{Music Review} Big Bad Voodoo Dady, How Big Can You Get?

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Gets Big

I have been a fan of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy going all the way back to their Americana Deluxe album. Since then I have kept up with them, been to a handful of shows and got their albums. This album is not more of the same from them, but more of a concept album dedicated to Cab Calloway. As I consider their album “Save Your Soul” to be a New Orleans inspired concept album, “How Big Can You Get” is in the same vein but with a dedication to the music of Cab Calloway.

All of the song on the album were either composed by Cab Calloway or were staples of his act. With additions to the horn section Big Bad Voodoo Daddy gives their own take on these big band classics. The additional horns give the band a bigger sound then you may be used to hearing; much more of a big band sound as opposed to the smaller sound that we usually get from the band. But the larger sound does no encumber, they play with as much enthusiasm and vigor as before.

Scotty Morris does his best to do justice to Calloway’s songs, and he does present his own take and style, but in my opinion despite a valiant effort he comes up short in vocal performance. But then again I don’t think anyone can match the fervor and excitement that Cab could bring to a song. Bassist Dirk and Saxophonist Andy make cameos in backing vocal roles, always great to hear them.

The song list is a great mix, covering many of Calloway’s biggest hits and some of his most fun tunes. We are also treated to a new recording of “Minnie The Moocher” with the new big band sound. I find it on par if not better then the recording from Americana Deluxe.

So if you really like the old Big Bad Voodoo Daddy sound, you may not enjoy this album too much. But if you like the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy style and want to hear it applied to some “Big” new material then I will think you can overlook the albums few shortcomings and enjoy this album as much as I do.

A Wonderful Opening Day

A Wonderful Opening Day

This past Sunday was Easter, a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Monday, was the Dodgers home opener, God must really like 2009 to put two great Holidays like that back to back. As is my custom I took the day off from work and planned a whole day around a pilgrimage to Chavez Ravine. This year I did so with my lovely wife at my side. To make the trip more hospitable to her I did something I normally never do; drink in the parking lot before the game. I premixed a little batch of margaritas and placed it on ice in a cooler, along with a few lime wedges. So that by the time we pulled into the parking lot around 11:15am we were ready for a little adult libation. Only problem is that Amy perhaps got a little too enthusiastic. Even though all she had had to eat so far that day was a handful of honeycomb cereal, she threw two margaritas back like it was nobody’s business. Suffice to say by the time we started our climb up to the reserve level, it was a wee bit of a challenge for her to stay upright, and stop giggling. Oh how I love my Amy. She then proceeded to step in a plate of something red and wet and splash it all over me, while walking from the car. I was none too happy. The opening ceremonies were nice albeit a little corny. The Dodger players came from out of the stands when called to line up on the third base line. It was fun, if not a little bit cheesy. They did bring back the B-2 Bomber flyover; which is great, except I was sitting in the right field reserved, which gave us the worse place to see the flyover. Oh well, still fun to have a billion dollar airplane fly over you. The first pitch was thrown out by Vin Scully himself, after which he declared over the PA system, “It’s time for Dodger baseball.” Just awesome. Due to my lack of stimulus funds for a Dodger’s mini-ticket plan I was unable to obtain my normal seats in the top deck this year. I instead I had to contend with the masses and ended up in the upper reaches of the right field reserve level, about as far away from the action as you can be but still at the game. Billingsley was in good form, but he was throwing a lot more balls then I like to see. But with 11 K’s over 7 innings I shall not be one to complain. The Big Unit just looked flat, slow, and had trouble finding the zone, without getting shelled. He was only bare getting over 90, I am afraid Johnson may be in his final year, unless he is willing to find himself in the bullpen. As far as Hudson goes, he was just on fire when at the plate. When I saw him make the turn for third I was surprised, but you could tell he wanted it, and he got it. It was a really great offensive surprise in a fun runaway game. I have only on very rare occasions ever sat in expensive seats at Dodger Stadium. Normally I find myself in the top deck. And I suppose this can be said of most fans that sit in the cheap seats, but it is just silly and quite sad, how abusive Dodger’s fan can be. Anyone wearing a Giants jersey was yelled at and had things thrown at them, without provocation. But Dodgers fans are even abusive to each other. The Los Angeles times reported a stabbing in the parking lot after the game, and on our way out we saw a man being cuffed and another receiving bandages to his head in Elysian park. A sad ending to what had been a wonderful day.