L.R. Phoenix (UK / FINLAND)
The Hollow Log Of Capt. Richard Wolfe
©L.R. Phoenix 2011
"An authentic reworking of the delta blues - originals and classics are imbued with L.R.’s unique vocals and innate emotional vibe."
Gary Grainger
DJ for The BBA Nominated Blues Show on Bishop FM 105.9
L.R.Phoenix / Guitar/Harmonica/Vocals
Andres Roots / Guitar/Dobro/Percussion
Peeter Piik / Upright bass/Fretless bass
Indrek Tiisel / Harmonica/Jew's harp
Martin Eessalu / 6-string banjo
Raul Terep / Drums/Percussion
Hanno Maadra / Viola
Asko-Romé Altsoo / Percussion/Additional instrumentation
In his late 20's L.R.Phoenix made the move on the back of a Valkyrie from the U.K to North Karelia in the east of Finland.
Influenced by the ghosts of R.L.Burnside, Junior Kimbrough, and a host of other Mississippi Hill Country Blues players,.
Info on the songs:
Hollow Log; based on an old guitar riff similar to something Fred McDowell used, with old blues lyrics mainly taken from ‘floating verses’.
Bedroom; in the mould of songs like ‘How Long’, ‘How Many More Years’, and maybe a bit of John Lee Hooker with Canned Heat.
Crying; based on Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘Lord I Just Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes’. I play this with a pocket knife.
Jack of Diamonds; played with a pocket knife again. This was first recorded by Blind Lemon Jefferson who also used a pocket knife to play this song. Mance Lipscomb got his version from Lemon and he also played it with a pocket knife, which is where I got my version from. It’s based on an old card game.
Morning Train; There’s always someone leaving.....
The Cypress Grove; first heard a version of this song from Skip James’s first recordings. I based the words on this, which are floating verses but the riff is all mine.
Down South; based on R.L.Burnside’s song ‘Going Down South’ from his cd ‘My Black Name A’Ringing’.
Po’ Boy; played with the guitar flat across my lap and with a steel fork. Saw Bukka White play his version of this song the same way with the guitar flat on his lap, so I thought I’d like to do the same.
Hobo; just based on timeless lyrics and guitar riff
Streets of Lohan; I place I went to and never want to go back.
The Devil; from the depths of Bentonia. Skip James did a version, so did Jack Owens. More recently Jimmy ‘Duck’ Holmes did a version too. This is mine.
Death; heavily based on Son House’s ‘Death Letter/My Black Mama’ but with a bit of Willie Brown and Charley Patton thrown in for good measure.
Heaven; based on traditional spiritual song ‘Wished I Was In Heaven Sitting Down’ which I first heard by Fred McDowell, but which has also been covered by many other people. I play this with a pocket knife.
Reviews / Quotes
"R L Burnside's cut down blues grooves reincarnated - and now living in Finland!" Mike Garner, Blues News, New Zealand".
"L.R.Phoenix & MR.Mo'Hell Offer Us The Essence Of The Blues Past, While At The Same Time, Creating The Art Of The Blues Future" - John Vermilyea, Blues Underground Network"
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