Gnarly Peters

The Dennis Peters Band's self-titled debut album, which features eight original songs, presents the talent of guitarist and singer Dennis Peters and his supporting musicians, Russ Deinstadt on drums, and Dan Christie on bass. Russ and Dan provide spot-on rhythm and bottom, but Dennis' star quality guitar is front-and-center. ( This guy plays the blues as easily as you and I breathe...)

This album offers a variety of blues guitar styles, all performed to perfection.

Some of the highlights include:

"Hey Hey Mama"– This track strongly emphasizes the band's overall sound. If you take the voice of Eric Clapton and the guitar playing of Stevie Ray Vaughn... you get the unique sound of "The Dennis Peters Band." Listen to the "tubular" Stratocaster sound on this track -- It may be just too good.

"Too Many Nights"– here, Dennis, with his lightning-quick fills sounds very reminiscent of a young Jimmy Page.

"I Got the Blues Baby"– In this song, Dennis uses a slide on his resonator guitar creating a country-blues or "skiffle" sound.

"I've Been Down For So Long"– Dennis' guitar follows his vocals note-for-note, lending a "Delta Blues" sound to this track.

"Pancakes" – An instrumental and the last track on the album, has a "ragtime" feel.

Whether you are a Blues fan or not, it is impossible not to appreciate this CD.

Dennis has established himself as an outstanding blues guitarist and singer and his talents shine here. The only thing better is a live performance – Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray, Jimmy Page, and yes, Dennis Peters. - Amanda Baughn

It seems that of late, a lot of my blues pleasures are coming from - of all places - Red Bank, NJ. And please, don't even ask me "what exit is that?" The past several summers have found me roaming the grounds of Marine Park for the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundations Blues Festival and now I'm sitting here listening to a great local band from that area - THE DENNIS PETERS BAND.

The band is a very strong, three piece combo featuring DENNIS PETERS on guitar and vocals, RUSS DEINSTADT on drums and DAN CHRISTIE on bass. And, as I've said in the past, a good three piece band deserves a lot of respect - and these guys are good. Their self titled disc - THE DENNIS PETERS BAND - consists of all original music with quite a broad range of styles.

"IM SATISFIED" might just be what a listener - especially those liking blues rock - would say after hearing this opening track. It's a smoker with lots of good and rough guitar work, hot rhythm and great vocal work.

"HEY HEY MAMA" gets a bit more traditional. It's a good ol' blues shuffle that immediately got my foot tappin' and my fingers snappin'. More great rhythm from RUSS & DAN and some great down and dirty blues licks form DENNIS highlight this one.

Fans of the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan - and who isn't - will appreciate "TOO MANY NIGHTS". Although the rhythm cats are as tight as usual, this one's pretty much all DENNIS. The gruff vocals and the rough and tough type of guitar licks that made SRV so famous are this tracks highlights.

DENNIS is right on the money when he says "I GOT THE BLUES BABY". On this fast as a speeding locomotive track, RUSS and DAN are smokin' on the rhythm and DENNIS flat out kicks ass on the Resonator Guitar.

If this were Jeopardy, would you know the question when the answer was "Because you want to sing the blues"? It would of course be, "WHY DO I SUFFER LIKE I DO?". It would stand to reason that the players would be at discs best on the discs best track, and that's exactly what's going on here. Along with phenomenal guitar work, DENNIS nails it on the vocals. The other guys? They're kickin' ass as they've done all disc.

Although there are only eight tracks with just over thirty minutes of music, THE DENNIS PETERS BAND brings it's game for every one of those minutes.

Other tracks not mentioned include "YOU WANTED IT THAT WAY", "I'VE BEEN DOWN FOR SO LONG" and "PANCAKES".

Check the band out at www.thedennispetersband.com and tell them the Blewzzman told you they rock.
Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro
Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com - Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro