  
When a solid and enjoyable blues album comes along like this Mike Bader Band release, it should not be a surprise to a blues records reviewer. That is precisely the case, however, in this age when too much other music tries to get in under the blues umbrella. Matches My Feelings is all original, contemporary blues reflecting Bader’s many influences and featuring Mike’s great, stinging guitar and smoky vocals…standouts include the rollicking “Jump Shufflin’ Blues,” the slide guitar ode to Montana “High & Wide,” the party tune, “Call Me the Grizz,” and the guitar and lyric nod to his blues heroes in the title track. If you are a blues lover, Bader’s emotions will Match Your Feelings. Had enough of the blues, you say? No! Never! Not after listening to the new effort from Missoula's Mike Bader Band. In the title song, the nationally-known Bader sings "I was 12 years old when I first heard B.B. King," and proceeds to emulate the master in his 11 originals here. Like B.B., Mike has a best friend that's a guitar. While Bader belts out tune after tune in his confident, guttural baritone, his guitar fills out every phrase with vocalizations of its own. And, like B.B., Bader writes songs that are not overly lyric-laden, instead letting the instrument take the spotlight. Sterling contributions from band members Brandon Zimmer on drums and Larry Hirshberg on bass make for a smooth-running machine…The New Orleans funk sound of "Wrong Name Woman" has Bader channeling Dr. John; and "High & Wide" sizzles, with music flowing out in syncopated chunks. The raunchy "Smokin' Buffalo" sounds like a true story a' la "Ghost Riders" - Bader sings of seeing a herd of singed buffalo coming straight at him out of a forest fire. "...Let 'em come on through...bulgin' eyes starin' right at you..." And the high-flyin' guitar over a roiling cauldron of rhythm on "Jump Shufflin' Blues" should get you dancin'. You like to dance? Get this album! Being the best known bluesman in an area where the American Bison roam, makes MIKE BADER the "Bison Country Bluesman". On "MATCHES MY FEELINGS", MIKE BADER on guitars and vocals and writer of all songs, is joined by the rhythm section of LARRY HIRSHBERG on bass and "BZ" BRANDON ZIMMER on drums - the nucleus of his three piece band. Special guests include TOM "T-BONE" GIBLIN on keyboards, JOAN ZEN on vocals, JASON HICKS on saxophone and TOM BADER, BOB BADER and DAVE BADER (whom I'll affectionately refer to as the "BAD ASS BADER BROTHERS", respectively on harmonica, drums and bass. The opening track, "WRONG NAME WOMAN" describes a situation that, to say the least, would put a strain on any relationship - being called the wrong name by your mate - YIKES! The highlights on this one appear in the very long instrumental jam in the middle of the track. While the rhythm section locks into a nice dance groove, MIKE puts out several very hot guitar solos. On "DEFIES GRAVITY", MIKE encounters some very disturbing obstacles in his quest to rid himself of his lady. Throwing her in the ocean, weighted down with chains, as well as throwing her out of a moving airplane both seem to fail. After all, she does defy gravity. This one features all the BADER BOYS with TOM'S hot harp being one of the tracks highlights. Along with lots of great guitar work by MIKE, "CALL ME THE GRIZZ" features some of the best sax work on the disc. JASON definitely highlights this track. As the title might indicate, "JUMP SHUFFLIN' BLUES", is shuffle that gets the guys in jam mode. Everyone's sounding great on what, in my opinion, is easily the discs best track. Very reminiscent of the late great Little Milton's "(HEY, HEY) THE BLUES IS ALRIGHT", this one will get you movin'. Mike Bader has always savored blues music as part of his inner landscape. As the title to his second CD, Matches My Feelings, unequivocally suggests, Bader is engaged wholly and deeply in the blues…Indeed, Bader…represents the classy continuation of more than 100 years of American-produced blues music. Bader’s recently released second CD, Matches My Feelings, picks up where Clearcut Case of the Blues packed up and stowed away. Bader writes songs that aren’t excessively verbose or dazzling, opting to let the instruments dictate the pace and take center stage. Brandon Zimmer’s drumming and Larry Hirshberg’s smooth bass guitar and Bader’s discourteously gruff vocals, when heard in unison, are as congruous and palatable as top-shelf whiskey. As an album, the 11 original tracks offer a collective syncopation and persevering personality that subtly transforms and masterfully molds itself into a solid musical offering. Bader and his crew combine jazz, rock and other genres with a steady blues backbone. “Matches My Feelings” is a feel-good album with just the right amount of grittiness. The Missoula, Montana-based bluesman’s new album, Matches My Feelings, was released in March on the Longstaff Records label. A collection of more of his original songwriting, Matches My Feelings proves a worthy follow-up to his debut, 2004’s Clearcut Case of the Blues. Bader blends traditional electric blues with an eclectic rhythmic influence that incorporates bits of rhythm & blues, reggae, zydeco, latin and funk. The diverse influence keeps the mix fresh and upbeat, but leaves plenty of room for Bader to employ his impressive guitar skills. Across the course of the album’s 11 tracks, it’s clear that Bader bleeds the blues…fundamentally, this is an album that celebrates the pure form of latter-day blues-rock, as pioneered by guys like B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Taken on those terms, the album is a fine testament to Bader’s passions – and his ability to write new tunes that sound like blasts from the past. Songs like “Defies Gravity” and “Smokin’ Buffalo” wouldn’t sound the least bit out of place on an early album by Buddy Guy. Overall, this record should serve Bader’s fans well; and also should serve him as a fine marketing tool for scoring further gigs. This summer The Mike Bader Band will be touring both the Northwest and the Midwest promoting their new album, Matches My Feelings. Bader’s blues incorporates aspects of R & B, reggae, funk, Latin and Cajun music. Last summer the band opened for the 3rd Annual Bitterroot Blues Festival in Stevensville, Montana and Bader’s first album, Clearcut Case of the Blues,” was very well received. So much so that it earned airtime on radio stations in 30 states and nine countries. Fans enjoy the smooth blues of The Mike Bader Band. Bader looks every bit the hard-bitten bluesman he has aimed to be since picking the guitar back up just over a decade ago and every bit the one he sounds like on “Wrong Name Woman,” Matches My Feelings’ first track. While Bader’s music career is in some ways an homage to the blues greats of his youth, he feels free to cross traditional blues with other genres. Matches My Feelings incorporates the feel of rhythm ‘n’ blues (“Just One More Time”) and funk (“High & Wide”) as well as one instrumental with a reggae beat (“Phunky Dread”).
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