Gary Primich
Texas Platters
Reviewed by Margaret Moser, Fri., June 7, 2002
Gary Primich
Dog House Music (TMG) It ain't easy being a blues musician, but whoever said the blues were easy? Gary Primich may have been born in Chicago, but that town doesn't issue blues diplomas simply based on birth. No, Austin's Primich has earned his credentials with a series of dynamic recordings that feature not just his lauded harp-playing, but his well-honed vocals as well. Dog House Music is his latest album, 10 songs to really sink your teeth into. Cooked up by a carefully assembled group of Texas blues chefs (Nick Connolly, Mark Kazanoff, Gene Taylor, John Mills, and Frosty), this platter is a smorgasbord of smoky jump blues ("Mr. Lucky"), sweet swamp pop ("That's What Love Was Made For"), delicious Delta blues ("Elizabeth Lee"), tender shuffles ("I Can't Stand You When You're Drinking"), and even some cocktail blues ("Texas Love Kit"). Chris Masterson and Jon Moeller share guitar duties, ably supported by bassist Randy Glines and Jim Starboard on drums, but the show belongs to Primich. He melds the best of Chicago and Texas harp styles, and his songwriting is top-notch -- a testament to every influence from the Delta outward. In Primich's world, being a "blow hard" is a very good thing.
