Dave Fields – Detonation 11.09.12

Dave Fields

Detonation

Field of Roses Records

BluesWax Rating: 8

Ignited

Dave Fields first came to national attention when he produced Roxy Perry’s Back in Bluesville. That CD won the Best Self-Produced CD Award at the 2006 International Blues Challenge. In 2007, Fields released Times A Wastin’ and in 2008 followed it with All Wound Up. Detonation is Field’s third recording.

Fields is highly skilled guitarist and vocalist. His band consists of Andy Huenerberg on bass, Vladimir Barsky on keyboards, and Kenny Soule playing drums. Doug Hinrichs is added on percussion on all but three tracks. The album is produced by David Z.

“Addicted to Your Fire” is pure blues rock and it sets the pace for this eclectic bunch of originals. “Doin’ Hard Time” features Joe Louis Walker as guest on second guitar, and he also shares in the vocals. Fields gets in a groove on “Better Be Good,” which features Dennis Moriarty on harp. Another favorite of mine is the bluesy “Pocket Full of Dust.” “Bad Hair Day” is built around a reggae or ska beat and features background vocalists Deena Miller and Ada Dyer. “Same Old Me” displays a sensitive Fields and he dedicates this song to his father.

“In The Night” and “Prophet in Disguise” are both more classic in their approach. “The Altar” has a definite George Harrison quality, while “Lydia” is a wonderful six-minute instrumental on which Fields really gets to work out. Soule’s drumming on these songs give them that classic rock feeling. Fields closes with “You Will Remember Me.”

Fields draws inspiration from various influences, including blues, rock, and reggae. This is Field’s best recording to date and should further establish him as a contender in the blues-rock category.

Richard Ludmerer is a contributing editor at BluesWax.