Clovis Mann

Metamorphic is the third release from Clovis Mann and the title aptly suits the band’s resume as the only remaining founder of the power trio, Dan Walkner has had to morph with changes in band members. One year after Dan Plourde replaced bassist Stosh Jonjak, drummer Ethan Noordyk moved to Augusta, Maine. Drummer Jamie Zander and guitarist Pat Ferguson have joined up, making Clovis Mann at least a foursome.

Ferguson, who recently played with Smokin’ Bandits, recorded a track on “The Light,” a gospel-rock sendup that features some slick lead guitar trades with organ supplied by Vince Faris. It’s not clear whether Faris is a full-fledged member at this point but his keyboard skills add a lot of depth and soul to the band’s blues-based rock. Also guesting on Metamorphic is Fat Maw Rooney’s Craig Baumann who adds lead guitar to “Water’s Edge.”Additionally, Walkner has an acoustic Americana duo called Crooked Barn that draws on the same pool of players from time to time.

“Water’s Edge” is a particularly fine song with Walkner taking acoustic and giving the band a distinctively different sound. Baumann gets ample space to stretch is phenomenal soloing abilities.

“No More” is an anti-war stomp in the Hendrix tradition with a smokin’ organ solo from Faris. The track is an excellent example of Clovis Mann’s ability to span the decades as this one could just as easily have sprung from the Vietnam War era.

“Whiff,” co-written by Faris with Walkner, is an interesting rhythmic concept, and is also a bit of a departure for the band. The organ is central here, while the band shifts seamlessly from the syncopated 6/8 phrasing of the intro to the soulful 4/4 of the verse and chorus. Walkner delivers a tasty solo – as he does throughout the album – on this one as well.

Aside from the more sophisticated instrumentation, what really symbolizes Clovis Mann’s metamorphosis is Walkner’s vocals, which have developed a relaxed and heartfelt delivery. His performance on the ballad “Dig Deep” may be his finest recorded vocal to date.

While Clovis Mann retains much of their jam-band heritage, they show signs of evolving into a band that has a bit more depth and staying power, rolling with the punches and emerging all the stronger for it. - Local Sounds Magazine

Clovis Mann wears its personality on its sleeve. Its lively blues rock is unpretentious, working-class, beer-soaked, therapeutic, hard-driving and in search of justice. Metamorphic shows why Clovis Mann is a joyous addition to the Madison music scene.

There's nothing complicated about the guitar chord progressions on "Dig Deep," but the urgent tone is accessible and engaging. The song is punctuated by electric guitar jams that support the band's free-expression vibe.

The album isn't exclusively blues. "Dig Deep" is reflective Southern rock that gently strokes the pain of self-doubt. "No More" thrives on wailing electric guitar and cries for "no more bloodshed, no more war."

Despite the band's willingness to confront life's ills, the album abounds with good feeling and optimism. "Blowin' Up the Shack" is a bluesy summer song about innocence and freedom from responsibility.

Feeling down? Metamorphic is high-proof elixir. - The Isthmus

5. Clovis Mann: Metamorphic

It's not that Clovis Mann's upbeat blues was out of touch with the social turmoil of 2010. To the contrary, songs like "No More" confront it head on. "No more bloodshed, no more war," sings Dan Walkner.

But the music of Clovis Mann is all about resistance to everything that would bring you down. "Blowin' Up the Shack" is a reminder that there's more to life than times of trouble. The track is a joyful summer song about innocence and freedom from responsibility.

Clovis Mann wants justice. It just wants happiness, too. - The Isthmus

Here is the short version:

"Though they do pretty much everything well, the most impressive attributes of Clovis Mann’s style are their refreshing ability to jam without sounding like a jam band, and their unflappable commitment to being thoroughly and brilliantly old-school. Though they express a longing to someday “reach that holy ground,” as far as their musical universe is concerned, if Hendrix is God they’re already there."
~Rick's Cafe, April 2006 - Rick's Cafe

CLOVIS MANN
Clovis Mann EP
2005 Self-Release
www.clovismann.com
Style: Classic Rock/Blues

Comprised of three young Wisconsin natives, the heavy-gigging Clovis Mann can’t be bothered with recent musical trends, neither stylistic nor technological. They opt instead to take it back to the beginning, and play a potent blend of classic rock and blues, recorded live with virtually no effects or post-production. The result is a fine balance of familiarity and exploration, a largely successful attempt to stay true to bluesy rockers of old while simultaneously making it sound fresh. Ultimately, it’s a testament to the timelessness of the music that inspires them.

The influence that springs to mind when listening to the six songs on their EP Clovis Mann is Jimi Hendrix. Sometimes Clovis Mann bite pretty hard, most obviously on the spastic “War Child.” But rather than feeling like derivative rehashings, the songs genuinely reflect the ways in which Hendrix was great, resurrecting techniques not often found in the newer musical climate. The live recording, like Hendrix’s, has just the right amount of sloppiness; not enough to detract from the songs, but just enough to give them life, to let you know real people are making them, and a recording studio. And like Hendrix, Clovis Mann are able to take the exhaustively used 12-bar blues structure to places it’s never been on songs like “Gravedigger.” Bassist Stosh Jonjak can’t sit still, his lines ambling but precise. Oftentimes during singer/guitarist Dan Walkner’s psychedelic solos, Jonjak seems to be providing a counter-lead instead of merely playing a rhythm part. And speaking of leads, Walkner revives one of Hendrix’s most endearing techniques, playing lead lines and singing at the same time. He exploits it very effectively, most noticeably on the aforementioned “War Child.”

Most of Clovis Mann’s songs are relatively upbeat, but on “Small Town Vice” they recall the darker moods of Led Zeppelin as they prove they can play heavy without playing metal. Though the music is heavy, the lyrics are even heavier, as they follow the consequences of poor decisions made by old friends, lamenting, “The gavel is deployed / And your freedom is destroyed” before bursting into a massive riff during the chorus. It’s moving and will put your shit in check.

The only real drawback of this demo is that it’s quite short and leaves you wanting more. Fortunately, these boys play out long and often and sound even better live, and are known to sometimes have friends sit in on blues jams. This EP really only scratches their surface.

Though they do pretty much everything well, the most impressive attributes of Clovis Mann’s style are their refreshing ability to jam without sounding like a jam band, and their unflappable commitment to being thoroughly and brilliantly old-school. Though they express a longing to someday “reach that holy ground,” as far as their musical universe is concerned, if Hendrix is God they’re already there.
- Rick's Cafe, April 2006

“Week in and week out Clovis Mann provides awesome entertainment and something new for each show. I look forward to Sunday every week. They are a pleasure to work with.” - Manager of the Come Back In

“Impressive three-piece. Straight-ahead, no overdubs, basically recorded live in the studio. Easy to work with, friendly.” - Owner and Sound Engineer at The Band Center, Milwaukee, WI

“On behalf of the American Red Cross, I wanted to again thank you, the members of Clovis Mann, for organizing the benefit concert for the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief efforts. Your efforts raised $692.00, allowing the American Red Cross to continue providing food, shelter, counseling and other assistance to those in need.” - Financial Development Director, American Red Cross

"Instrumentally sure and dynamically outstanding, Clovis Mann quite frankly blew me away. All I can say after catching them at their last Come Back In Sunday gig is, 'when is the platinum album coming out?'" - Core Weekly

“Stosh Jonjak is one of the premier bass players in the state.” - Spooner Advocate

“Dan Walkner is one of the best slide guitar players in town.” - Dan Schilling, Madison Blues Society Chairperson