Search - :: Live At the Dragon's Den

(Review from New Orleans' Gambit Weekly)



The trip begins with climbing the slippery stairs to the Dragon's Den, where the sound of guitarist Jeremy Lyons and his band the Deltabilly Boys embrace you like the sweltering summer air does in New Orleans. Immediately the precise, driving beat of Greg Schatz on the upright bass and Paul Santopadre on the drums takes the senses, while Jeremy Lyons' agile fingerpicking and slide playing blasts like a cannon.



Classic songs by Robert Johnson like "Preachin' Blues" and "Up Jumped the Devil" are combined to form a powerful rolling train, where Lyons doesn't waste a second demonstrating a few finger breakers on the guitar while filling all the other spaces with yodels and fine singing. "You are Not the Only Oyster in the Stew" is a comical eye opener of a love song dedicated to fine ladies everywhere. The classic twangy guitar sounds of Link Wray and the Ventures are brought to the foreground in Wray's well-known song "Jack the Ripper."

This collection of songs by the likes of Johnson, Slim Harpo, Muddy Waters, and some originals by Lyons himself, are all executed to keep the party going and bodies grooving on the dance floor. This is a natural fusion of hillbilly, rockabilly, western swing, blues, and surf music with outstanding playing, awesome dynamics, and downright strong vocals.