Review: The Blues Kings – Herbie Blues – Say Hi
The Blues Kings – Herbie Blues – Say Hi
Format: CD – Digital / Label: For the Road Records
Release: 2025
Text: Pascal Wilhelm
Harbert Grezel (aka “Herbie”) is well known for his harmonica one-band Herbie Blues. Lesser known is that he was the frontman of The Blues Kings more than a decade ago. When The Blues Kings had a long pause, he and bass player Jan-Joris Sportel were waiting for the right moment to restart the band. Two ingredients I think led to the awakening. One is Bo Brocken’s studio Natural Records Recording Facilities that he built in the last couple of years. Second is ace guitar player Harm van Essen (La Ratte) and drummer Fred Bonthuis teaming up with Herbie and Jan-Joris. Ten years all worth waiting for. Fifteen (!) original songs on this album, all written by Herbie with co-writing credits for Harm and Jan-Joris. Most songs are from Herbie’s one-band period to which the band provides fresh input.
I had the pleasure of talking to Herbie on the phone.
What is the song Fat Wallet about? Herbie: It’s not what you think. It’s a medical condition. If you have your wallet in one of your back pockets and sit on it all day, your spine at some point will start protesting. I met a guy who had this syndrome and that is what the song is about. Nowadays, that wallet would be your “Big ass telephone”, haha! And what about Golden Coffin? Herbie: Why do people work so hard? If you can live your life modestly and quietly, isn’t that enough? Or do you really need a Golden Coffin when you leave for the Great Upstairs? Herbie: the song “Sweet Desire” pretty much sums up how my life has been. My mom and dad, their struggles, my insecurities and encounter with the Black Dog, and a love that left me that took me a year of my life. All that is in this song. “Sweet Desire” refers to the desire for stability. Luckily, I am in that position now.
Herbies’ life is mostly about music. What does it mean to him? Herbie: I don’t consider what I do an artform. My music is first and foremost a way of life in which my main aim is to try to communicate to people. When I hit the first notes of a song and nobody responds I know I am failing, but when people start stomping their feet and dance, I know that I am doing the thing I should be doing. I think communication between people is suffering nowadays. We quickly feel offended while we could learn so much from each other. That’s what I am about: trying to communicate in a positive way, making sure people have a good time.
The album is recorded live with some overdubs and sounds killer! With his new studio and as a producer Bo Brocken’s is an asset to Dutch recording facilities equipped for roots music. Additional musicians on the album are Remco Wind (organ on Be On Time and Sweet Desire), Anouk Bosch (backing vocals on Goin’ Home) and Bo Brocken himself (Tschika’s on Be On Time).
How to describe the music on this fine record? Well, it rocks and rolls, shakes and grooves, it sounds great and it’s all original material from the Dutch blues Delta. Instrumental Resurrector might be a bit superfluous, ska infused Be on time, on the other hand, is a hit. Kudos for any band that writes their own material and dares to put it on tape. Why reproduce what old heroes did, when you can create your own music? What The Blues Kings understand is that blues starts with a groove and a melodical theme. Then come the lyrics and solo extravaganza, not the other way round. Groove is far and foremost the most important ingredient and needs most attention. Keep this in mind when you listen to this album.
Cd release party is September 7, check here: https://www.facebook.com/club136/
Say Hi to top notch Dutch blues!
Tracks:
01. Say Hi
02. Jugle Call
03. Sweet desire
04. Blackbird
05. Down the line
06. Fat wallet
07. Resurrector
08. Convict Michael J.
09. Be on time
10.Goin’ home
11. Evil eye
12. Golden coffin
13. Rollercoaster
14. Like a child
15. Hitman
De bandleden zijn:
Harbert Grezel: zang en mondharmonica
Harm van Essen: gitaar
Fred Bonthuis: drums
Jan-Joris Sportel: bass
Website: https://www.herbieblues.nl/