I think that Josh Hoyer must have been weaned on Memphis dry rub BBQ, as this disc that he leads along with Benny Kushner/g, Justin Jones/dr, Josh Bargar/b, Mike Dee/sax, Tommy Van Den Berg/tb, Brian Morrow/fl and a trio of vocalists sounds like it came right out of a smoking Stax recording session. Hoyer has an earthy and strong voice, plays a mean bari and gets down and dirty on the Hammond B2 and keyboards on tunes like the swampy title track and funky riffin’ “11.11 333.” Hints of Isaac Hayes grooves and horns pop up on the infectious “Over the City” and “A Man Who Believes His Own Lies” and Hoyer’s Al Wilsony grit burns on Soul Trainy “Blood and Bone.” The band is as sweet as cole slaw, with Kushner’s guitar getting some nice street sounds along with the smoky Hammond on “Misfit Children.” This one sweats from start to finish.
Silver Street Records