No urban out fitters here…
Vocalists and leaders Willie Heat Neal and Kira Annalise give VFW moods with a team of Phil Parlapinao/p, Tony Braunagel/dr, Johnny Lee Schell/g, James Hutchinson-Terry Wilson/b and Dave Pearlman/stg . The harmonies are delicious, as on the C&W’d “Under Your Spell Again” and the two stepping “Flashbacks Of A Fool” with the 
team boogie-ing on “Tavern Time”. There are a couple easy waltzes on the sawdust floor on “But I Don’t” and “Hill Country Waltz” with an old time charm to “Don’t Worry”. Saturday night at the Moose Lodge.
Singer and guitarist Joanna Connor has the funk feel on this roadside diner of a disc with Shaun Gotti Calloway/b, Jason J Roc Edwards/dr, Dan Souvigny/g, Curtis Moore Jr/org and a collection of guests. Joe Bonamassa sits in on the gritty double beat of “Highway Child” and Jason Ricci blows a breeze of Lake Michigan during “Shine On”. There are some STAXY horns for the soulful “House Rules” and title tune, with the drama steaming up on “Shadow Lover”. A blue plate of the blues.
Vocalist Tracy Nelson has obviously lived a full life, as this album has her joined by a career’s worth of names on her Rolodex (or iphone, depending on the generation). Willie Nelson joins with vocals and Mickey Raphael’s harmonica for a fun “ Honky Tonkin”, and as long as we’re talking harmonica, Charlie Musselwhite blows into town on “It Don’t Make Sense”. A take of Chuck Berry’s “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” includes riveting work by Irma Thomas and Marcia Ball among the guests” while Thomas joins in again on “I Did My Part”. Nelson delivers the gospel feel on “Strange Things Happening Every Day” and shows her guitar skills on “Hard Times”. Facial line that show depth of life.
Maia Sharp comes across like a female version of vintage Neil Young on this folksy-indie album. There’s a California guitar feel along with “On A Good Day”, while “Kind” and “Gone Cryin’” sound like material from Young’s Harvest period. Sharp shows intimacy for “Everything you Need” and artsy effects for “Old Dreams”. A cowgirl in the sand.