Nothing Blue About These Blues

Harvey Dalton Arnold Blues Band
(L-R) Harvey Dalton Arnold, Tim Carey,
Darrell Young & Kim Shomaker

  I wrote earlier this year about the opportunity I had to meet and visit with the Harvey Dalton Arnold Blues Band during one of their practice sessions (read story here). During that visit I quickly became a fan of the HDABB. Sitting and listening to them I marveled at the music they made and vowed I would get out to see them perform live sometime soon.
  "Sometime soon" was this past Saturday night at the Fat Frogg in Elon. I had unintentionally missed their first set due to another passion of mine - watching NASCAR (it was a night race). When Harvey and company took to the stage for their second set I was blown away yet again. What I had witnessed at their practice session back in April was little more than a simple run through a set list - and that was damn good - but live on a stage was a whole other ball game. Harvey playing his left-handed guitar was every bit as exciting on his vocals as he was his guitar licks, boy that man can wail! Harvey's vocal styling is perfect for this music.
  On the opposite side of the stage guitarist Kim Shomaker (read more about Kim here) was turning his "Work horse" (the name for his beat up and worn first re-issue '57 Fender Stratocaster) into a Triple Crown race horse. 
  In between the two guitarists bassist Darrell Young balanced out the sound by providing the low-end rhythm as well as handling supporting vocal duty while in the back Tim Carey kept the show on track with excellent drum work. 
  Listening to HDABB it is difficult to imagine they have only been together as a unit for less than two years. On stage they are relaxed and comfortable yet full of energy. Saturday nights show was mesmerizing to say the least. The set list this night was a well-balanced mixture of blues and rock cover tunes including the Beatle's "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" and original tunes found on the band's two available CD's.
  The audience Saturday was a nice mix of young and 'older than young' who came out to help celebrate the Fat Frogg's second year of business and enjoy an evening of fantastic music, an evening showcasing a band that is truly on top of their game and their game is HOT.