FLESH n BONE by Firstborn Live!

Joe Hawley, Lee Connors, Rosemary Reuss-Connors, Wayne Clark, Rick Sloot, and new band member Ed Pears are back in force and supporting the release of their new nine song CD “Flesh n Bone”. The (mostly) studio recording is both dark and light and explores honest thoughts of facing God right where you stand….today…whether good, bad or ugly. Yet, you don’t get the feeling that all is lost if you don’t measure up.

“Flesh n Bone”, the hard rocking title track, takes you on a search for “The Distant One” when no understanding of spiritual matters has yet been discovered. The song wails with both killer lead guitar (Scott Greene) and Joe Hawley’s slide work simultaneously. Meanwhile, both Joe and Lee’s lead vocals bring the point home with a rock lovers fervor. A winning track. But prepare yourself for the wall of sound.

“Whisper”, a straight ahead, driving blues tune featuring cool Joe Hawley on blues harp, is an honest statement in the fight of acceptance of who and where we are in life. “When you whispered that you love…when you whispered in my ear…I learned it was the truth.. it was so hard for me to bear”.

Then there’s the power ballad “Great Love”…when the band plays this one live, even the hardest heart can’t help but break…or run. Ed Pear’s lead guitar sails on this one. It’s not unusual for a tear to be secretly swept from under the eye as the realization that love is larger and stronger than most expect hits home.

Not to be outdone, Rosemary’s somehow both sweet and bluesy voice sells us on the fact that it’s ok to turn back from bad life decisions and make the choice for the comfort of coming home in the country styled worshipful “I Will Return”. Throw out the click track. This song makes good, yet subtle use of pedal steel, violins, Joe’s harp playing and Rosemary’s free form acoustic guitar style. She sings with passion and is a true vocal gem on this album.

One of the most fun songs on this CD is “I’ve Got Something”, an excited and energized “live” recording featuring Lee, Joe and Rosemary all singing the chorus as if they’ve got the best news to deliver to every passerby at the downtown open market. Some cool lead guitar work, a la Stevie Ray, by Evan Salmon who is one of three guest lead players on this album.

Remember the days of “deep cuts”? Those were the songs you didn’t buy the album for but discovered later. You may not even have liked them the first few times but somehow they grew on you. “Let Him In” may belong in that category even though it is the opening track on the CD. A movie-like keyboard solo surrounds you for an extended opening when all at once a strong kick drum accompanied by an almost latin beat hand clap comes in then followed by Lee’s haunting vocals. “You don’t have to rock n roll…you don’t have to sell your soul…you don’t have jump and jive…you don’t have to stay alive” Ultimately the poet narrows everything down to making only one real choice in life from which everything else stems.

Other classic Firstborn songs also make the collection, including “Straight Highway”. Its opening lines are not easy ones to swallow…but they are delivered extremely well by Lee and Joe as if Shakespeare were the playwright and director of this cut specially made for “John the Baptist”. If you have the guts to hear it out, then the reward follows. As simple as the song is, the message is clear. What’s really cool is how Rosemary’s backing vocal takes on a “Grace Slick” quality and makes the song that much more cool.

Then there’s the upbeat bluesy “Crying in the Night” brings its message to the forlorn without feeling forlorn And the final cut, a live recording of “Live It”, brings an almost punkish vigor to this last bite of dessert.

Intense Dark Chocolate Sweetness and a bit of Soft French Vanilla Ice Cream on a bright white plate. Mmmmm. Good for your Flesh n Bones.

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