Space Age Blues
Encyclopedia
Space Age Blues is the second album by Devon Allman's Honeytribe
. It was released in Europe on October 12, 2010, and in U.S.A on October 25, 2010. In addition to the power-trio of Devon Allman
, George Potsos and Gabriel Strange, the album also contains appearances by Huey Lewis
on harmonica and Ron Holloway
on tenor saxophone.
, Memphis, Tennessee
. The band took over Studio C, which they called "The Mothership", and hung colored lights and science-fiction posters to create atmosphere. They even wore authentic NASA
spacesuits to get into the spirit. While Huey Lewis and the News
were recording in Studio A, Lewis overheard some sounds from Studio C and asked if he could contribute his harp to the record. The songs were mixed and engineered by Pete Matthews, and co-produced by Devon Allman and Matthews.
Thom Jurek, on AllMusic, stated "it's the music itself that matters, and Space Age Blues mostly succeeds", and "as musically forceful as this set is, the tunes here will likely come off more explosively live. Fans of Honeytribe's Torch album and those hard rock-blues aficionados unacquainted with Allman's considerable gifts as a guitarist will find much to celebrate on Space Age Blues".
Gary Thorn of Shockwave Magazine went on to say "Years from now, I think people will look at this album as a fundamental part of a blues revival, bringing blues back to the mainstream for a new generation".
About.com selected Space Age Blues as #1 on its list of Best Blues-Rock Albums of 2010. The report describes the album as "not your typical blues-rock album", being "infused with high-octane performances", "positioning blues-rock for a new decade and new century that still places a premium on six-string talents" and stating "if you like blues and you like rock, it's well worth your time to check out Space Age Blues."
Guests
chart for Blues Albums during the week of November 13, 2010.
Honeytribe
Honeytribe is an American blues rock band formed in Saint Louis, Missouri. The founder and bandleader is Devon Allman, son of Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band, who is the lead guitarist, vocalist, and frontman. The other members are George Potsos on bass, and Justin Hanson on...
. It was released in Europe on October 12, 2010, and in U.S.A on October 25, 2010. In addition to the power-trio of Devon Allman
Devon Allman
Devon Allman is a vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist and songwriter. He is also the founder and bandleader of Honeytribe,...
, George Potsos and Gabriel Strange, the album also contains appearances by Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis is an American musician, songwriter and occasional actor.Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs...
on harmonica and Ron Holloway
Ron Holloway
Ronald Edward "Ron" Holloway is an American tenor saxophonist. He is listed in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz where veteran jazz critic Ira Gitler described Holloway as a "bear-down-hard-bopper who can blow authentic R&B and croon a ballad with warm, blue feeling." Holloway is the recipient...
on tenor saxophone.
Recording
The album was recorded in early 2010, at Ardent StudiosArdent Studios
Ardent Studios is a recording studio located in Memphis, Tennessee. Ardent Records/Ardent Music is the in-house label.- History :Ardent Studios was founded by John Fry and was initially a studio in his family's garage, where he recorded his first Ardent Records 45's. In 1966 the operation moved...
, Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. The band took over Studio C, which they called "The Mothership", and hung colored lights and science-fiction posters to create atmosphere. They even wore authentic NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
spacesuits to get into the spirit. While Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis and the News is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California. They had a run of hit singles during the 1980s and early 1990s, eventually scoring a total of 19 top-ten singles across the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Contemporary and Mainstream Rock charts...
were recording in Studio A, Lewis overheard some sounds from Studio C and asked if he could contribute his harp to the record. The songs were mixed and engineered by Pete Matthews, and co-produced by Devon Allman and Matthews.
Reception
Rick Moore, on American Songwriter Magazine, reported this "is a great choice for someone who wants to hear a good example of how today’s musicians long for the time when originality, creativity and just plugging in to play meant something".Thom Jurek, on AllMusic, stated "it's the music itself that matters, and Space Age Blues mostly succeeds", and "as musically forceful as this set is, the tunes here will likely come off more explosively live. Fans of Honeytribe's Torch album and those hard rock-blues aficionados unacquainted with Allman's considerable gifts as a guitarist will find much to celebrate on Space Age Blues".
Gary Thorn of Shockwave Magazine went on to say "Years from now, I think people will look at this album as a fundamental part of a blues revival, bringing blues back to the mainstream for a new generation".
About.com selected Space Age Blues as #1 on its list of Best Blues-Rock Albums of 2010. The report describes the album as "not your typical blues-rock album", being "infused with high-octane performances", "positioning blues-rock for a new decade and new century that still places a premium on six-string talents" and stating "if you like blues and you like rock, it's well worth your time to check out Space Age Blues."
Track listing
All music and lyrics written by Devon Allman, except where noted.Personnel
Devon Allman's Honeytribe- Devon AllmanDevon AllmanDevon Allman is a vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist and songwriter. He is also the founder and bandleader of Honeytribe,...
- vocals, guitars, Korg KaossilatorKorg KaossilatorThe Korg Kaossilator KO-1 is a portable dynamic-phrase synthesizer manufactured by Korg. It is capable of producing a wide range of sounds, can produce a continuous music loop, and can be tuned to various keys and scales....
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
on "New Pet Monkey" - George Potsos - bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Gabriel Strange - drums
Guests
- Huey LewisHuey LewisHuey Lewis is an American musician, songwriter and occasional actor.Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs...
- harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
on "Could Get Dangerous" - Ron HollowayRon HollowayRonald Edward "Ron" Holloway is an American tenor saxophonist. He is listed in the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz where veteran jazz critic Ira Gitler described Holloway as a "bear-down-hard-bopper who can blow authentic R&B and croon a ballad with warm, blue feeling." Holloway is the recipient...
- saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
on "Space Age Blues", "Salvation" and "New Pet Monkey" - Rick Stef - keyboards
- Tony Antonelli - percussion
- Bobby Yang - violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
on "Warm In Wintertime"
Chart Performance
Space Age Blues debuted at #7 on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart for Blues Albums during the week of November 13, 2010.