Mellow guys with strings and voice…
Singer/guitarist Kris Lager delivers a good-natured mix of rock and blues with a team of John Fairchild/dr, Aaron Underwood/b, Lefever/sax, Jeremiah Weir/B3 and a collection of guests. His voice works well with Lefever’s tenor sax on the reggae-ish “The Heart Wants What the Heart Wants” while they rock out on the steady beat of San Francisco Bound.” Weir’s Hammond groans on a bluesy “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” and some 70s folk is conjured up for “Guiding Light.” The whole mood is casual and laid back, able to make you relax and take in the vibes as on “I’ll Be Thinking of You.” Mellow madness.
Jeff Plankenhorn is almost a one man band here, playing bass, guitar, keyboards and singing along. A handful of guests like Scrappy Jud Newcomb/g, Pat Manske/dr and Brannen Temple/dr mix and match the laid back rocking moods. His voice and attitude have a Tom Petty vibe, shown on the peppy title track and boogie-ing “Never Again.” The band does a fun and twangy two step on “Homecoming” and is able to get folksy with acoustic work on “Further to Fall” and “Love is Love.” He likes telling a story, as on the clever “This Guitar” with creating a Santos and Johnny mood with the strings on “Heaven on Earth.” Unpretentious and nicely casual.