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Slim Strikes Another Hit

By Bob Riggle (Reviewer)

Watermelon Slim and the Workers
(Northern Blues, 2006)
www.watermelonslim.com

It's clear from the gritty, bare-bones blues of the first song ("Hard Times") straight through to the distinctive bayou country sound of "Eau De Bone" that Bill "Watermelon Slim" Homans has another hit.

Homans and his crew of Workers prove to be a fine group of craftsmen, providing a tight sound that seems to be effortless as they ply their craft through the various tunes. All songs, with the exception of Big Joe Williams's "Baby, Please Don't Go" were written by Homans. Percussionist Michael Newberry did the song arrangements.

The hauntingly eerie slide-guitar work on "Devil's Cadillac" may not send a chill up or down your spine, but it sure grabs your attention. And if you just like to hear some good harp work, then "Check Writing Woman" or, even better, "Possum Hand" are for you. Or even the straight-ahead boogie of "Mack Truck."

I've gotta be honest with you. I like the sound of a Dobro, and I like the mix of Watermelon Slim's voice and a Dobro. "Folding Money Blues" is a good little piece, but I was wanting more. I guess "less is more."

The best road-trip tune has got to be "Juke Joint Woman." Add a bunch of horns to the arrangement, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy would be itching to do a cover version of it.

Bill Homans is a 2004 W.C. Handy Blues Award nominee, a VVAW contact in Oklahoma, and probably still on tour somewhere. For more info or tour schedules, contact Southern Artist Management, (405) 447-4329.