Larry Garner: Standing Room Only

Release date

4/1998

Release Notes

"Is Larry Garner the best Songwriter in Blues today? Yes, easily."

West Coast Blues Review

After I heard Larry Garner on album for the first time, I immediately felt that my search for a young bluesman writing fresh contemporary blues with potential - to become the classics of the next century - is over. I'm very proud to tell y'a: Here is the man! He's a true blues poet."

Thomas Ruf, President Ruf Records
Like anything Larry Garner plays, Standing Room Only will have listeners smilin', thinkin' and tappin' their feet.

All too often in today's blues, lead guitar acrobatics bulldoze all musical elements aside. In Garner's Louisiana blues gumbo, meticulous word crafting is the spicy roux that turns heads. Garner's perspective is always refreshing because he treats each song with the utmost respect. Too many artists merely rehash the blues canon: Garner's Blues grow out of the need to make sense of the problems and difficulties in today's world.

After military service in Korea, Garner put aside his pen and guitar to work at the Dow Chemical plant in Baton Rouge and raise his family. But he never stopped writing. "All the songs that were on my first two albums on JSP were written while I was working at Dow. When I finished making my rounds, I'd sit at my computer and write songs. I had the time to think out whatever ideas that were on my mind from the night before and put them together properly."

Though he was writing poems and stories as early as high school, it was not until 12 years ago he had the opportunity to carry these ideas through on stage. While playing at Tabby Thomas' Blues Box in Baton Rouge in the 80's. Garner was told to learn more songs people knew and identified with from the aforementioned 'blues canon' "That made me more determined to sing my own songs", smiled Garner. There are only a handful of songwriters in the blues who effectively draw attention to the issues people deal with on a daily basis. Garner has developed the eye necessary to see the shortcomings and the pen essential to address them. The Garner formula is simple: "Carry a notebook everywhere you go, write everything down, and continually search for clever verbal twists on time worn topics; in other words, communicate personal observations in a way everyone can relate."

To do this, Garner combines a contemporary sensibility with a keen wit on the songs he authors. "Drivin' Woman" ain't about how his lady hits the road in her Caddy. This is the little lady who's lookin' to drive Brother Larry outta his mind when all he really wants is to lay around and enjoy the DSS dish. Another song that elicits an empathic smile is his humorous, slice of life, "Out In The Country". The energetic shuffle emphatically backs the lyrical notion that you won't escape the crime problems of the city by movin' out. After he's been humorously robbed blind, Brother Larry relocates his blues back to the city. And only Garner can turn a "PMS" into funky blues testifin' about "them once a month blues".

Garner isn't all wit. He breaks down impenetrable walls when he celebrates the human touch bestowed when an individual takes the time to listen to another's heart breaking stories on "The Stranger's Blues". His Emersonian "Do Your Personal Thing" simply advises each listener to discover and pursue whatever interest gets you through the day but to avoid following any interest that harms others. Whether finger snappin' shuffle or grinding slow blues, Brother Larry brings the same mature guitaring club and festival goers are all too familiar with, blues guitar kicked up a notch.

Raised in the gospel traditions, Garner still retains a preacher-like gospel meets blues, vocal approach. He notes his playing freed up when he realized how similar blues and gospel are. "When I got older, I realized the music don't care who plays it. You play the same notes in the church as you play in the blues. Only thing is that the blues don't talk about Jesus savin' people. The blues is its own religion that can save people."

While Garner already has his hooks lyrically, Memphis' producer extraordinaire Jim Gaines was called upon to polish the production. The supporting musicians are the same personnel from Gaines' recent Luther Allison and Coco Montoya recordings. The synergy between Ernest Williamson, Jr.'s massive B-3 and distinct piano phrases, Dave Smith's rock solid bass, and Steve Potts' assertive drum groove allows Garner to achieve a consistently expert musical intricacy beneath his verses.

Through RUF RECORDS, Garner is poised to do the "write" thing from his heart. "When I sing my songs and tell people they were all original tunes, their reaction is always 'I can't believe you wrote them all'. That's a nice feeling, but an even better feeling is when I go places, where people who own my CD's come out, request the songs, and then sing along with me. That's euphoric."

The CD closer, "Last Encore", puts the final elegant spin on this set. Like every gig he plays, Larry closes with "I want to thank Y'all for keeping the blues alive." Thanks to you too, Brother Larry!
Art Tipaldi

Art Tipaldi is a staff writer for Blues Revue, the Boston Blues Society and the Valley Advocate. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Blues Foundation.

Tracklist

1. Drivin' Woman
2. Do Your Personal Thing
3. Stranger's Blues
4. Keep The Money
5. Don't Start That Cryin'
6. Out In The Country
7. I'll Run Across You Again
8. P.M.S.
9. Drifter
10. Cold Chills
11. Last Encore

 

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