World Blues News 2/21/2013

Little G Weevil – The Teaser 2.22.13 Chip Eagle | Feb 21, 2013 | Comments 0 If You Enjoyed This Article Please Share It With Your Friends, Thank You! 14 0 0 16 For The Best Video Links In The Blues Follow Us On Twitter! Little G Weevil The Teaser Apic Records BluesWax Rating: 7.5 out of 10 A Great Story and a Great CD Here is a storyline that clearly illustrates the power of blues music: You take a teenage drummer into heavy metal and living in Budapest, Hungary. Then you add an older brother and a John Lee Hooker album that knocks the youthful headbanger’s world off its axis. Soon he is hard at work learning his way around a guitar and eventually begins playing gigs throughout Europe. But Gabor Szucs can’t shake the feeling that something is missing from his version of the blues, so in 2004 he moved to Memphis where his persistence was rewarded with steady gigs and growing acclaim under his stage name, Little G Weevil. And now all of Little G’s sacrifices and hard work were rewarded when he was named the winner in the Solo/Duo category at 2013 International Blues Challenge. While the judges for the Blues Foundation’s competition selected Weevil as the top performer, anyone who had listened to The Teaser already knew that he is a formidable talent as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Recorded in Atlanta, the all-original program has Little G backed by a band on eight tracks and performing solo on the other four cuts. He utilizes a Fibenare Jazz electric guitar, plays slide on a Bacon Fat cigar box guitar and handles the solo material on a 1940 Kay Archtop guitar. The band includes Bill Burke on bass, Bob Page on piano and organ, Maurice Nazzaro on harmonica, and John V. McKnight on drums and percussion. When you listen to the solo tracks, you can hear several of Little G’s influences. There is a touch of Lightnin’ Hopkins on “Dad’s Story,” with Weevil’s guitar picking weaving around the insistent rhythm from his tapping foot. “Back Porch” and “Losing Cool” are infused with Hooker’s boogie spirit brought to life by Weevil’s primal vocals. His slide lays down a hypnotic pattern on the joyous, gospel-tinged “Which Way Shall I Go.” Weevil’s guitar trades licks with blasts from Nazzaro’s harp on “Real Men Don’t Dance.” then his thick-toned voice belts a warning to women on the title track, fleshed out with cutting slide phrases on the cigar box guitar. The band sets up a slinky groove on “Big City Life” and Weevil’s guitar spits a gripping solo. “Highway 78” works thanks to a swaggering beat and more of Nazzaro’s fine blowing. “8:47” finds the leader in a defiant mood, manifested in his aggressive guitar playing. Two other highlights occur when the pace slows down to a simmer. Little G delivers his most expressive vocal on “She Use to Call Me Sugar,” and Page, who consistently delights throughout the disc, articulates the song’s anguish on his piano keyboard. “Apple Picker” finds Weevil firing off licks with a burning intensity on another slow-paced lament. It all adds up to a fine recording that served notice that Little G Weevil was a talent to be reckoned with. Now that he has received validation with his selection as the winner of the IBC, you can count on hearing more from Little G Weevil in the near future. In the meantime, grab a copy of this one and enjoy some great blues! Mark Thompson is a contributing writer at BluesWax. Buy this CD The Teaser Little G Weevil (Audi… $12.49 . Filed Under: BluesWax Weekly • Featured • This Week's BluesWax • Weekly CD Reviews