New Hampshire based blues artist Brad Dubay recently released his debut album Planet 9. While the album title is trippy, the blues music played by this guitarist is all down and dirty authentic, inspired by the Chicago bands from the 1950s and those earlier cats from the Mississippi Delta. Dubay and his group serve it all up with their own personal edge.
Dubay opens with instrumental “River Festival,” a blues feeling, funk structured flow. This could be the soundtrack to a travel scene. Dubay’s lead guitar presses out a lean, muscular line, one that feels it will last as long as there is open road to travel. He ups the ante by pushing it even leaner, higher until one feels the glory of freedom on not just a highway but a journey through life.
“You Did It To Yourself” is a blues growler, downtempo, soulful, but full of bite. The accusatory lyrics make it plain that someone’s foolishness came back to bite them. Dubay’s guitar files the complaint with an emotive grinding blues purpose. His phrasing is heavy, scoring his way forward to deliver his message.
The Traveler finds Dubay scratching out a buzzing rhythm, an edgy drive phrase supported by Max Chase’s jumpy organ line. Dubay’s plaintive vocal appeals to the adventurer in us all. Everyone wants to drive down the highway to a cooler place while listening to music like this. There’s plenty of push in the rhythm section and the effusions of guitar and organ top it off with plenty of notes that are on fire.
Instrumental “Cannonball” barrels forward, lead by a charging organ. Flinty rhythm guitar and a pulpy drum solo capture with finesse and verve those blues of yesteryear. A bass guitar chimes in with its own highlighted phrase, mirroring all of the solo efforts going on here. Dubay jumps back into action with a fiery guitar phrase, brandishing a torch of guitar light, a circular phrase that sends it blaze in front of it with a warrior’s zeal.
“In Love With You” feels like oldies rock and roll from the late 1950s. A relaxed lead guitar line arcs with an emotive joy as sweet backing vocals form a tender choir. Amid that young love yearning, Dubay gently releases his words with an innocent tenderness. There is a timelessness to this piece that will completely win over its listeners.
Snappy, speedy guitar spearheads “On The Road,” an uptempo rocker that finds Dubay riding on Chase’s frenetic organ line. Dubay whips out a racing guitar phrase, one that cuts its way forward as he lets loose his young ferocious vocal in short burst of action. Breathlessly paced, this one makes you worry that every player might not hit his spots just right though they do.
“Don’t Want No Doctor” begins with a story then transforms into an instrumental blues grinder. Dubay is in top form, his guitar crying out its plaintive melody in between his growler vocal. Tasteful drum fills from Mike Walsh and dollops of bass from Caleb Dyer keep it in the pocket while the upper registers flex their blues muscles.
“Heavenly Paradise” puts a guitar line and a keyboard phrase on top of each other and lets them twist and twirl, their unison becomes a pleasant tone. Piano notes fall like a gentle rain while a guitar phrase ushers the song toward its finish line with a circular motion, spirals in the lead line that make it feel full, edgy, loaded.
“Choose Love” swoops in with playful organ work, shiny notes restlessly on top of its chords. The sparkle lets Dubay emit his joyful rasp. The initial childlike charm soon makes way for a smooth running lead guitar phrase, a line that requires discipline to keep it that fast without losing control. Guitar and organ eventually dance around each other with funky aplomb, a tightness that keeps the listener engaged with their speedy dance.
“If You Wanna Be Mine” reflects more of this Dubay group’s knack for mixing aggressive edge in the guitar with sweet joy in the organs and a rhythm section that smacks it all home. It’s a gift to keep this old fashioned music in a swift motion with such disciple and edge. Here, the organ cuts loose with plenty of edgy verve.
Slow boiler “I’ve Been Your Fool” lets Dubay show his down tempo chops. Dubay’s pace lets him unfurl his expressions of lost love, a hint of sorrow and a hint of reflection. In between his vocal expression, he cuts loose with some quick fiery guitar eruptions, just enough to tastefully punctuate this story song. These blues songs are the best kind. The artist gets to bare his heart and soul with a broader, wider application of his talents, painting a picture with colors and tones until the image is clear enough to haunt the listener.
Close out track “Nebula” winds down this Planet 9 album with a smoldering lead guitar, a heavenly piano line that falls like a soft rain once space is opened for it. The careful juxtaposing of instruments makes makes for an interesting contrast, showing how each bleeds with emotive content. Dubay pays out a sensitive line that feels personal, something listeners can connect with.
Dubay offers several slabs of fine blues music on this Planet 9 album. He’ll definitely be getting around with an album like this for a calling card. Produced by Brad Dubay and recorded by Alex Garcia-Rivera at Mystic Valley Studio in Boston, Massachusetts, Planet 9 plays out with considerable color and tone.
