Search - J.P. McDermott and Western Bop :: Last Fool Here

Real Rockabilly ... No Foolin'!

A. Schrack | Atlanta, GA | 11/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Last Fool Here

J.P. McDermott and Western Bop



A fantastic debut album that proves what the Washington D.C.-area honky-tonk crowd already knows -- J.P. is for real.

McDermott can really sing and the band really rocks. It's easy to tell a lot of hard work and love for the music went into this.

J.P.'s acoustic guitar drives the train and Bob Newscaster's lead guitar turns it up another notch.

The traditional analog recording technique adds authenticity and a live feel.



Track by Track Review





1. My Damn Baby



This tune is a great way to start out the CD. My favorite lyric in this original by McDermott is the slyly creative:

"It's 12:45 and it's a quarter to one.. Would you mind telling me what the hell's going on?"

The radio hook is the awesome stutter fast-talking chorus at the end. Bob Newscaster really rips it up on lead guitar.

Bryan Smith slaps it up on upright Bass, and Jeff Lodsun heats it up on Drums.





2. Do I Love You?



(A.K.A "Does a Cat have a Tail") It really takes off after a nice Intro lick.





3. Cry Cry Cry



A true-to-its-roots acoustic treatment of the Johnny Cash classic performed with the Luther Perkins touch.





4. Coulda Shoulda Woulda



J.P wrote some fun lyrics on this one. He complains: "coulda had a decent job but I got stoned!"

I really enjoyed the dirty baritone guitar solo midway through.





5. Not Enough of You



If you're not crying by the end of this one, you're not human. The track is an incredible showcase for McDermott's vocal range. It starts with minimal production and builds to a real crescendo with funky organ back-up. JP also wrote this one.





6. Blue Days, Black Nights



Back in 1956, Decca Records chose this ditty for Buddy Holly's first release. Oh Boy! J.P.'s over-dubbing harmony makes it sound new again.

McDermott picks up the electric to display his prowess at lead guitar too. Les Paul would be impressed... at least at the over-dubbing!





7. Lucky Stars



Bob Newscaster shows he's not just a very fine guitarist. He's a gifted song-writer as well.

His tune brings back memories of Buddy and the Crickets playing at the Roller Rink in Lubbock.

Comfortable laid-back tempo and country feel.





8. Sixteen Chicks



From the reverb-echo vocal start-up, you can tell you're in for a rock-a-billy riot. Andy Rutherford rips it up on lead guitar.





9. Go Cat Go!



Another barn-burner. This Newscaster tune is a fitting tribute to the rockabilly pioneer Warren Smith (Rock and Roll Ruby).

At the same time it has some fine licks reminiscent of Carl Perkins. Good music for dancin' and knockin' back a few at the roadhouse.

Listen for the vintage background hollers.





10. Heartaches for a Dime



A honky-tonk lament worthy of several long-distance calls... or at least a buck three eighty.

Sounds like a slide guitar solo by Andy Rutherford before the last chorus.





11. That Ain't Nothin' But Right



One of my true favorites. This little-heard Joey Castle really comes alive with the Western Bop treatment.

Excellent Reverb and Echo production on lead vocal. Can't stop dancing to the catchy clickity rhythm from upright bass of Eric Shramek.





12. Last Fool Here



A great way to end the first killer CD from JP. It sums up the desperation of a "modern-day" honky-tonk man done wrong by either a woman... or the music industry!

Tam Sullivan plays a haunting piano track.

















"

A perfect rockin

DJ Del Villarreal | Detroit, MI USA | 10/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"J.P. McDermott and Western Bop

Last Fool Here

Shower-Tone Records

[...]



Washington D.C.'s resident rockabilly and honkytonk genius took five years to make this and it's finally here: get ready for J.P. McDermott's LAST FOOL HERE on the Shower-Tone Record Label. J.P.'s first long player is a satisfying musical stew with hot rockin' billy, two-step shufflers and honkytonk weepers all mixed into the musical pot. He puts his high lonesome voice to great use here, especially on the more revved up rockabilly numbers. With eleven other musicians contributing, this album also works as a perfect cross section "snapshot" of the local Washington roots rock scene.



Things start off with a crash and a bang on the aggressive rocker "My Damn Baby", a fine furious number that kicks this Honky Tonk party off on an explosive note. It's the perfect song to listen to while lounging in your Lazy-Boy recliner, drinking beer and barking at the ol' lady! Joe Clay's frantic `Sixteen Chicks" clicks big-time with guitarist Andy Rutherford laying down some seriously tasty licks -one of my big faves from this LP! I want more like this one! I also dug J.P.'s bright and boisterous version of Joey Castle's "That Ain't Nothing But Right." That's some real fine guitar work! Guitarist Bob Newcaster (on loan from THE SEDUCTONES) gets to some serious twangin' on "Coulda Shoulda Woulda," one of three terrific tracks he contributes to this album. I'm also kind of fond of Bob's "Go Cat Go!" a perfect skirt-twirlin' rockabilly dance number with a real catchy title (where have I heard that title before...?).



J.P. sings passionately on his own 50's pop-ballad/tear jerker "Not Enough Of You," kinda sounding like Elvis at one of his final Vegas revues. It's a little overwrought at the end, but still full of authentic heartfelt passion. Mr. McDermott duets with himself (also playing lead and acoustic guitar) on Buddy Holly's "Blue Days, Black Nights" and easily channels the bespectacled Texas bopper again on "Lucky Stars." We're also treated to an acoustic tribute to the Man in Black on Johnny Cash's "Cry Cry Cry."



It's obvious that J.P. is a fabulous talent and he will undoubtedly become more well known after this release. The rockabilly tracks here are all first rate, but I'm not positive that the average RAB fan would appreciate the more melancholy country numbers. One thing that I do know is that this is a damn fine album and that I'd like to catch this cat live someday. I always seem to have a track of his on rotation on MOTORBILLY RADIO so please listen for him...Last Fool Here



-Del Villarreal"