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If you got a hankering to listen to some good old kick-ass blues/rock mixed with a dash of classic rock, then please step right up and grab yourselves Dudley Taft's Debut Release "Left For Dead".
"Left For Dead" is a non-stop feast for the ears in the timeless tradition of old ZZ Top and Stevie Ray Vaughan, which is sure to be recognized as one of 2010's best albums in this style.
Consisting of 12 great tracks, 7 originals and 5 covers, Dudley Taft has no problem showing his virtuosity as not only one amazing axe man, but also his superb talent as a song writer.
I really enjoy listening to a great debut album and "Left For Dead" is simply one of those Albums.
I give this CD's, my highest rating, Five ***** Excellent CD... Thoroughly enjoyed them... Highly Recommended...
Review by John Vermilyea (Blues Underground Network) - Blues Underground Network
Big, fat and loud are descriptives that got slapped around on the début album of Seattle’s rock and blues singer/songwriter Dudley Taft; pretty, soft and conservatively wired listeners need not apply.
“Left For Dead” is stacked with the Texan overtones of ZZ Top and SRV yet with an untypical innovative style and approach that gives this album the meat and potatoes to get a listener on the sonic train tracks and dancing till they pull into the station.
There is no question that Taft, his band and this album have passed through the deep mojo fires of the Seattle music culture infecting a blend of blues standards like Willy Dixon’s “Back Door Man” and “Seventh Son” and Taft’s original work like the album’s title track, “Left For Dead” which encapsulates the spirit of the NW blues with lyrics like “My body hit the mattress, but my soul hit the floor”. The first tune out the gate is Taft’s “Ain’t No Game” which had me heading for my leather pants, boots and ready for a ride and by the last tune, also a Taft original, “If You’ll Come Home” I had to wonder if I wasn’t listening to the next Billy Gibbons or Joe Bonamassa.
If you are new to the name Dudley Taft, he is no upstart to say the least, he’s been rocking crowds for years with regional superstars Spike and the Impalers and it’s going to take a tornado to knock this showman off his game. So if it’s a feast of thick and beefy guitar tones or a stratospheric riff rock, blue note rocket ride this collection of NW styled blues tunes is a must have for any serious rock blues music collection.
by William Thomas Anderson - Washington Blues Society
Discography
2008 - Foundation
2009 - Left For Dead
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Bio
Our sound is best described as “A little bit of Texas Blues infused with some Mississippi Delta, sprinkled with a hint of British Invasion and served up with Northwest Rock sensibility.” Essentially we mine the blues material from Willie Dixon and Freddie King through John Mayall and the Jeff Beck Group to Stevie Ray Vaughan and ZZ Top, with our own take on the blues thrown in. The band is fronted by guitarist Dudley Taft, a 30 year veteran of the music business. Dudley employs his guitar magic authoritatively in the wide-open spaces provided by the blues- going from soulful, sparse and clean to all out rock riffery. He combines his funk, jazz and rock influences in his soloing.
Dudley Taft plays clubs and blues festivals around the greater Seattle area, including regular gigs at the Highway 99 Blues Club.
Dudley Taft grew up in a country called the "Midwest", where he learned the values of friendship, roots blues, rock 'n' roll and a good ear of corn. Local guitar hero Rob Swaynie in Indianapolis taught Dudley the value of music theory interspersed with B.B King, Led Zeppelin and ZZ Top riffs. Taking his newfound skills with him, he founded the band “Space Antelope” with friend Trey Anastasio (of Phish Fame) in high school. Dudley moved to Seattle in the summer of 1990, joining the Seattle band “Sweet Water”. After touring the states with “Monster Magnet”, “Candlebox” and “Alice in Chains”, and recording two albums for Atlantic he left the band to resurrect “Second Coming”. More touring followed with an album on Capitol records and a taste of success thanks to the single “Vintage Eyes” which made it to #10 on the Rock Radio charts. Older and wiser, Dudley has now turned his attention back to the roots of the music that inspired him to pick up the guitar. Dudley is also member of the KZOK band Spike and the Impalers.
Evan Sheeley is one of Seattle’s legendary bassists, having played, recorded and toured with TKO, Q5, and Randy Hansen, among others. A friend of Dudley’s since the early nineties from Seattle Music, Evan is now the owner and operator of Bass Northwest, which has been selling top-end bass gear is Seattle for fifteen years. Evan brings his musical tastes to the songlist as well, with some Hendrix, Jeff Beck Group, Bluesbreakers and more.
Scott Vogel is the type of drummer that never drops a beat. Unassuming and humble, he sometimes scares even himself with his hard-hitting bombastic grooves. While beating around Seattle, Scott recorded for Virgin records with “Reverend” and toured the world (ok, Korea). He is the foundation of Blues Overkill, skillfully moving from shuffle to swing to straight-ahead rock beats.
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