August 1998 Local Exposure

Local Exposure
CD Reviews of Area Musicians

By Ed Yashinsky

Big Tubba Mista
The Sting That’s Swing
[Dynamax Discs]

As much as work in progress as a snapshot of potential greatness, Big Tubba Mista’s debut CD, The Sting That’s Swing, only scratches the surface of this swing juggernaut that has taken off like no other Harrisburg band in recent memory. The Sting That’s Swing delivers a glimpse of what this band has to offer, but it is nowhere close to the energy of this sextuplet’s live shows. The Sting That’s Swing hops off the launch pad with four tunes that set the standard for the entire CD. “Killer on 37th Street,” “Big Tubba Mista,” “These Are the Days” and “Love or Lust” prove Big Tubba Mista’s ability and classic riffs. Big horns punctuate the swing beats, while Bob Brechbill’s drums and Rick Gadd’s seamless bass drive this well-oiled machine. At the same time, vocalist Jon Rohrer quickly gets caught up in the moment delivering martini-heavy croons that recall the likes of Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme. The Sting That’s Swing only loses steam on the slower ballads; not that these pieces don’t belong on this CD, but they lack the power and intensity of the record’s up-tempo numbers. It’s too early to predict the future for Big Tubba Mista in the ever-expanding swing experiment that is exploding across the United States, but The Sting That’s Swing sets a good stepping stone.

Cork
Floating
[Independent Release]

Cork For the Harrisburg duo, Cork, the release of their debut CD, Floating, is the culmination of several thousands years of inspiration with just a touch of the modern world. Multi-instrumentalists Louis Lynch and Chris Laughery have been wowing crowds at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire for several years with their timeless takes on Gaelic and Celtic pieces along with their Celtic-inspired originals. The soft pianos and strings that fill Floating highlight some the duo’s most interesting music. Traditional songs like “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye” and “Star of the County Down” fit perfectly next to original numbers like “Kilkelly” and “Wings of Faith.” Floating’s haunting flutes recall the flourishes of Jethro Tull frontman, Ian Anderson, while the seamless piano and guitar touches makes Floating the perfect relaxant for today’s incredibly fast-paced world. Lynch and Laughery has found the perfect balance between time-past and the near future.

The Wiseguys
Win, Win or Win
[Dial M Music]

Psst....got 15 minutes to spare?? If so, The Wiseguys will show you a great time. In a paltry 15 minutes and 33 seconds (counting a great Elvis-outro), Win, Win or Win, the debut CD from The Wiseguys, proves that three chords and an attitude can do a whole lot of good for whatever ails ya. Win, Win or Win’s inside jacket features fitting quotes from Jerry Lee Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock, Jimmy Durante, Frank Sinatra and Lemmy (of Motorhead). Studds (vocals/guitar), Diamond Chip (lead guitar), Death Valley Timmy (bass) and The King (drums) aren’t trying to wow anyone with style and grace, they simply want to blow the roof off the joint and piss off the neighbors. You want special?? Check out “Crooked Smile” or The Clash-on-speed-like, “I Can’t Believe What I See.” Or better yet, just slap in Win, Win or Win, crank up the volume and jump around like a lunatic. It’s exactly what the Wiseguys had in mind when they made this record and they did one hell of a job.