{"title":"Mark Doyle and the Maniacs","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhile Mark Doyle and his rowdy blues revelers’ 2009 debut CD, Shake ‘Em On Down: A Salute to the ‘60s British Blues Boom, was a blistering tribute album, their second effort, Comin’ Home (Free Will), finds the band confident in their original material. The seminal Willie Dixon nugget “I Just Want to Make Love to You” may seem an odd opener for a band that is looking to move beyond the tribute niche, yet Doyle’s tasty riffs and Frank DeFonda’s snappy drums give the tune an unexpected levity. Despite Jack Lipton’s growl, there’s more fun than heat here. “Payback’s a Bitch,” written by Doyle, showcases Michael P. Ryan’s skillful, Southern-styled vocals. The instrumental “Mark’s Boogie,” an ode to Jeff Beck’s “Jeff’s Boogie” from his Yardbird days, combines exquisite guitar work with a melody that, oddly, conjures Big Joe Williams’ “Please Don’t Go” or Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” - or both, depending on your mood. True blues fans will love Lipton’s vocal on “I Got To Know You”, but perhaps “Soledad” should be left to Eric Burdon, who is widely regarded as Britain’s best blues vocalist. The most unusual cut on the disc is “Live Snakes.” Written by Doyle and Ryan, the tune is all-out slinky fun. Doyle sings with a slight Marc Bolan vibe - think T. Rex meets Peter Green. The title cut is a lively shuffle with more tasty licks from Doyle, but Ryan’s voice seems a bit restrained. “I Ain’t Done Wrong,” “Maniac” and “Under My Breath” keep the fun rolling with the vocalists showing what sets them apart, and what each does best. While Doyle’s guitar is often the star on these new tracks, Ryan’s solid bass playing and Terry Quill’s own guitar work, not to mention his harp, give the band a definite signature sound.  - Tammy DiDomenico\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mark-doyle-and-the-maniacs-comin-home-cd","title":"Mark Doyle and the Maniacs - Comin' Home (CD)","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhile Mark Doyle and his rowdy blues revelers’ 2009 debut CD, Shake ‘Em On Down: A Salute to the ‘60s British Blues Boom, was a blistering tribute album, their second effort, Comin’ Home (Free Will), finds the band confident in their original material. The seminal Willie Dixon nugget “I Just Want to Make Love to You” may seem an odd opener for a band that is looking to move beyond the tribute niche, yet Doyle’s tasty riffs and Frank DeFonda’s snappy drums give the tune an unexpected levity. Despite Jack Lipton’s growl, there’s more fun than heat here. “Payback’s a Bitch,” written by Doyle, showcases Michael P. Ryan’s skillful, Southern-styled vocals. The instrumental “Mark’s Boogie,” an ode to Jeff Beck’s “Jeff’s Boogie” from his Yardbird days, combines exquisite guitar work with a melody that, oddly, conjures Big Joe Williams’ “Please Don’t Go” or Golden Earring’s “Radar Love” - or both, depending on your mood. True blues fans will love Lipton’s vocal on “I Got To Know You”, but perhaps “Soledad” should be left to Eric Burdon, who is widely regarded as Britain’s best blues vocalist. The most unusual cut on the disc is “Live Snakes.” Written by Doyle and Ryan, the tune is all-out slinky fun. Doyle sings with a slight Marc Bolan vibe - think T. Rex meets Peter Green. The title cut is a lively shuffle with more tasty licks from Doyle, but Ryan’s voice seems a bit restrained. “I Ain’t Done Wrong,” “Maniac” and “Under My Breath” keep the fun rolling with the vocalists showing what sets them apart, and what each does best. While Doyle’s guitar is often the star on these new tracks, Ryan’s solid bass playing and Terry Quill’s own guitar work, not to mention his harp, give the band a definite signature sound.  - Tammy DiDomenico\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Free Will","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51968835617061,"sku":"884501310536","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/1250\/3845\/files\/markdoyleandthemaniacs.cominhome_1742c4ea-68fa-458c-bf68-6b934b6a066e.jpg?v=1770155752"},{"product_id":"mark-doyle-and-the-maniacs-shake-em-on-down-a-salute-to-the-60s-british-blues-boom-cd","title":"Mark Doyle and the Maniacs - Shake 'Em On Down: A Salute to the '60s British Blues Boom (CD)","description":"\u003cp\u003eOpening with a faithfully frantic version of Them’s “Mystic Eyes,” this disc hits the ear like a slap; sweat-drenched rock-and-roll glory with Strat-man Doyle slicing off in some “Rollin’ And Tumblin’” licks while drummer Frank DeFonda and bassist Michael P. Ryan beat their instruments like rented mules. This album is a rocking, exciting, contemporary treatment of the music that rock and roll kids of the ‘60s so desperately needed and which is still blasting into ear buds even as the first decade of the 21st century closes.Among several feverish high points on the disc is a version of Savoy Brown’s “Needle And Spoon” featuring Doyle grabbing the best of Kim Simmonds’ guitar licks and adding a few of his – and Muddy Waters’ – own. Ostensibly dedicated to the British blues\/rock of the ‘60s, the disc steps slightly outside those boundaries by including Robin Trower’s “Messin’ The Blues,” but, having recorded it in the ‘70s, so did Trower. So, no harm no foul. Doyle keeps things honest by lacing in strains of Peter Green’s “Rattlesnake Shake” at the end. This record is a gleeful, joyous reminder of why you sold your stamp collection to buy a guitar and made your dad move the Buick so you and your ne’er-do-well friends could wail like savages. Long live rock? If Doyle and the Maniacs have anything to say about it – and boy, do they – it surely will.- Rick Allen\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Free Will","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51968866189605,"sku":"884501143295","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/1250\/3845\/files\/markdoyle.shakeemondown.jpg?v=1770157312"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/1250\/3845\/collections\/markdoyleandthemaniacs.cominhome.jpg?v=1770155594","url":"https:\/\/store.spinneymedia.com\/collections\/mark-doyle-and-the-maniacs.oembed","provider":"Spinney Media","version":"1.0","type":"link"}