Kyle Rowland Not Holding Back

 

It was our friend Fabio who suggested Duwayne Burnside's excellent hill country blues record "Red Rooster" a few weeks ago, and it was Fabio who suggested the new one from Kyle Rowland, "Not Holding Back."

This record is slicker, in a Jimmie Vaughan/Fab T-Birds style, but Rowland plays a mean harp and the record covers a lot of ground. Maybe too much. At 52 minutes, "Not Holding Back" lives up to its title when it probably should have held back about 15 minutes of music. Songs like "E.G.O." and "We're Still Friends" just don't cut it here among the gritty cuts like "I'll Take You Back" and "Backtracking." Actually, "We're Still Friends" sounds more like John Mayer than I needed on this record.

But, as a whole, Rowland's real debut after two self-released records back in 2011, is a terrific collection of soul, R&B and blues. Whittle it down to a digestible 38 minutes and you've got a winner. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Folk Music

 

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Give The Drummer Some, Part 7: Omar Hakim

 

I was obsessed with this track when I first heard it. I wasn't aware of drummer Omar Hakim prior to seeing him perform live with Sting in 1985. He is featured on both Sting's solo debut and the live concert film and album that followed. But I had been listening to Weather Report since I first heard 1977's "Heavy Weather." It was six years later that Hakim joined Weather Report and it was this track from 1984 that made me a fan for life.

The groove, once you get past the acrobatic intro, is indeed a waltz. And once you grab hold of it, you will find it hard to not count "1-2-3" for the full 11 minutes. Or at least, that's what the drummer in me feels.

The groove, if you don't count "1-2-3," also swings like a muthafu**a! 

I once played this track in a crowded shop on a Saturday afternoon, and I had a dozen people boppin' while shoppin'.

Omar Hakim's playing is off the charts. It's mind-boggling and still fluid. 

I hope you get lost in the "D-Flat Waltz." 

 

I rarely read a post on someone's blog and then immediately post the same thing here. But our pal Steve over at Power Pop shared something today that has really grabbed hold of my head and heart. As Steve put it, "I didn't see this coming down Broadway." Yeah man, neither did I.

This is a new song from Amy Grant, written by Nashville's Sandra Emory Lawrence and released on January 6th. It is stunningly beautiful musically and lyrically, well, you'll figure out why it made my heart hurt.

Songs Of The Week, 2026: 1/3-1/9

 

If I Knew Then What I Know Now- Charlie Rich
I Believe- Robert Plant
Somebody Saved Me- Pete Townshend
Love Has Found Me- The Galaxies
Let The Music Play- Rick Derringer
Pa' Huele- Eddie Palmieri
There's A Ghost In My House- R. Dean Taylor

 

A few quick notes:

Charlie Rich is doing James Hunter 50 years before James Hunter on this track.

Rick Derringer is doing Todd Rundgren and Utopia two years before actually making an album with Todd Rundgren and Utopia. 

This Eddie Palmieri cut is super groovy, especially his twisted quote of "Mary Had A Little Lamb."

Enjoy it all below.

 

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BW's Saturday #74

 

And Here's Some New Misters Robinson

 

Hot off the presses, here are the first two tracks from the forthcoming Black Crowes record, "A Pound Of Feathers" due in March.

If memory serves, we've got some readers who are fans and some who are not. I'm a fan and I dig both tracks. Plus, I am thrilled a new record is coming so soon after "Happiness Bastards," which was a fantastic return to form.