Mark Cameron – Blues Factory
This is Minnesota-bluesman Mark Cameron’s 9th album & unlike many blues efforts, his is made from an unpredictable seed. Mark does mix up his blues tradition with some rowdy rock ‘n’ roll flavors, a shuffle, musical romps, & instead of popping the blues as an entertainment balloon, he goes for sheer energy & exuberance that sustains the genre.
There are 10 hand-crafted inspired-blues from the Blues Factory (Dropped Oct 31/Overton Music/39:00) self-produced by Mark & recorded at the Bathtub Shrine Studios in Minneapolis, MN. A live crowd for “Too Hot To Boogie” was captured at Shaw’s Bar & Grill in April 2025.
The opening cut, “The Wrong Thing,” displays a nice “duet” between Mark & his guitar. Interesting. It works nicely. Whereas “Too Hot To Boogie” isn’t so much traditional blues as a good juke joint romp for entertainment purposes. Get people dancing. However, the title track “Blues Factory” is exceptional. Mark’s more raw voice is now mixed with the decorative & tasteful flute in the style of the late Johnny Almond of Mark-Almond. A band that was fueled more by atmosphere, mood, & charged passages. “Drink On the Job” is a “Naked City” narrative that has the flavor of a Beat Generation finger-snapping hipster. Engaging. Yeah, baby.
In a more Fabulous Thunderbirds assemblage is the rollicking, raw-boned vocal of “Can’t Stand Still.” Hot tune with a blistering Bill Keyes harmonica run. Cameron’s Tom Waits voice at full power. While many of the titles of the songs are standard forms, they’re appropriate to the genre. Short, simple, to the point, & do musically deliver.
The band having a flute player makes their blues slightly more of a curiosity. All the musicians are obviously proficient, & they capture the music with precision. Even on the chilled-out slow blues balladry of “Change Your Ways,” Mark lays out a slow burn in the pan of his bacon-sizzled vocal. Noirish & mysterious…excellent late-night stuff. Smokey tonality, intriguing to say the least.
Blues aficionados will find this collection with an abundance of consistently good & affecting blues tales. It’s not Muddy Waters, B.B. King, or Sonny Boy Williamson, but it isn’t modern-day mainstream blues with all the pyrotechnical showboating to impress the brain rather than inspire the heart & soul. There are steady & inventive drums with these winning original songs & performances.
Highlights – “The Wrong Thing,” “Too Hot To Boogie,” “Drink On the Job,” “Can’t Stand Still,” & “Change Your Ways.”
Musicians – Mark (guitar/vocals), Sheri Cameron (sax/flute/percussion), Dan Schroeder (drums) with Steve Hansen & Nick Salisbury (bass), Josh Granowski (upright bass), Shane Cox (trumpet/trombone), Zach Miller (tenor sax), Tommy Barbarella (grand piano/B3/Wurlitzer piano), Greg Schutte (drums), Sara Renner & Tonya Hughes (vocals).
Image courtesy of Mark’s website. CD @ https://markcameronmusic.net/