Kat Riggins is fighting a musical revolution. Her weapons are powerhouse vocals that spring from the roots of singers like Koko Taylor and Janis Joplin, and a lyrically passionate message of revival. She wants to tell everybody about the sincerity of the blues – the raw emotion in every note of that music. Riggins and her band, aptly named the Blues Revival, does all of that and more on Revival, the latest album devoted to her mission: “I thank God that my passion is my purpose,” she says, “that is to help preserve this endangered species called the blues."
“Revival” is the sixth full-length album from Riggins, a Miami native whose gritty vocals and powerful singing style are peppered with generous hints of R&B, soul, gospel and rock 'n' roll – but deeply rooted in the blues. Ten original songs by Riggins and producer Tim Mulberry are filled with vivid lyricism that showcases the joyous benefits of the blues. Mulberry is also featured on bass, drums, keys and horns; the remaining Revivalists are Eric Guess on guitar with background vocals from Shaelyn Mulberry and Mark Barner.
The album and the musical crusade open at full throttle with the rocking blues “Lucky,” and Riggins' tough vocals: “I know just what I like / I like to wheel and whine / And bump and grind / And get on down tonight.” The almosttitle track “Revived” carries a message of R&B renewal behind funky organ riffs: “Look at my new walk / I’m stepping high / I got a real good feeling inside / Feeling revived.”
“Southern Soul” keeps the persistent party beat going: “Ain’t nothing like a southern soul / Blues all in my toes / Rockin' roll folk singing.” There's a tough new attitude matched by Riggins' vocals in “New Level” – “I got a new attitude to match my dreams / I’m on a whole new level / And it’s plain to see / I got to be me.” The pace slows for the melodic rhythms and plaintive plea of “Set Me Free”: “Like singing the blues without feeling / Now why oh why keep trying / My patience is dying / Just set me free.”
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| Kat Riggins®Harrie Huisman |
Riggins has her mojo advice working on “Mojo Thief,” with a warning: “Everybody’s got a mojo / You just gotta let yours work / but don’t you be / no mojo thief.” There's a bluesy philosophy behind the fierce vocals of “Chasing Time”: “I can’t rush into tomorrow / Or get back yesterday / But I keep / Chasing time.”
A strong statement of personal worth rolls in on the tough rhythms of “Mighty” – “Let the meek take the Earth / The universe / is for the mighty.” “Old Time Way” is a hard-rocking reminder of the musical good old days: “Nowadays the music plays / But the feeling ain’t the same / as the good old days / I wanna go back.”
The thoughtful closer is the optimistic “Healer,” a gently sung ballad with a folksong feel that slowly builds a message of hope, the ultimate revival: “Maybe I can bring somebody peace / Maybe make somebody feel loved / If I could just provoke a little hope in this world / It’ll spread left, right, below and above.”
Kat Riggins wants to revive the potent spirit of the blues that lives in her soul and share that spirit with every soul within the sound of her magnificent voice. She wants to move your heart – and your hips. “Revival” joyously does both.
Jim White (a former music writer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette & now writes the Blues Roadhouse)
WEBLINKS
Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon, betsie@blindraccoon.com
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