Mark Rigg: Press

Mark Rigg and the Big Rigg Band
'Midnite Show Tonight'
An excellent array of the blues spanning from Memphis to New Orleans to Chicago blues. Mark Rigg takes listeners on a journey into the heart of American roots with a strong lead, providing the framework for a solid roots release. From track to track the album explores a thematic element of blues that is maintained by flawless musicianship and a locomotive grooving band dynamic.
Tr.1 Three Strikes – an energetic Motown sound with swinging piano and an excellent brass arrangement. Three Strikes kick starts the album into a brighter side of blues rock.
Tr.3 Warpaint Baby – a spicy New Orleans sound with flaring guitar and a truculent drum beat. Excellent keys and brass section. The guitar work is on fire throughout the entirety of the track.
Tr.4 I'm Gone – A Chicago style approach that carries on quintessential blues elements. Dynamic call and response between guitar and harmonica gets you on your feet or brings you down to your knees, begging for more.
Tr.6 Who Do You Love Tonight – Raspy vocal styling that recalls a Tom Waites whiskey driven blues. Main blues riff is too cool for school with a touch of the 60s. Good use of reverb. This track is a nonchalant display of darker blues.

This team of musicians recorded the album, although with only six songs, but that in every way deserves a lot more minutes of the 23 minutes and 04 seconds, and thus, my disbelief is greater, that is still not recognized by the publishing house.

Their music is based on all known standards of rock, soul and jump blues.

From the stacks of material I have decided that you consider this promo album introduce a number of reasons. Specifically, there is no sensationalism here, but from track to track band uncompromising stand in the way of sincere presentation, such as the generation accustomed to the late fifties and early sixties, and all the way to mid-seventies. After that, congratulations to those who have stayed on that path, which is far from any of the commercial sector and therefore the quality is not questionable. At the same time band describes its music expressive moments of what we call the blues / rock. With its versatile vocals and expressive with a musical background they bring us a unique musical moments.

As a true representative of the old school band Mark Rigg and the Big Rigg Band is constantly and consistently on long before the traveled path, they are gifted and talented musicians, who will win his music at first listen. Similarly, with their fantastic music, outline what we are looking for and we want .... And this is music that is so simple and affordable and that applies just in its simplicity and dispels all that is superfluous. Of course, it is no wonder, Mark Rigg and the Big Rigg Band playing blues and R & B for more than 20 years, and have worked with many famous musicians. The more their music shines and enchants with its effectiveness and attractiveness.

RECOMMENDATION:
If you do not have prejudices, if you are only interested in good music, if you are looking for something to relax, to spend some pleasant twenty minutes. Well, that's it, we are here to just reach for this album PROMO Mark Rigg and the Big Rigg Band eponymous band, and simply will not go wrong.

Mark Rigg’s been paying his blues dues for over 20 years in Detroit, New Orleans and now New York. His gritty vocals and fuzzed out guitar have supported many greats over the years, ranging from Bob Dylan and Johnny Winter to Frank Sinatra and Peter Tosh. He released his first CD in 1995 while still in Detroit; he moved to New Orleans and worked with Johnny Adams, Jean King and Earl Knight, and now calls the New York area home where he plays with various individuals and band including Albert Bouchard from Blue Oyster Cult.

The CD starts with Rigg hearkening back to his Motown roots in “Three Strikes”. It swings with the help of piano support by Mark Dunayerand a big brass and horn section. “Slip Away” is a bright and bouncy song where the whole entourage drives the song well, but I liked Rigg’s guitar solo best on this one. “Warpaint Baby” may be more New Orleans-sounding than anything else; a big drum sound and stinging guitar are the highlights here. On “I’m Gone” we get more of a Chicago sound. Jon Paris’ harp is strong here and Rigg continues to show his prowess as he trades licks with Paris. In “I’m Going Home” the cast changes out completely to 6 new musicians. Again with more of a New Orleans approach, this one weaves and bobs with Rigg and a nice solo by Dunayer on organ. “Who Do You Love Tonight” is old school blues, with vocals that reek of cheap bourbon and a haunting reverb sound from the guitar.

Riggs wrote 5 of the 6 songs. They are all solid enough and delivered with nice musicianship. Two minor complaints would be the over use of effects on the vocals and having only six songs to sample. On the latter a six song sampler is OK, but folks want to hear more. Throw in some of the many covers that must be in the repertoire from the past two decades and let us see what else tyou can do with others’ stuff. On the former, there seems to be a bit too much monkeying with the vocals on a couple of the tracks to make them sound more hollow and bluesy. I think Riggs voice carried the tunes well and would be better served with less effects. But those are minor beefs. Riggs and his plentiful crew offer up some solid music and it would be a great night listening to these guys in a small club over a few cold ones!