Blues Revue Magazine-  June/ July 2008

The Devil Had A Woman, a strong sophomore release self-release from Memphis' Delta Highway, concentrates on tough rhythms, the meat-and-potatoes songcraft of singer Brandon Santini, and an instrumental apprach that balances Justin Sulek's taut guitar work with Santini's note -heavy harp approach and makes excellent use of keyboardists Chris Stephenson and Victor Wainwright. Evocative slow blues ("Feelin' Bad"), rub against shuffles ("Got To Be On My Way") and the slinky title track.  The Latin-flavored "Funky Little Baby" and "We Got A Thang Goin' On," with it's ominous Chicago sound, stand out.

-Reviewed by Tom Hyslop

Bluesbytes Review Featuring Delta Highway

"The Devil Had A Woman" - Album Review by Kyle Deibler - Phoenix Blues Society, Phoenix AZ

The boys from Delta Highway were recently here in Phoenix to play Blues Blast, and they rapidly proved themselves to be a crowd favorite at the festival. They’re touring heavily behind their new record, Devil Had a Woman, and their mix of contemporary and Delta Blues styles appealed to everyone at the festival.


They open up with “23 Hours” and Justin Sulek’s guitar picking sets the tone with just the right amount of distortion for Brandon’s apology to his woman. We’re never clear why she’s mad at Brandon, but out the door she went and so far she hasn’t come back. Like Brandon says, “Well…I’m sorry, Baby…surely didn’t mean to do you no wrong…you’ve been gone for 23 hours, baby….that’s 23 hours too long!” In the end she never comes back and that’s the last of it. “Devil Had a Woman” finds Brandon entranced with a new love. “I never met a woman…quite like you…you treat me so bad…always untrue…the Devil had a woman…looked a lot like you!” This one is obviously bad and Brandon is smart to let her go. Victor Wainwright plays piano on this cut and tears it up in support of Brandon’s decision to move on to a woman who will treat him better. Justin kicks in with some wicked slide guitar and the haunting melody of this song will stay with you for awhile.


Slow mournful tones emanate from Brandon’s harmonica and Chris Stephenson fills in behind Brandon on the organ as we begin to hear the sounds of Brandon’s despair. “I’m feeling bad now baby…Lord, I don’t believe another day is going to change…as long as we’ve begin together now Baby…I sure nuff would have thought you’d change your evil ways”. I don’t know what it is with Brandon’s choice of bad women but they’ve just been tearing him apart. The misery continues with “We Got a Thing Going On”. “Only last night…I sit all alone…I was just waiting for you babe…honey child, I was waiting for you to come back home”. Brandon, the only “thing going on” is in your mind, a little more Jack Daniels and a little less misery is definitely a preferred alternative to being treated like dirt. Move on dude! The rhythm section for Delta Highway, Keven Eddy on drums and Slim Louis on bass provides a solid back beat on “Got a Thing Going On” and deserve their props as well for keeping the back end as tight as it can be on this record.


More piano from Victor and a stirring harp intro from Brandon lighten the mood as the boy finally gets it together and decides to head out on “Got to be on My Way.” Keven’s drumming is extremely tight on this track and matches Brandon’s staccato harp notes as the we hear the truth, “I’m going to leave her baby…honey, I got to be on my way…I ain’t going to have no more…of you treating me this a way!” 'Bout time, Brandon! It finally sounds like Brandon gets it right on “Funky Little Baby.


” “I got a funky little baby…yeah…she’s so sweet and fine…I got a loving little baby…you might see is so nice and kind…she’s the sweetest little woman…that a man ever did find!” Hang on to this one!

The tempo picks up on “Shake It Just a Little Bit”. “I said don’t tell Ma…don’t tell Pa…we’re going down to the old Blues Hall…going to shake it…shake it just a little bit!” One of Delta Highway’s faster numbers, I have visions of swing dancers running through my mind as I listen to the intensity of Justin’s guitar work behind the staccato notes of Brandon’s harp. This song is just a full out train out of control and very much appreciated. So of course the record slows back down as Justin picks the intro to “Somebody’s Got to Go.” Chris’s organ track mirrors the haunting depression of Justin’s guitar as Brandon sings, “You know you done me wrong…I got to find somebody else…leave here woman…honey, take yourself on down that road…you’re going to reap just what you sow!” “Somebody’s Got to Go” is definitely my favorite song on this record and the perfect melting pot of harp, guitar and organ that is indicative of the Delta Highway sound.


