When I first started to listen to Jim Suhler’s latest release Panther Burn, I didn’t think that I had ever hard his guitar or music before. And while I may have never heard his music with his group The Monkey Beats, there’s a good chance I’ve heard his guitar, because since 1999 he has been the lead guitarist for George Thorogood & The Destroyer’s (formerly the Delaware Destroyers, so they are big in the Delaware Valley). In addition, he appeared on Elvin Bishop’s 2008 release The Blues Rolls On, which is included in my music library.And after co-producing Texas-Based Blues Band, Jason Elmore & Hoodoo Witch’s 2010 release entitled Upside Your Head, which received widespread acclaim in the Blues genre, he contributed consulting/performance work on Hoodoo Witch’s second album entitled “Tell You What”, which was released on March 19, 2013 and is also in my library and was reviewed by Me, Myself, Music and Mysteries here (and I do see the name Suhler in the post!) The album was nominated by “Blues Blast” magazine for Best Blues Rock Album. So I missed this Dallas, Texas native even though he has appeared on stage with Les Paul, James Cotton, Hank Williams,
Jr., Duke Robillard, Peter Wolf, Willie Nelson, Irma Thomas, Dr. John, Pinetop Perkins, Lazy Lester, Steve Miller, Elvin Bishop, Son Seals, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Johnny Rivers, Joe Bonamassa, Cross Canadian Ragweed and others Damn I even missed him in 2002, when he fulfilled a lifelong dream by playing two shows with AC/DC during their Stiff Upper Lip Tour,in Helsinki, Finland and Hamburg, Germany.(just kidding) BUT after listening to Panther Burn I will not miss his music anymore!! This may be my favorite blues album of the year! It’s got everything I like good vocals, catchy songs, a little harp from the Thunderbirds Kim Wilson and some mighty good organ from I believe Tim Alexander?! Until today I would have said “Across the Brazos” was my favorite track on the album, but today “Leave My Blues Behind” really caught my attention and the musical interplay between the vocals, the organ and Jim’s guitar was just great! While “Between Midnight and Day:, “Dinosaur Wine” and “Worldwide Hoodoo” all made me stop and take notice of them, too!! Hell once again I am going to say that this album is great first track to the last!!! Jim had a little help from his friends on Panther Burn. Those who made appearances include:Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Asleep At The Wheel’s Ray Benson, Carolyn Wonderland and Jason Elmore!! So Check Him, the boys and girl out!! As for me, there’s once again a large back catalog to check out! I think I’ll start with Tijuana Bible or maybe Bad Juju which was produced by the legendary Jim Gaines!! Links Artist Website MySpace WikipediaI did say my favorite track was “Panther Burn”, right? Because of the great slide guitar.I guess it’s the song that I’m currently listening to, again! Here’s “Panther Burn”!
Always on the Lookout for a New Series or Book!