Tellin’ Myself Weird Lil Stories, Andy B. AND SoulFolk

Posted on by Tom Baldino
Andy b soul folk

Andy Bernstein has been the front man for the VooDudes for more than thirty years, but his creative urge in recent years has led him to form the band Andy B. AND SoulFolk for an interesting departure into a world of original songs that include stories of people he has worked with, drawn inspiration from as well as those from flights of fantasy. On his second outing for the Deko label, only two of the ten songs included are covers, a traditional arrangement of “House of the Rising Sun,” and Barrett Strong’s “Money (That’s What I Want).” 

The band consists of Andy on vocals, harmonica and percussion, with VooDude bandmate Gary Ambrosy on electric, acoustic, and lapsteel guitars as well as mandolin and background vocals. Paul Daloia plays electric and acoustic bass, also contributing background vocals. Matty Hahn is on the keyboards as well as background vocals, while drummer Bill Homeyer rounds out the band on percussion and background vocals. 

The set opens with Andy’s energetic refrain of being “Risen from the Dead,” and joining all the horror film greats that have done the same, and now ask the eternal question, what to do with eternity. Matty’s lively keyboards, along with Andy’s vocals, propel this playful tune along to its less than three-minute conclusion. “When Nancy Played Some Blues” is a reverent tribute to “Big Nancy” Swarbrick, a fixture on the Central Jersey music scene until her untimely passing in 2016. Gary’s electric guitar harkens back to those times that passed much too soon for those of us who remember it well. “That Hank Williams Feeling” pays homage to the master of the Country/Americana with Andys familiar vocal phrases, a nice driving beat and Gary again placing a fitting solo within the chorus of vocals and that chugging rhythm section. “Northbound Love” is a mid-tempo number about the singer leaving his home to find love up north, and the band does a great job supporting Andy on his musical journey. “Listen to Ol’ Levon (The River),” starts with one of Gary’s signature licks and moves into a joyous celebration of music in a pastoral setting, much like an experience at Levon Helm’s Ramble. This band creates the feeling of The Band, but having their own unique sound. A song that is in the public domain and needs no introduction, “House of the Rising Sun,” is given a soulful reading by Andy, with a wistful guitar line by Gary building up to break that ascends momentarily, but falls back quickly to an almost mournful conclusion. “Y’Know I Love You,” shows the band back on the upswing with a full complement of background singers, a lively lapsteel by Gary, and its coupled with Matty’s various keyboard sounds, framing Andy’s vocals about looking for that elusive lover for all time. “Money (That’s What I Want),” sounds nothing like the 45 record I bought in the late 1950’s, but I would have brought this version if it was available then. The blues inspired sound kicks off with finger poppin’ and Andy’s laid-back vocals, and includes some fine guitar and organ interplay, highlighted by Paul’s tasty bass solo. It’s a great reimagining of a Motown classic. “Whiskey, Black Powder & Cigarettes,” is set to a Reggae style beat and illustrates Andy’s story telling at its best, with this vignette recalling an explosive relationship (pun intended), real or imagined, that probably grew with every telling. The band wraps their instruments and voices around the lyrics in a way that heightens the tension, before it all goes up in smoke. “Xmas Eve On Venice Beach” is Andy at his quirky best, with an unconventional take on this holiday, set in a local that you won’t find on any Hallmark card. With plenty of musical and lyrical references to the season along with Gary’s fuzz tone guitar breaks, this one will be on my annual holiday playlist. 

If you’re looking for something that incorporates different styles, coupled with some lyrics I guarantee you won’t hear anywhere else, pick this collection up on Deko.