Andrew Duncanson - California Trap Feat. Michael Peloquin

Artiest/Band: Andrew Duncanson Album: California Trap Feat. Michael Peloquin  Release: 28.March 2025 Label: Run It Back Records  Genre: Contemporary Blues Passionate singers of soulful blues have been disappearing into the musical mists of time for at least the past half-century. Their voices are fast becoming as scarce as sunshine on a cloudy day.  But then there is Andrew Duncanson, who for more than twenty years has been reaching deep into that primeval source and adding his own deeply soulful voice to the music. He has been the voice of the Kilborn Alley Blues Band, and more recently The Dig3, a trio whose name was inspired by Willie Dixon's Big Three Trio.....

Passionate singers of soulful blues have been disappearing into the musical mists of time for at least the past half-century. Their voices are fast becoming as scarce as sunshine on a cloudy day. 

But then there is Andrew Duncanson, who for more than twenty years has been reaching deep into that primeval source and adding his own deeply soulful voice to the music. He has been the voice of the Kilborn Alley Blues Band, and more recently The Dig3, a trio whose name was inspired by Willie Dixon's Big Three Trio. California Trap is Duncanson's first solo album, and he's paired here with co-producer Michael Peloquin, who also contributes his talents as a horn arranger, songwriter, and harmonica player. Kid Andersen is also co-producer of the session, recorded at Andersen's Greaseland Studios. Great soul and R&B music has traditionally been rich with horn sections, and they resonate throughout this album, with Peloquin's sassy brass charts kicking the music into a higher gear. Duncanson has also been gifted with a songwriter's voice, so California Trap is mainly original songs – with one from Peloquin – and a couple of fascinating covers.

Everything opens with the lilting, horn-laced R&B of “Relearning To Climb,” with its optimistic tone: “I’m trying a new state of mind, re–learning to climb.” Then Duncanson leans into his regrets in a lover's lament with “Naw Naw Naw” – “I’m sorry baby—for being untrue / But you got to do, yeah—oh just what you got to do.” “Hold Me Back” floats in on a harp intro, then then pounds out a delicious shuffle with Duncanson's equally tough attitude and vocal: “You never drove a used car, never had your ass kicked in a bar / If I see you in a tavern, Jack – It’d take all twelve apostles, to hold me back.”

“California Trap” is a gorgeous blues with a stinging guitar that summons Duncanson's vocal from its soulful depths, enhanced by down-home piano: “I’m leavin’ in the morning, baby will you take me back / You know that California sun, ain’t nothin’ but a trap.” A joyous “That was good!” shout at the end says it all. “Town Saint” steps out to a funky beat with a chunky bass line and a soaring sax solo with a flourish of hypocrisy: “He’s got scars from the woman that he loves / Wakes up every day and thanks the lord above.”

“Outer Space” is a stellar bit of musical whimsy launching a desire to cast aside earthly restraints: “Getting ready to jump—jump into outer space / Been sittin’ too long, sittin’ too long, in one damn place.” Peloquin's original “What Kind Of Man” is a gently soulful plea asking, “What kind of man does she want—what kind of fool has he been,” and answering, “Now he's the man that she wants, not the fool he used to be.” Duncanson says that Peloquin suggested this swinging cover of Woody Guthrie's anthemic “This Land Is Your Land,” inspired by an old version by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, adding Andersen's funky bass line. “Feelin’ Better Now” opens with a bluesy Peloquin harp and pulses along in a solid R&B vein, with a wicked harp solo midway: “Well, I was feelin’ low, snake’s ass in the mud / Now I’ve got my good, sweet baby, bringin’ all that love / Feelin’ better now, feelin’ better now.”

Duncanson's aching vocals reach deep for the plaintive “Next Life,” echoed by sympathetic horns and a haunting guitar solo: “Everything I thought I knew turned out to be untrue … Oh what a mess, the next life will be the best.” The rhythmic “More Lows Than Highs” chugs in with soaring horns as a bouncy counterpoint to its existential theme: “Sure as you’re born—you gonna die / And there’s more lows — more lows than highs.”

The other cover, “It’s A Pleasure,” by Mighty Mike Schermer is an upbeat ode to friendship, with Peloquin's eloquent harp solo, “No matter where this road may end / It’s a pleasure to call you, my friend.” The closer, “Better Off Now,” offers an uplifting finale to this gorgeous musical outing: “Oh, that’s how I feel, and I need you to know / That I’m better off now, than I used to be / I’m better off now, oh than I used to be.” We're all better off now that Andrew Duncanson has given voice to California Trap. His passionate vocals sing with authenticity in a musical style where authenticity is the blues standard. You won’t want to escape the sheer musicality of the California Trap. Jim White

BIOGRAPHY

From 2003 to 2022, Andrew released albums with his band, Kilborn Alley Blues Band, the recipient of three Blues Music Award nominations, followed by releases with Dig3 in 2022 and 2023. His singing has drawn comparisons to legendary artists like Howlin' Wolf, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Junior Wells, and Van Morrison. Throughout his career, Duncanson's ability to transition from a raw, gritty style to a soulful and expressive approach has made each of his records a delightful listening experience, evident from the continuous critical praise and numerous award nominations he has received, including several from Blues Blast Magazine. Kilborn Alley alone has played in thirty-seven states, eight not-USA nations, one international territory, and out to sea. That act played its first public gig on 29 April 2000 and its 2,000^th on 11 October 2015, adding to the total in the years since. Andy has done two tours as the featured singer with the Nick Moss Band. Andrew currently plays with Kilborn Alley, Dig3, duets and band shows with Gerry Hundt, as Andy Duncanson and his Acoustic Friends, and with the new Andrew Duncanson and the Take a Ride Band to support the California Trap album. Since recording California Trap Andy has done shows with Kid Andersen and the Greaseland All Stars in Switzerland and California.

When it comes to songwriting, Duncanson takes pride in having over one hundred of his original songs recorded. Fans can be assured that his well of inspiration has not yet dried up. In 2019, following the tragic passing of Michael Ledbetter, Andrew was hand-picked to join guitarist Mike Welch & The Connection on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise. 

During the cruise, he reconnected with Michael Peloquin, a talented arranger, saxophone & harmonica player with a shared hometown of Champaign, Illinois. Their conversations led to plans of making a record with renowned producer, Kid Andersen at Greaseland Studios in California. Andrew gave Michael a call in 2022 to turn the idea into reality.

Michael Peloquin has been a working musician since his late teens in Champaign, IL and then at 23 landed in the SF Bay Area in California. Michael has worked alongside a plethora of musicians and their projects. He was horn arranger/saxophonist on Alligator Records artist, Chris Cain's 2021 Alligator debut album, "Raisin' Cain" and Cain's recent release, 2024's "Good Intentions Gone Bad." Michael played harmonica on the 2024 major motion picture: "Reagan" and his harp was prominently featured (as the voice of Snoopy's brother, Spike) on the 2021 Apple TV+ special: "Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne." He also played harmonica on the 2020 major motion picture "Death In Texas." 

WEBSITE & SOCIALS

• OS: www.andrewduncanson.com
• FB: www.facebook.com/andrewduncansonKABB

For more information: Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon, betsie@blindraccoon.com