Artist: Blind Lemon Pledge
Album: Evangeline
Label: Blind Raccoon
Release Date: 6.5.18
If the name Blind Lemon Pledge sounds like an old joke, that’s because it is. Comedian/musician/actor Martin Mull, used it forty-some years ago on one of his parodies. However this Blind Lemon character (real name James Byfield), isn’t joking around on Evangeline. He seems quite serious about demonstrating this album’s byline Blues and Americana, and his musical variety pack.
He does have a ragged bluesy voice that works OK on most of what he presents and what he presents is all over the map they now call Americana. The album kicks off with a chain gang/field holler that sets a mood reminiscent of the old Alan Lomax’s Smithsonian recordings. He then jumps to a folky tormented troubadour tale of leaving “Jennie Bell” behind while he chases his musical dreams. From there, it’s into a smokey juke joint and an encounter with “Brimstone Joe,” a go-to guy for your blues fix. A couple of barrelhouse roadhouse tunes follow and we are off to the Caribbean for a Jimmy Buffett-style party song. Back home again and it’s two Mose Alison-tinged tunes. The oddest offering “ You Had Me At Goodbye ” shows his natural born California roots. The melody and track could easily of been an Eagles album cut, minus the pristine harmonies. It’s a nice tune, but here his voice does it no favors. The closer title track brings things full circle back to where the blues began and where Blind Lemon seems most at home
—Ken Spooner
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