Wille & The Bandits

At the moment this album is only available at a Wille & The Bandits gig so make your way to see them if this is to your tastes.

For those not in the know, Wille & The Bandits are a three piece Blues outfit featuring Wille Edwards on vocals, lap slide and guitar, Matt Brooks on basses (six string, electric double bass & samples) and Andrew Naumann on drums and percussion.

This was recorded at Gouvy in Belgium last year and features all the live favourites such as the chilling ‘Mammon’ and funky ‘Gypsy Woman’ but every track has the dense intensity I’ve seen them bring to the stage and the playing fair takes your breath away.

There are a lot of talented musicians around but these three seem to be way out ahead of the rest and the fluidity and sinuousness of the playing here is exceptional.

Even when they take a stock number like ‘Crossroads’ they create a Will & The Bandits number almost unrecognisable from the dull and plodding version of Robert Johnson’s masterpiece you are normally offered. Wille on the Wassenbourne slide positively howls with the pain of losing your soul and the others create a sturm and drang that takes you right to the heart of the dark and stormy night – Mr Johnson would be impressed.
‘Virgin Eyes’ strays into an even more primal place with explosive drums and keening guitar but the speed devil Blues of ‘Galloping Horses’ drives the point home even harder. ‘Running With The Stars’ opens with a trance edge to it, touches of Saharan Blues a la Tamikrest, before slowing down to a heartfelt walking Blues.

The venue was hand picked by the band as an ideal small venue to allow them to “stare into the eyes of the audience” and the closeness of the performance comes over just fine – a brilliant live band and a fitting ‘souvenir’: go see them.

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