by Tom Baldino
Eliz Neals thirteenth offering in a nearly thirty-year recording career is the aptly titled Thunder In The House. Released on E-H Records, it is comprised of nine tunes, written or co-written by her, which are guaranteed to get your juices flowing. Eliza’s band, Michael Puwal on guitar, Doug Woem on bass, and Steve Lacross appear on most tracks with guest appearances by Justin Headly on drums, Detroit Mike Hepner on B3 and piano, and Mark “Muggie Doo” Leach on B3.
Eliza has become a staple on BB King’s Bluesville, and has appeared with Buddy Guy at his Chicago Club, as well as playing at major festivals and numerous venues around the country, including our Long Branch Jazz & Blues Festival, and Holiday Party events. This recently released collection should only further cement her reputation in the blues community, as one of its leading ladies.
The opening track, “Speedy Beady,” has the band laying down a sweet groove for Eliza’s powerful vocals about a red rooster, that could be her answer to the famous Willie Dixon tune, “Little Red Rooster”. The abrupt ending of this tune has you wanting more, and then, the first single off the album, “Love Will” kicks in, with Michael’s effect’s laden guitar accentuating Eliza’s vocals/backup vocals. This swampy sounding original emphatically makes the point that “love will brighten up your Day”! Michael’s slide and Justin’s drumming introduce “Blues Bombshell,” a sultry tune well suited to both Eliza’s stage persona and voice. This slow blues song is filled out by Detroit Mike’s B3 and piano playing, and will resonate with all music lovers who take a listen.
“All Alone” opens with Eliza on keys, her plaintive vocals cushioned in Michael’s powerful, almost weeping guitar, that perfectly captures the feeling of lyric’s about being trapped in your dreams and yearning to break out. Eliza not only knows how to write a song on paper, but to bring it to life through her music. Next, “Locked Up” again features her on piano and vocals with the band’s more than able support, highlighted by some soaring solos from Michael. Coupled with the previous tune, it sounds like a cry for help via the blues, and it never sounded so good.
“Wicked Heart,” picks up the beat covering the familiar territory of the unfaithful lover, with Elisa spelling out wicked at the start, as to emphasize how bad this guy is! With Mark and Justin sitting in on B3 and drums this song percolates under her vocals, making for a pleasing sound, garnished by Michael’s tasty fills. Her band is back as a unit on “Unoriginal Bitch,” laying down a bed of sound over her singing about a partner who hasn’t done anything original in music or life, which sounds like an original premise for a song to me.
Using an old black culture phrase, the song “One Monkey (Don’t Stop No Show),” which originated as a coping mechanism against systematic obstacles. It’s synonymous with “the show must go on,” and here, the tune rocks on with the phrase, “put your worries on the shelf,” delivering a positive message, laced with a church-like organ provided by Mark. This terrific collection ends with the title cut, “Thunder in the House,” which begins like a storm on the horizon. Her band lays down the sound, with Micheal’s languid slide guitar and a rhythm that flows like honey from a jar. Eliza’s vocals warn of trouble to come, like harbinger of fate born from experience. A good song paints a picture with words and sounds, and this one does that extremely well. This is a collection of songs that are worth more than one listen.
To find out more, go to www.ElizaNeals.com