Silvertone Sessions by The Rampage Trio

Engineer/owner Neal Ward, who has worked with the likes of legendary producer Tom Dowd, blues guitar great Ronnie Earl, alt-rock pioneer Charlie Chesterman of Scruffy The Cat fame, and contemporary blues-rocker Chris McDermott, became an integral fourth member of the band, capturing singer-guitarist Brian Owens, bassist Eric Yanaway and singer-drummer-organist-harmonica player Kevin KC Crowley at the top of their game.

This is what booking agent, George Tocci, for The Bull Run Restaurant said about The Rampage Trio at a recent show with The Edgar Winter Band...

Thanks to you Brian... you guys did a great job and it was a great show all around.

George...

This is what National Blues journalist Art Tipaldi has to say about Silvertone Sessions:

The Rampage Trio

Silvertone Sessions

(Metronome)

The title accurately tells the story. Think Silvertone and it conjures old school guitars, tube amps, and vintage recording equipment. A warm sound not easily found in today's digital music, that is the music at the center of Sun Studios in the 1950s and early rock and roll. With that in mind, guitarist Brian Owens throws in everything from Elvis rockabilly to Chuck Berry rock and roll with sprinkles of 1967 tie-dyed guitar work. There's an energetic cover of Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right," which is the first song that put Elvis on the music map. Remember that there was no nation wide Clear Channel radio or USA Today and there was no drummer yet with Elvis. When Elvis recorded this, he was on the Billboard Hillbilly charts. The rhythm section of bass player Eric Yanaway and drummer Kevin Crowley lock down to give Owens all the rockabilly space he needs.

On Chuck Berry's "Maybellene," Owens and the band offer a powerful reminder of how hypnotic Berry's early electric guitar was. Owens' mixture of rock and country is so dialed into Berry that he makes me want to pick up the old Sears and strum along. Owens and the band cover two by local fav Duke Robillard, "Tell Me Why" and "Anything It Takes." On the former, Owens recreates a raw, Fifties guitar workout. On the latter, it is his straightforward guitar and vocal approach that fits.

The CD opens with "Light Up My World," a catchy pop tune built on Owens' full harmonies with Darren Crowley. Owens' "Cry Freedom" is an unplugged acoustic guitar, harmonica and friends sittin' on the back porch harmonizing. "Feline Blues" starts off in a slow "Green Onions" groove, but Owens' guitar quickly flies off into a psychedelic swirl.

Drummer Kevin Crowley handles the vocal chores on the R&B styled "Rain On My Parade." There are two instrumentals within the 12 songs. "Rumble" is just that, an Owens full tilt guitar bash, and "Bassik E," where Owens and the Trio open with a Latin tinged sway that after a minute melts into the kind of free form rock jazz one might hear from a Carlos Santana. The song wraps up as it began.

Because modern ears have been programmed by loud, screaming guitars, a record like this takes a few listens to hear and appreciate the intricacies Owens and the band are playing.

-Art Tipaldi

This is what music journalist Roland Goity, at www.Onlinerock.com said about Silvertone Sessions:

The Rampage Trio

Silvertone Sessions

(Metronome)

On Silvertone Sessions The Rampage Trio seem to have almost perfected a more polished and refined version of the blues/rock boogie sound that blasted from the sessions in Sun Studio a half-century ago. These sessions, in fact, pay tribute to some of those greats from that era, including covers of Elvis Presley’s “That’s All Right,” and Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene.”

The album rocks from start to finish, with solid guitar work, rich vocals and well crafted production highlighting the album. The Rampage Trio seems to delight in playing the tried-and-true sounds of the heartland and Middle America and their enthusiasm is contagious. This album is a load of fun and a pretty sure bet to have partygoers of all ages dancing jigs and wearing smiles.

Favorite Track: Track 7, “Feline Blues”

Roland Goity's background includes marketing and promotion in the music industry and an inability to capably play his guitar no matter how hard he practices.

Check out the band's 2003 release, Let's Turn It Up! right here at www.cdbaby.com/rampagetrio.

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