the core that clearly has a love for the blues, but a sense of humor and a contemporary spin on his words. A modern wordsmith with an old school approach to the music and production makes for an interesting listen for sure. A less typical funky approach to the Albert King classic Born Under A Bad Sign is an unexpected surprise. Cat's guitar playing seems to have the influence of the British Blues Invasion more so than any other influence. His playing on this cut is less Albert King sting and more of a Peter Green or early Clapton approach. His playing always sounds unforced and comfortable. He seems less concerned about total precision and more interested in the overall vibe.
Wildcat and company never disappoint with their dirty delivery. If you are a fan of a grittier approach to the blues there is a lot here to like. It's not overly aggressive at any point, but never dull either. The production is charmingly real as is the performance. It has the feel of the band live in the room and whatever happens is what is printed to tape. It's an approach that isn't for everyone, but has a very human quality to it that is missing in most records these days. Cat's ability to tell a story is on par with the likes of Billy Joel and Tom Waits, wrapped into the blues. Pretty solid lyrical company to say the least. If you are looking for a more light hearted approach to blues music with a contemporary approach to the lyrics this is a slam dunk. /Luke Wolk, Radio Guitar One
Welcome To Sunderland mc
Welcome To Sunderland gofile