“I like the way you work it baby….the way you shake that thing…you know you drive me crazy darling….drive me right near insane!” Brandon’s definitely feeling the new love of his life in “I Want You to Know” and finally happy for a change. Here’s hoping this one works out and she stays awhile since Brandon is definitely motivated to treat her right. Delta Highway closes out Devil Had a Woman with “Going Home.” “Well I told you, baby…once before…if you don’t love me, baby…I’m going out that door…I’m going home!” The boundaries are set and she either gets the message or she doesn’t.


But at least Brandon is clear on what he intends to do, and it’s definitely a step in the right direction even if leads to going back home!

Delta Highway’s sound continues to be an interesting mix of Delta T-Model Ford-style blues with contemporary edges that defies categorization. Brandon, Justin, Slim and Keven continue to spread the Delta Highway gospel one stop at a time and look for them at your favorite Blues bar or festival soon. The hidden track at the end of Devil Had a Woman pays respect to one of their strongest influences, R.L. Burnside, and is indicative of their reverence for the roots that help to shape their music.


When you see the boys, buy them a shot of Jack Daniels --- they’ll be your friends for life and that’s a good thing!

-  Kyle Deibler
www.bluesbytes.info
 

"The Devil Had A Woman" - Album Review by Luca Zaninello - Il Blues, Italy

Memphis and Beale Street will always affect musicians that cross their path. This is what happened to Brandon and Justin. Even though they are originally from North Carolina, they consolidated their success in Memphis, and not only.
In 2003 they formed Delta Highway and the end of that year they moved to Memphis, were they absorbed the sounds and history of the delta region. Their music and shows obtained great reviews which lead them to represent the Memphis Blues Society in the 2006 International Blues Competition by winning the Memphis Blues Society’s Battle of the Blues and to the publication of their first album “Westbound Blues”.
The band’s structure shows a bridge between tradition and modernity as the band’s rhythm section consists of veteran musicians Tom "Slim" Louis (bass) and Keven Eddy (drums). The quality of their music emerges since the first notes played on the CD’s tracks, which starts with two excellent blues songs.
“23 Hours” takes off with a beautiful phrasing work, while Santini carries the listener with the scratching sound of his harp. Justin Sulek keeps the introducing riff going, and then delivers an outstanding sliding “Solo”. The same effect is achieved in the second track, again characterized by the guitar riff and finalized by the perfect intervention of Victor Wainwright at the piano.
The band gets in the groove even more with the slow sound of “ Feelin’ Bad”, full of intense feeling and another “Solo” by Sulek that leaves a mark, continuing with the syncopate rhythms of “Funky Little Baby” where you can immediately catch the fullness and the class of the rhythmic section.
With the versatility of the guitar player, confirmed track after track, is necessary to underline Santini’s “scratchy voice” that is making his solid presence in all the tracks.
In “ We Got A Thang Goin’ On” the fullness of the sound is emphasized by Chris Stephenson’s Hammond playing, and in “ I Want You To Know” where the piano is putting in great musical up beats. Santini demonstrate, in several instances, the influences from where he was guided into the developing his harp playing.
“ Shake It Just A Little Bit” is a joyful and captivating Rock’n’Roll, where is noticeable the influence of John Popper (Santini confess that he was drawn to the harp playing after listening to the “Blues Traveler’s” leader), meanwhile in “Somebody’s Gotta Go” a perfect balance is created between sounds with a bit of “Old Style” and Modern Phrasing.
The same balance is noticed in the final track “Goin’ Home” characterized by a captivating rhythm of what we like to hear, a call to return home, back to the past, where the Blues was born and where we where taught how to face life.
We need to notice that after a few seconds of silence at the end of the same track, starts another track which it seems part of a jam session or an experiment by the quartet, but nevertheless exquisite to the ears since that the tightness demonstrated throughout the entire CD. Delta Highway consolidate their reputation with this work, entirely made by original songs, where is noticed the great passion for the Blues. Their references to the Great Masters like Junior Wells or Little Walter, just to name a few, is noticeable as much as the riffs of Justin Sulek which are performed with taste and precision.
Meanwhile the support of the rhythmic section contributes to give a great consistency to their music. We also put an emphasis on how the presence of the keyboard, Hammond and piano, contributed to the richness of the sound of this four element, confirms this band as one of the most interesting reality in the new Blues world.

