Click HERE to listen to samples from the CD "Lucky Oil On My Hand" 

 

 "Sheryl Warner and the Southside Homewreckers do not compromise one note nor one lyric . . . as they display their obvious respect for the original artists while putting their own clear mark on their work."  (John Irving, Delta Snake Daily Blues)


REVIEW

The audience at Richmond Folk Music's September 29th concert were treated to a rare sampling of early blues by local trio Sheryl Warner and the Southside Homewreckers.    It was obvious from the start that the band was enjoying the concert, and the audience quickly picked up on their enthusiasm.  Vocalist Sheryl Warner has been praised by the folk magazine "Dirty Linen" as having "one of the most expressive and powerful voices in the blues today", and she was certainly in fine form, as were guitarist Greg Kimball and harmonica player Rick Manson.    

The timespan of material ranged from the late 1890's to the 1950's, with special emphasis on Virginia bluesmen.  Hearing the stories behind the songs, and an explanation of the historical context, added an extra dimension to the concert, and Greg Kimball did an excellent job of conveying this background material. (Greg has developed an entire program Old Dominion Songsters spotlighting Virginia's contribution to the blues). 

Highlights in the first set included "You Was a Good Old Wagon, but You Done Broke Down" (one of the first ragtime pieces), "Woman Be Wise" a Sippie Wallace song containing a warning about bad girlfriends, "Ragged and Dirty" - a song about "riding the blinds" (ie hopping a freight train), and "Crow Jane", originally recorded by Carl Martin and the Tennessee Chocolate Drops.  During the second set, Greg talked about the roots of blues and the influence this style had on early country music, demonstrating with a song called "Country Blues" played Doc Boggs style on a banjo.  

Sheryl Warner and the Southside Homewreckers have been performing together for several years, and they complement each other beautifully.   Sheryl has 'the voice' (although both Greg and Rick are good vocalists as well); Greg brings mastery of several early blues guitar styles, and Rick maintains a skillful harmonica accompaniment throughout - always enhancing - but never overpowering.    Not only was the musicianship first class - all the members of the group are well versed in the history of the blues, and the audience left the concert with a deeper understanding and appreciation of this uniquely American musical genre.