Review: Robert Randolph – Preacher Kids
Robert Randolph – Preacher Kids
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital / Label: Sun Records
Release: 2025
Text: Andy Trachsel
There’s a new generation of blues cats. They are raw and dirty. One is Will Wilde on blues harp and the second is Robert Randolph on pedal steel guitar. Did Robert came from the swamp? No way, he is a preacher’s son and his debut album Preacher Kids is mostly inspired by the gospel in his fathers church. Well kind of. He is playing like he is being chased by the devil. He is now publishing on the Sun Records label and playing with a swagger like Elvis did. His musical brothers are Tash Neil on guitar, Jay White on bass and Willie Barthel on drums with Margo Price and Judith Hill on additional vocals.
The opening track is Big Woman and surely heavy with respect to drums and pedal steel, accelerating in the bridge and some guitar picking in the fade-out. Next is the grooving 7 Generations, which could be called a hard rocking gospel song. Also a good song to be played on the car stereo while ignoring all speed limits!
Gravity is a funky track with a Bootsy Collins like bass riff and a James Brown rhythm guitar. Like To Love You Baby is a swampy tune with the pedal steel and the guitar in a tastful duel. With Choir Woman Robert is back in his church when he was a young man. Weren’t we all in love with some girl in the choir? A powerful bluesrocker pur sang.
Religion has sinners and hell to keep the church members in fear. But the song Sinner is played with no fear in a loose way with rock an roll guitars and a playful pumping bass. Being a sinner is not a shame! By the way there’s always karma. The King Karma track has a strong bass layer and Margot Price is doing the additional vocals.
When Will The Love Rain Down has a drop tuned guitar and Judith Hill on soulful vocals. Low is the key and the love has surely rained down. Nice wah wah pedal steel in the outro. All Night Lover has several influences. It is funky, it has a born on the bayou vibe and is boogie chillin’. Roosevelt Pool is a familiar Robert Johnson style blues, but with a Robert Randolph flavour.
He might be a preacher kid but he is also a gospel rocker of a pedal steel guitar player. Play the album loud and proud and enjoy!
Tracks:
01. Big Women
02. 7 Generations
03. Gravity
04. Like To Love You Baby
05. Choir Woman
06. Sinner
07. King Karma (feat. Margo Price)
08. When Will The Love Rain Down (feat. Judith Hill)
09. All Night Lover
10. Roosevelt Pool
Website: https://www.robertrandolph.net/