Dustin Arbuckle & The Damnations – Fight Like the Devil or Run Like Hell
If Tom Waits tossed together a sweet heat of bottled-up blues, it would sound something like Dustin Arbuckle (lead vocal/harmonica). “Heaven Forbid” (I would meet you in hell). What a percolating line to open an album with. The song includes some harmonica from Hades & squiggly lead guitar swarming the sticky walls of purgatory. This tune is so hot that my creamsicle is melting. Dustin poured some originality into this antique genre. The harmonica throws some fast jabs in “Fight Like the Devil” & scores some uppercuts with smoke. It all has energy, intensity, & deviancy. A well-programmed follow-up one day should be The Box Tops’ “I Must Be the Devil” & Melanie Safka’s “Some Say (I Got Devil).”
“Desperate Love” has a typical title, but it’s blues from the Kansas-roots-rock powerhouse Dustin Arbuckle who rakes the coals diligently & vocally. Lots of spooky goings-on. An absorbing melody, an aching lead guitar run & plodding drums as a subtle accessory. The harmonica whistles above it like a graveyard breeze. A slight detour into a Paul Butterfield Blues Band blend is “Must Be Travelin’ On” & “Out of Time.” These two are effective, dynamic & imbued with lots of tradition without sounding retro. They’re magical.
There are 11 chances to go toe-to-toe & Fight Like the Devil or Run Like Hell (Drops August 28/Independent/47:34) as recorded by Duane Trower in Kansas City, MO with additional recording by Tom Page in Wichita, KS. Dustin dabbles a bit outside the blues realm & while those songs don’t strike the bell at the top of the carnival pole, his vocals are his signature.
Dustin adds personality to his effort. There’s an old-fashioned approach that adds to the authenticity. I feel old blues records (78s & early 45s) were great because of the scratches, hisses & mono sound in the vinyl – it added durability. Blues, when it’s spit-polished, lose their persuasion. Dustin maintains a down-in-the-basement, mason-jar whiskey vocal foundation.
A cool blues-rocker busts from the bottle like carbonated water in Bob Dylan’s “Tombstone Blues.” Ebullient in style, a culmination of a whole mess of things. This is how you write a modern-day blues…listen to the lyrics. Clever, propulsive & engaging. Only Tom Waits could come close. This goes on repeat, Mr. Arbuckle.
Taking a detour into Leon Redbone territory is “You’re Gonna Hear Me On the Radio,” which proves Dustin’s diversity. He doesn’t make it sound like a novelty & it’s not campy.
Highlights – “Heaven Forbid,” “Fight Like the Devil,” “Desperate Love,” “Must Be Travelin’ On,” “Out of Time,” “Tombstone Blues,” “You’re Gonna Hear Me On the Radio,” & “Didn’t I.”
Musicians – Brandon Hudspeth (electric/acoustic/Resonator guitars), Caleb Drummond (electric & upright bass/harmony), Colby Aiken (drums) & Kendall Newby (harmony vocals).
Color image courtesy of Fernando Salazar. CD @ Apple & https://www.dustinarbuckledamnations.com/