March 1, 2009

Fobluco from Friends of Tom is a high-energy mix of folk, blues, country

Posted by Jodi Duckett at 2:17:07 PM on March 1, 2009
 
FRIENDS OF TOM

“Fobluco” self-released

Fobluco is, according to Friends of Tom, a combination of folk, blues and country, or put another way, it combines backwoods, back porch, Delta and twang. It seems to be a high-energy mix with quirky lyrics.

There is plenty of twang with Chris Younger on guitar and mandolin and Rob Fedorczyk on Dobro slide, guitar and banjo. Many of the songs are bluegrass, but they have an extra bit of rhythm from Jim Thompson’s standup bass and guest drumming by Cliff Cole and Jeff White.

Among the 12 tracks are the electric blues of “The Men in My Life” featuring Liz Younger’s sultry vocals, the honky tonk of “ ‘Bear’ Bones,” and a bluegrassy version of the CD’s only cover, “House of the Rising Sun.”

The little touches here make this CD appealing. On “East Coast Woman,” Chris Younger writes about
his wife always being late, while during the song Liz is “calling” him on her cell phone. John Carelli does a short operatic vocal to begin the melancholy “Never Said Goodbye.” Cole leads off “Tell Me Now” with hammered dulcimer that enhances the song so much, you can forgive the rhyming of “love me” and “eternity” and “true” and “I love you.”

Fobluco grows on you as you listen, although, like a lot of good music, it is hard to explain why.  It might be the sincerity. Or maybe it is nice to hear love songs about marriage or lost friends  instead of the standard breakup/falling-in-love themes. Or maybe because it is a bit different.

But you should listen, and decide for yourself.

Performing: Friends of Tom CD release party, 8:30 p.m. March 13, Grumpy’s BBQ, 3000 Mauch Chunk
Road, Mechanicsville, 610-769-4600; 1-2 p.m. March 13, live performance, WXLV 90.3 FM.

On the Net: www.friendsoftomband.com.

Dave Howell is a freelance writer.