- Reviewed by Luca Zaninello
(translation by Tony Negri)



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"The Devil Had A Woman" - Album Review by Gianluca Diana - Mojo Station,  Italy


In 2008 it is rare to find bands able to transmit an interesting and fresh Chicago Blues sound, without falling into stale and old clichet.
If the Mannish Boys represent the certainty in the Blues, Delta Highway are the “green age” of the movement.
Everything rolls around frontman Brandon Santini (vocals and harmonica), a powerful leader that finds in guitar player Justin Sulek his alter ego.
There is no standard songs in this cd but 10 self written tracks that vibe with electric energy (Goin' Home; Got To Be On My Way; Devil Had A Woman) and rug cutting slow tracks ( Feelin' Bad). Absolutely awesome. 

- Reviewed by Gianluca Diana
 

"The Devil Had A Woman" - Album Review by Greg Johnson - President, Cascade Blues Association
          

I first met Brandon Santini about three years ago. I was invited to drop by the Rum Boogie Café in Memphis to hear harpman Billy Gibson. Working at the door was Santini, a bear-sized young man who appeared to be quite soft-spoken. But he had a charisma about him that made you instantly like him. Midway through the show, Gibson asked Santini to join him on stage. When he placed that harp to his mouth, Santini created some of the most enchanting Blues and sold me on his sound for life.
The following year, while working as venue coordinator at Club 152 during the International Blues Challenge, I found on my list of acts the name Delta Highway, representing the Memphis Blues Society. Much to my surprise the band was led by one Brandon Santini, so I knew that this had to be good and highly anticipated their set. But it was much more than I ever expected. Delta Highway was a tight band just dripping with a first-class original Blues sound. If I had been sold on Santini’s harp a year earlier, now I was a dyed-in-the-wool fan of Delta Highway then and there.
The band just clicks naturally. Santini’s harp is countered to perfection by his guitar playing partner Justin Sulek. And the core backbeat of a well-established rhythm section, drummer Kevin Eddy (Mojo Buford Band, Blind Mississippi Morris) and bassist Tom “Slim” Louis (Jason Ricci Band), are plenty enough to even move this writer to the dance floor. It has now been three years since I first heard Santini and two since Delta Highway first came across my radar, and all I can say is that every time I get a chance to listen to these guys, it keeps getting better and better.
Witness their latest CD, “The Devil Had A Woman.” It is all of the sensation of Delta Highway and a bag of chips! The band has created a blend of music that is the preferred recipe for the Blues. The songwriting team of Santini and Sulek is exceptionally strong. There is not a bad number to be found on this disc and bears repeated listenings consistently. They have taken their background from the Piedmont where Santini and Sulek grew up, and tossed it with masterful precision mixing the styles of the Delta and Mississippi Hill Country, creating one of the most exciting forays into modern Blues today. The tracks, such as “23 Hours,” “Somebody’s Gotta Go” and the title tune, as well as just about every other selection on the disc, will be replaying joyously within your mind hours after hearing them. And when you reach the end of the CD’s final listed track, do not turn it off yet. There is a brilliant reading of R.L. Burnside’s “Snake Drive” that comes up as a hidden track. The perfect lagniappe to close a sensational release.
Needless to say, I am a huge fan of Delta Highway and this new CD justifies even greater attention. Highly recommend that this be on your must-buy purchase list of Blues CDs and if they ever play anywhere nearby, do not miss them, jump into your car and drive as far as necessary to reach that show. You will not be disappointed!! 

- Reviewed by Greg Johnson
 

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