WATERMELON SLIM & The Workers (self titled)

NorthernBlues Music

Though Bill Homans aka Watermelon Slim debuts here on the NorthernBlues Music label he is still under the Southern Artist management & recorded in their studios also. A past W. C. Handy nominated, who has brought out albums with The Fried Okra band and solo, now has a permanent touring & recording Oklahoman band “The Workers”. Guitarist Ike Lamb wrote “Possum Hand” herein, with drummer co-wrote “Devil’s Cadillac” with Slim; that only leaves to mention bassist Cliff Belcher. Great start to the disc, a song loaded with catchy quips on the subject of “Hard Times”, to an aching drawn-out bottleneck. A quicker chugging tune follows that highlights that Watermelon’s vocals are hard to follow on faster-paced songs; Slim goes from vocal mike to harp mike as the tune unwinds – still strong stuff here.

 “Baby Please Don’t Go” is one of those over-worked standards from Gateshead to Gulfport; thankfully the team don’t make the listener reach to skip-mode. Lazy slide on top of a Latin beat is the backdrop for trip down to the devil’s crossroads. Those who have only come across Watermelon via his acoustic low-down blues will have to adjust their antennae with this electrified band outing. Another strong theme of Slim is a rockin’ tale where he is plagued by his women’s ability to write off his credit, by autographing the total contents of his cheque book. As near as damn it “Possum Hand” is an instrumental with Slim in a Little Walter/George Merryweather & Shakey Horton harp area.

Covering Fred McDowell’s “Frisco Line” adds a bit of pep with the drums keeping the train sound going. Seven tunes left with “Ash Tray” being very strong, “Bad Sinner” coming off “Earl Hooker meets Robert Nighthawk”. For lovers of Slim’s stripped down solo stuff check out “Folding Money” Hmmm!   “Juke Joint Woman” has a Louisiana zydeco/pop gait that is a sure fire foot tapper. Autographical music that works as it is real borne out of life’s experiences, as “Hard Labor” surely testifies. The disc runs out with multi lingual Bill ala Français, giving a nod to all his French speaking fans on both sides of the big pond. For a NorthernBlues CD this is well in the traditional mould, and Slim’s voice is a distinctive gem.

Billy Hutchinson