Wanna Feel Somethin' reviewed by Rick Davis

Wanna Feel Somethin'

Mary Bridget Davies

Self-released

http://marybridgetdavies.com/

10 Tracks

Mary Bridget Davies started out in competition and on professional tours as a dancer. Since she was from Cleveland, Ohio and also very talented as a singer she went to Robert Lockwood Jr.’s jam night at the original Fat Fish Blue in Cleveland. She attended as an observer and then returned to perform the following week. After hearing her on the opening tune, she got her first band job on the spot! The band starting touring nation wide and represented the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the International Blues Challenge two years in a row. The band was nominated several times by the Cleveland Scene and Free Times for Best Blues Band, with Mary winning the Best Vocalist Award in 2004.

In 2005 a new lead actress/vocalist was needed to portray Janis Joplin in the smash Off-Broadway musical, Love, Janis. Mary got the lead out of 150 people auditioning for the honor of portraying Janis, with the musical later touring the country. For her performance, she was awarded Best Moment In Theatre in 2007 by the Kansas City Pitch. Big Brother & the Holding Co., Janis Joplin’s original band, was so impressed they asked Mary to sing with them in 2006 as they toured the United States and Europe.  Once again in 2007 she had the opportunity and was asked to join the cast of the Tony Award nominated Broadway musical–It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues–a musical about the history of the blues.

Mary is now focusing all her efforts on delivering her powerful, soulful, blues vocals with The Mary Bridget Davies Group. In 2011, the group was the International Blues Challenge second place winner. They are enjoying the success of their new CD, Wanna Feel Something, with Mary handling the lead vocals, Dave Hayes on guitar and vocals, Gary Roberts on bass and vocals, Chris Hazelton on organ, keys and vocals, Joe Voye on drums and vocals, Pete Carroll on trumpet and vocals, Nick Rowland on saxophone and vocals, and Aaron Thomas on tambourine. The first tune, "Your Kinda Love" by G. Roberts, opens with shades of Muddy Waters as Mary delivers the blues like no other female vocalist that you will hear! "Won't Pay You Mind," another original song, offers a superb rocker by this extraordinary group of musicians. Dave Hayes will impress you with his guitar solos on the original, slow number "Same Ol Blues." Mary will set you straight with her bold and beautiful vocals on the fast pace, funky, K. Massey tune "Real Thing." It delivers some tasty rhythm and lead guitar, along with support from a very sharp horn section. Another original song, "Getting Stronger" opens and continues with a raw slide guitar, along with that "Janis" quality that can be heard in Mary's vocals. Chris Hazelton is showcased on organ with the original song "Wanna Feel Something" and the Eagles mega hit "Take It To The Limit." Mary delivers her own gospel performance with her vocals that you won't hear on the original Eagles version. You will receive some good advice from Mary on the original song "Trick The Devil" blended with smooth slide guitar  solos. The band shifts gears with the muted trumpet opening on the Noel Gallagher jazz tune "Wonderwall." Mary Bridget Davies shows you how versatile her vocals can be on the concluding Chi Coltrane tune "Thunder and Lightnin'."

You have to experience vocals and a band performance like this for yourself. This CD smokes from beginning to end. This has to be one of the premier bands to capture live!

Review by Rick Davis