Dig Thy Savage Soul (Bloodshot), the new release by Barrence Whitfield & the Savages, charges at you with the ferocity of a feisty boxing contender in the brightly lit ring of roots rock-n-roll.
Looking swift and decisive at the outset Whitfield pummels the
punk region early. His smooth vocal punches find their mark with a gruff, effortless
flurry. There is deft offensive execution on the gritty rocker “Hangman’s Token.”
Always quick to the spot with the rockabilly shuffle Whitfield remains on
balance throughout. He scores often with uppercuts of R&B, letting the
hands go, so to speak, on numbers like “My Baby Didn’t Come Home.”
Whitfield surrounds himself with veteran corner men for this one. Peter Greenberg (guitar) and Phil Lenker (bass) are worthy conspirators
(and original Savages) from the first-wave Boston punk scene. Tenor saxophonist Tom
Quartulli (The Toasters) brings good organic energy (“Bread”) and does all he
can to further the rockabilly aspect.
The tracks on Dig
Thy Savage Soul clip by as quickly as 12 two-minute championship rounds. With
time to spare Whitfield and company score an impressive TKO (Total Knockout). Available at Bloodshot records store: Dig Thy Savage Soul
