Reviewed by Harry Kaplan
If you mix late 70’s punk rock, delta blues, and classic country, I think that encapsulates Electric Rag Band. They are raw, bluesy, and noisy. But, they are real technicians on their instruments. There are some very interesting facts about Electric Rag Band. They have been around for over 20 years! They are a duo from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Pat and Daniel Cook are a father and son! As I mentioned in the Ray Wylie Hubbard concert review, I have a soft place in my heart for fathers and sons working together. Even though there are some nice facts about Electric Rag Band, the bottom line is that these guys can play. Nothing else would matter if their playing came up flat, but it doesn’t. For two guys, this father and son duo make a lot of beautiful noise together. They have played with many esteemed performers over the years including Johnny Winter, JD McPherson, Junior Brown, and Turnpike Troubadours to name a few.
Why they are not more of a household name in the music biz is beyond me. My Side is their sixth offering and it is a good one. Tremendous bluesy and country grooves are sprinkled throughout this album. It listens like a 30’s delta blues album with the production value of the releases today. Truly the best of both worlds. I listened to the whole shebang a few times and it is a really quick 43 minutes. This is some serious quality music here from beginning to end. I must say, my favorite track on this album is an instrumental, Two Dollar Strings (Track 8). This song is a true barn burner and the Cook boys have the ability to change speeds in this number with the precision of a Formula One driver. Picking a favorite on My Side is a tough endeavor since everything is truly top notch. This is pure, beautiful music proudly made in America. Support your local artists and buy this! Go to Bandcamp people!