Big Al& The Heavyweights
"Hey,Hey Mardi Gras"
BluzianaRecords
I was meant to write this review. Fate wanted it.
The first time I heard Big Al and the Heavyweights,they were the guest band on Emeril Live. The fact that I knew they hadplayed at Skippers was the primary reason I remembered them.
Less than a week later, my wife and I arranged to meet somefriends at Pleasure Island. Our friends informed us that Big Al and theHeavyweights were playing at the Jazz club. We made a beeline there as soonas the Mardi Gras parade got out of our way. We walked in as the band wasplaying the last song of their first set. They were totally kicking ass. Wesettled into a table and ordered supplies that would sustain us during thetwenty-minute wait until their next set. Fortunately for us, this was the Fridaybefore Fat Tuesday and they were hired to create a Mardi Gras atmosphere, soguess what they played? Many songs from the new CD, of course.
We were all very impressed. We especially loved the song, EatMore crawfish, but all their tunes were really hitting the spot. As soon asthe set was over, I hustled over and bought their new CD. I did a double takewhen the clerk told me the price was $21.00. But I really wanted the disk, so Ianted up.
The following weekend I went to the Johnny Sansone/Gris Grisshow at Skippers. During the show, Larry Lisk grabbed me and said he hadsomething for me. He then produced a CD and asked me to do a review. The CDwas Hey Hey Mardi Gras by you-know-who, and he would have given itto me as a reward for reviewing it. crap!
Well, the truth is I am grateful and indebted to Larry forasking me to review this fine CD and don't care about the money. This is greatparty music. The title song, Hey Hey Mardi Gras and EatMore crawfish, are great Mardi Gras tunes and should become standards.And the rest of the selections are great Blues numbers. The band on the CDconsists of Albert J. Lauro (Big Al) on drums and background vocals and TimWagoner on guitar and vocals, joined by a long cast of excellent back-upmusicians. If you like rockin', partying Blues, you will want to add thisone to your collection.
Dave Borisenko
©copyright 1999, SuncoastBlues Society
