| With each passing year there seems to be fewer and fewer artists willing to get out in front of an audience and perform pure acoustic blues. Accompanied by only an acoustic guitar, Michael "Hawkeye" Herman lays down nearly 60 minutes of warm, sincere blues on "Blues Alive!". Each song is presented with a heartfelt depth rarely witnessed these days amongst all the amplifiers and studio embellishments.
Most impressive on this CD are moments such as the intro to "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," where Herman tells us of his initial flirtation of learning to play guitar. "Your Mind Is On Vacation" demonstrates Herman's willingness to have fun with life and music, while Robert Johnson's "Come On In My Kitchen" and Big Bill Broonzy's "Key to the Highway" are the most solid traditional contributions to "Blues Alive!"
Herman finishes the CD with an a cappella version of his own "Hawk's Worried Blues," demonstrating a willingness to stick his neck out even further. Throughout "Blues Alive!", Herman proves to be a seasoned storyteller above all, as well as an accomplished guitarist. |