Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues

Country Man — reviews

If you could distill the essence of Mac Arnold’s spirit into a pill, the world would never, ever be depressed again. Democrats would love Republicans. Wars would end and opposing forces would pick up instruments and play instead of slay.

If you have been lucky enough to spend time with Mac, his gracious wife Vonda, and their door slamin’ dog, Buster you would immediately realize that my statements are true. Mac and his family, which includes his band Plate Full O’ Blues, bring disparate people together through their humanity and their exceptional music.

“Country Man” is the the third CD that Mac and Plate Full O’ Blues have offered to the Blues listening audience and it is their best yet. It is a diverse work that embraces the best the Blues has to offer as a healing force. The opening track “I ain’t sugar coatin” is, as they say in New Orleans, funky butt music. Which means dance until your you know what is hot and sweaty. Now the tune “Farmer” has a real Country feel to it. The other month I spent a night at Mac and Vonda’s house in Pelzer, SC. I got to hear this CD before it was mixed and it blew me away then. When I heard “Farmer” I felt that Mac had added a pedal steel guitar and Hammond B-3 organ this song could be successful in the Country music market. However, the beauty of Mac and Plate Full O‘ Blues is that all of the songs are written and arranged by all of the band members. Ultimately, they have the final word about their own direction and that word sure is sweet.

What a band! Without a doubt, they are truly one of the greatest Blues bands in America. The guitar of Austin Brashier can set the house on fire in 15 seconds with 8 seconds change. Check out his Albert Collins like playing on the closing track “Swing me back home.” Harmonica player Max Hightower carries the ghost of legendary Harp player Little Walter in his back pocket and hearing Max play has been one of the great Blues listening joys in my life. Max also plays in the pocket keyboards on this album and plays fine rhythm guitar on the standout track “Holdin’ on to letting go.” I always have felt that the rhythm section is the engine that drives any great singer or instrumentalist. The combined talents of drummer Mike Whitt and bassist Danny Keylon show us that Plate Full O’ Blues’ engine is in fine working order.

Now let’s talk about the youngster of the band, Mac Arnold! Mac’s vocals bring to mind, to paraphrase producer Bob Margolin, “the churchy vibrato of Junior Parker or Albert King.” Not taking a thing away from Albert or Junior, but I like Mac better. His vocals are all within the soul of where Mac has been and the great openness of his heart. Mac also demonstrates why legends such as A.C Reed and Muddy Waters hired him as a bass player with his playing on Muddy Water’s “Screamin’ and cryin” This song also features the fine slide guitar work and supporting vocals of producer Bob Margolin. Sometimes there is an unfortunate tendency for modern Blues albums to have an inordinate amount of covers with a few originals. “Screamin‘ and cryin” is the only cover on the album “Country Man.”

There is not a single trace of fat on the meat of this album. All the songs flow seamlessly into each other. My favorite track on the album is “Cackalacky twang.” If you can’t get into this song, or the rest of the album, please call the undertaker. Just don’t ask me to pay for the funeral. My respect goes out to producer Bob Margolin and the stellar engineering of Mark “Mixer” Williams. (See the accompanying article about Mark’s production techniques in this issue.) The only problem with the album is that I always have to make sure that the windows of my house are closed. Otherwise the neighbors start dancing like amorous roosters all over my lawn!

Review by Michael “Wolf” Ingmire

At times, the blues can feel so welcome and familiar, like a favorite chair at the end of a long day or a shot of your preferred poison after hours of jamming. Country Man is a disc of warm, familiar blues that transports you out to the South Carolina piedmont, the red soil, the kudzu and the chugging of a rusty old Ford tractor.

Mac Arnold cut his teeth in the Chicago blues scene of the 1960s, playing bass with saxophonist A.C. Reed and later, Muddy Waters’ band. After spending time in Los Angeles in the 70s (including working on the set of Soul Train), he settled in South Carolina on an 80 acre farm that would allow him to blend together his love of farming and the blues.

Country Man is the second disc for Mac and Plate Full of Blues, and they play together like old friends, tight when they need to be, loose at times and always sharing the same groove...

Review by Paul Schuytema at Blues Blast Magazine