Showing posts with label Dave Colella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dave Colella. Show all posts

Sunday, December 21, 2025

CD Review: Piper & The Hard TImes, "Good Company"

Piper & The Hard Times — Good Company

The super blues band Piper & The Hard Times has just released their second album, Good Company, and it delivers everything their fans — and the blues world — have been waiting for. I reviewed their first album Revelation, which went on to win the 2025 IBC Best Independent Produced Album and the Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Album at the 46th annual Blues Music Awards in Memphis — accolades that were no surprise to me. Piper & The Hard Times is one of the strongest and most compelling blues-rooted groups I’ve heard in years. 

Their new album, Good Company, is every bit as strong as their debut and firmly cements the band’s place among the genre’s most exciting contemporary blues acts. It’s soulful, raw, and inventive — and I wouldn’t be shocked to see this creative ensemble collecting even more awards in the future.


Playlist:

    1. Good Company-3.59

    2. Now I’m Lovin’ You – 4:12

    3. Tear It Down – 5:14

    4. Cowboy Gucci – 3:52

    5. In The Meantime – 5:06

    6. Turn the Tables – 2:20

    7. Runaround Man – 4:12

    8. Cheatin’s Gotta End – 3:41

    9. Keep It to Yourself – 4:08

    10. Not Your Fault – 4:23

    11. My Place – 3:43

    12. Those Days – 7:56 


Players:

  • Al “Piper” Green — Vocals, Songwriting

  • Steve Eagon — Guitar, Songwriting, Bandleader

  • Dave Colella — Drums, Percussion, Songwriting

  • Amy Frederick — Keyboards (Piano, Organ, Rhodes)

  • Parker Hawkins — Bass

Additional Musicians 

       .  Eddie Meyer — Tenor Saxophone

  • Charlie DiPuma — Additional Saxophone

  • John Wallum — Organ (guest on select cuts)

  • Lisa Oliver-Gray — Background Vocals

  • Etta Britt — Background Vocals

What Makes Good Company Special

One thing you never get with Piper & The Hard Times is imitation. Their music is original and authentic — not derivative or formulaic. You can feel their joy in playing together, and that spirit comes through in every groove and solo. This record isn’t just a collection of songs — it’s a musical conversation between players who have trusted each other’s ears and instincts for years.

Recorded over just three days in March 2025 at the legendary Oceanway Studio A in Nashville, the performances are tight and energetic yet full of heart. The production by Tres Sasser and engineering by Joe Costa captures the band’s raw power without polishing away the grit that makes their sound so compelling. 

Tragically, just as the band’s momentum was peaking — their touring calendar packed and excitement building — frontman Al “Piper” Green was diagnosed with cancer on June 4, 2025. The band has understandably scaled back live dates to allow Piper time to heal, and the blues community has rallied around him with an outpouring of support. We all wish Al a speedy and full recovery and look forward to the day they hit the road again full force. 


I have attached two tracks from "Good Company".  The first is the title tune on the album, "Good Company".  The second track is "Cowboy Gucci".  If you are a Blues fan, you will love the music of "Piper & the Hard Times"!

                                                                        "Good Company"

                                                                         "Cowboy Gucci"




Tuesday, October 15, 2024

CD Review: Piper & The Hard Times, "Revelation"

 


Wake up all Blues fans.  The focus of today's blog is the dynamic Blues band, Piper & The Hard Times and their national debut recording, "Revelation".  The band's leader is Al "Piper" Green who does the Vocals.  This band is intense and lives in the vintage Blues world and leaves nothing in the recording room.  The band's soul is strongly rooted in the Blues but they also mix in touches of R & B, Soul and Rock.  If you are new to traditional Blues, you will enjoy listening to "Revelation".  If you are already a true Blues fan you will not be disappointed with the 12 songs on this CD.  The recording is terrific and gives the listener the feeling he would get if he was listening to a live performance.

The core musicians consist of Al "Piper" Green, Steve Eagon and Dave Colella who have been playing together for  over 20 years.  Al "Piper" Green performs the vocal with intensity and earthiness.  Piper grew up in a muscially inclined family in Bolivar, Tennessee where he sang in gospel choir while being fascinated by the best of Soul, Pop and Rock on the radio.  He sings with strong emotion and authority that make the lyrics believable.

Guitarist Steve Eagon grew up in Northern Ohio and has been playing since his teen years.  He notes that his style developed from his early influences from artists Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan.  Eagon also is the principal Composer for the band along with contributions from Piper and Colella.

Drummer Dave Colella is the only core member from the North, a New Jersey native.  But you would never guess he was not from the deep South when you listen to the strong and solid Blues foundation he provides for this group. 

"Revelation" is this band's debut recording but it's sure to become a classic Blues CD!

I have attached two "YouTube" videos so you can experience the flavor of this outstanding Blues CD.  The first is a New Orleans-flavored tune "Trouble Man" with a hard driving vocal from Piper.  The second is a slow Blues song filled with ache and emotion, "Twenty Long Years".

PLAYERS:

Al "Piper" Green- Vocals 

Steve Eagon- Guitar and principal Composer

Dave Colella- Drums

Amy Frederick- Keyboard

Parker Hawkins- Bass

Shaun Murphy, Lisa Oliver-Gray, Melissa Gardner- Background Vocals

Chris Floyd- Harmonica

Dick Aven- Tenor

PLAYLIST: 

1. Trouble Man

2. The Hard Times

3. Heart For Sale

4. Preacher Blues

5. Revelation

6. Working Farm Blues

7. Crave You

8. Come Back Knockin

9. Why Not Me

10. You're Gonna Miss Me

11. Walk With Me

12. Twenty Long Years


                                                                "Trouble Man"
                                                                    "Twenty Long Years"


CD Review: Keith Oxman Returns to the Heart of Jazz with “Home”

                                     Keith Oxman Returns to the Heart of Jazz with “Home” Acclaimed tenor saxophone player Keith Oxman has ...