The Unkool Hillbillies – The Corona Sessions vol. 2
Wham Bam Baloony / Rock My Blues Away [2021]
Here are two more tracks recorded by The Unkool Hillbillies during the pandemic.
Wham Bam Baloony is a relaxed piano-driven number with a bluesy feel and a laidback shuffle. Otto Gryting returns and delivers a brief but excellent sax part.
Rock My Blues Away is not that original, but nonetheless, it is efficient. It’s a Rock’n’roll number with a slight Neo-Rockabilly feel.
The Unkool Hillbillies – The Corona Sessions vol. 1
Flat Top Boogie / So Long Mole [2021]
The Unkool Hillbillies (Anders Umegård on piano/vocals, Fredric Bergström double bass, Mats Brobäck on drums, and Jonas Säfsten on electric guitar/backup vocals) recently went to the studio to record a couple of songs. To help us wait until their forthcoming album, two of them have been released as digital singles. Flat Top Boogie is a traditional piano-led rocker yet modern at the same time. It also features some tasty guitar licks. By listening to the intro of So Long Mole, you’d think (and be slightly afraid) that you’ll hear a Twist. Fortunately for us, it evolves into a solid rocker enhanced by the presence of guest saxman Otto Gryting.
The Unkool Hillbillies – Evil Times
Strawberry Records GET004 [2009]
Dangling On A String – Another Day Another Lie – Sarah – Wake Up – I Aint Mad At You – Just Your Fool – I’ll Do My Best – Jump Start My Heart – Linda Lee – Rock This Joint – Evil Times – It Hurts Me Too – Your The One – Dirty – Tore Up – Blisters – Stampen Boogie – Tell Me
Don’t let the band’s name mislead you: this band is anything but uncool, and their music belongs more to New Orleans and Chicago than to the Grand Ole Opry.Featuring the pounding piano of Anders Umegarg and the fantastic blues harp of Richard Andersson (and both sing), a mean guitar, and a solid rhythm section, this 18-song (13 originals) album is a killer from start to finish.It’s a mix of Chicago Blues (Little Walter’s Just Your Fool), jumpin’ blues with an early rock’n’roll edge (Rock This Joint), Jerry Lee Lewis piano (Dangling On A String), New Orleans rhythm’n’blues featuring juicy saxes (Sarah), good old boogie woogie (Stampen Boogie) and some Blasters influences (Wake Up, Evil Time). They add diversity with three songs recorded live (Tore Up, Blisters, and Stampen Boogie), and guest singer Karin Johansson is featured on three tunes, including It Hurts Me Too (done initially by Tampa Red, although their version owes more to Elmore James). After all this, I’m not sure you’ll continue to call them unkool!
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
website: http://www.unkool.se/index2.html