The Importance by the mellowness of a superbe whiskey, wine or cognac is besides the elixir itself, also the barrels by their constitution for the process of maturation and the optimum barrelhouse by temperature and humidity. By the Dutch blues champions Barrelhouse featuring orchid-lady-chanteuse Tineke Schoemaker and her five fleur-de-lis serenaders – Johnny LaPorte on guitar; Han van Dam on piano;Guus LaPorte on guitar; Bob Dros on drums & Jan Willem Sligting on- bass, accordeon, double-bass it is kind of the same. The charismatics have always been well caressed by blues and blues-rock fans all over the world and on tour with blues-greats like Albert Collins. Every time you witness them live they are getting more enchanting. In 2016 the magic continues on tour and by their new studio-opus “Almost There”.

The opening track “Hard Feelings” is a blues-rock cracker. Tina’s suffrage is ever so powerful and to ecstasize. Han is the honky-tonk wizard on piano. The Stones have the glimmer twins, but Barrelhousehas their hot, virtuoso guitar-bro’s by their riffs from the Molucca Islands – Johnny & Guus. The rhythms section by Bob and Jan are contributing a buckshot of rockabilly grooves. A “Hotter Than Hell” opener! The consecutive title track “Almost There” is a very sensitive by text and melancholic by the melodies blues-ballad the Chicago style. “Wish I could pray” has a beautiful, gospel touch. The guitar and rhythm section are heatin’ it up by a funky-psychodelic groove. “I wanna go home” is a romantic vaudeville blues. It is the big-time for grand-seigneur “Van Dam” by his piano extravaganza. By “Don’t Hold Your Breath” Tine is continuing the legacy by her voice of Tina Turner. Her bandsmen are rockin’ and rollin by the theme “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler”. The piano-guitars duels are flamy and an absolute delight. “Goodbye” is a good-spirit  bar-blues with a burlesque spice-up by solos by the one of the big-chiefs Han by live-agenda of the Pianola museum in Amsterdam.  Kick-ass six-string therapies by Johnny and Guus with a Texas-Tornado twist are the hoodoo-highlights by the instrumental “Hoky Poky”. Mister Dros is adding stomping stick-artistry.  “Walk That Road” is ever so soulful blues-hymn. Jerry Lewis and some other rock’n rollers will definitely retire soon live or even entirely. But no worries the voodoo will continue by Barrelhouse. They verify this by the Texas honky-tonkin’ blues-crackers “Down In The Alley” & “Born To Die” as highlights of the cd. Hell of axe-strutting-duetts by brothers LaPorte and duels with the keyboard-warlock Van Dam. “Lonely Together” is a lovers-blues for the upcoming long winters nights at a warm cuddly place. It features sweet guitar-solos the moluccan style. “Withered On The Vine” is the farewell-track with Mexican melodies by guitars and Cajun-Louisiana spirit by accordion inspiring to leave the past behind and to look positively into the future.

Barrelhouse – “Almost There”  – “Over The Rainbow”

Line-up:

Tineke Schoemaker – vocals

Johnny LaPorte – guitar

Han van Dam – piano

Guus LaPorte – guitar

Bob Dros – drums

Jan Willem Sligting – bass, accordeon, double-bass

Tracks:

Hard feelings

Almost there

I wish I could pray

I wanna go home

Don’t hold your breath

Goodbye

Hoky poky

Walk that road

Down in the alley

Born to die

Lonely together

Withered on the vine

For tour-dates pls. click on the photo below:

Thx to V2 records & Johnny LaPorte for the promo!