Rich Hope goes back to the country with Can’t Get No Lovin’

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      Can’t Get No Lovin’ 7” (Independent)

      Rich Hope has a well-deserved reputation for being one of our city’s most dependably grimy bluesmen, but his promo material now proudly declares, “Rich Hope has gone back to the country!”

      This isn’t too drastic a transition, since Hope is clearly still fascinated with the music of the American South. Instead of dive-bar boogie and two-piece rock ’n’ roll, however, he now favours classic Americana with ornate instrumental touches. He’s joined on his latest 7-inch by four core backing players, referred to as His Blue Rich Rangers, and they provide a full-bodied foundation for Hope’s charmingly imperfect croon.

      A-side “Can’t Get No Lovin’ ” is the real treat here, as dirt-road country mingles with aching southern soul in a graceful arrangement that incorporates acoustic strumming, electrified twang, and smooth horns. It evokes everyone from Van Morrison to Otis Redding to the Band, and there’s a wonderful trace of boozy grit in Hope’s voice as the song swells toward its harmony-flecked choruses.

      The band picks up the tempo on the flip side for a cover of Doug Sahm’s “Dynamite Woman”. This perky hoedown is peppered with fiddle and pedal-steel, and it sounds like it was intended to be heard while stomping on a saloon’s wooden floorboards with cowboy boots. Whiskey shots are optional.

      Comments

      1 Comments

      Meathead

      Jul 28, 2013 at 9:53pm

      Just saw Rich with his Evil Doer at the Wise on Friday... nothin' but good times from this guy.