Reverend Raven and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys - Shake Your Boogie (Nevermore)
Born and raised on South side of Chicago, the Reverend has been playing the blues since 1971 when he first saw Freddy King play at the Kinetic Theatre in Chicago. After a 15 year hitch in the Navy he moved to Milwaukee where he began a long friendship and collaboration with Madison Slim, long time harmonica player for Jimmy Rogers. Since 1990 he has opened for B.B King, Gatemouth Brown, Pinetop Perkins, Koko Taylor Band, Junior Wells, Billy Branch, Magic Slim, Elvin Bishop, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Brooks, William Clarke, Lefty Dizz and numerous others at festivals and at Buddy Guy’s Legends. Locally he has performed with Billy Flynn, Perry Weber, Piano Willie, Stokes, Jon Paris, Clyde Stubblefied, Bryan Lee and the Lamont Cranston band. The Reverend was the Wisconsin Music Industry (WAMI) award for best blues band in 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008 and again in 2010.
They also received the People’s Choice Award in 2006, 2008 and again in 2010. Living my whole life on the east coast, to my dismay, I had never heard of Reverend Raven. Sadly, he was not heavily promoted outside of the mid-west. Thankfully, all that changed one fateful night in 2007, when I stumbled into the Back Room in Boca Raton, Florida, a favorite hangout of mine. That evening was magical! What I was treated to was one of those rare instances when you truly reach musical nirvana. Blues the way it was meant to be. The way it was meant to be played, and the way it was meant to be heard. Life didn’t get any better than it was right then and there. Well since then I made myself very familiar with Reverend Raven & The Chain Smoking Altar Boys. They’re no longer what was once America’s best kept Blues secret. If you’re like me and like straight ahead, hardcore, unadulterated Blues, then you don’t have to go any further than putting on their latest CD, “Shake Your Boogie”. With strong musicianship all around, this band has got it all. There’s not a bad track on this disc. It captures that same “live” experience, I had that night. It’s consistent through and through with intensity and high energy. They’ll transport you to a place you want to be, and won’t want to leave. Bob “Bluesbobby” Weinberg Founder & President, South Florida Blues Society I’ve been a big fan of Reverend Raven for many years. Give his band one listen and you’ll become a convert as well. Strong vocals and incredible guitar playing, along with swaggering sax or hot harp, and a rhythm section that locks it all together into mighty grooves, this is how today’s Chicago-style blues should sound! Don “T-Bone” Erickson Founding Editor, BluesWax These guys are guaranteed not to disappoint. All these songs resent a wonderful medley of instrumentation and vocals, as tight as you can get. Makes you happy, gets your feet movin,’ makes you want to boogie. Some wonderful hot guitar licks, foot stompin’ fun, boogie down home soulful harp that wails, mellow subtle sax with all the right tones at the right moments, lifts you up and takes you down slow and funky. Superb blend of multiple talents. This is a must have for your Blues collection that’s gonna make you feel Good! Stefan Levy
Board Member, The Blues Foundation
www.reverendraven.com