Harmonica player and singer Hank Mowery’s new album is a riveting tribute to the late Gary Primich. On Friday at The Stache, he’ll reintroduce the beloved icon’s music to the world. (Video, podcast)
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On Account of the Blues: Hank Mowery, with Jimmie Stagger on Local Spins Live. (Photo/Anna Sink)
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Hank Mowery literally has learned the ins and outs of blues harmonica by listening to some of the true greats.
Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, William Clarke, Kim Wilson, Michigan’s own Peter “Madcat” Ruth, aka, “one of the only guys I ever took a lesson from.”
But perhaps no one had more of an impact on Mowery than Indiana-bred Texas bluesman and longtime pal Gary Primich, who tragically died in 2007 at age 49 of a heroin overdose.
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Mowery had helped bring Primich to West Michigan many times over the years, first meeting him in his capacity as general manager of the former Rhythm Kitchen Café in downtown Grand Rapids in the mid-1990s, when Junior Valentine booked Primich for a show there.
Hank Mowery
“Obviously, he was known internationally as a great harmonica player,” Mowery says of the hard-touring blues musician and singer who released nine studio albums from 1991 to 2006. “He’s one of those guys that musicians would look at and say, ‘Wow, that’s amazing what he’s doing,’ for his songwriting, for his production of his CDs, and obviously, mostly for his playing.”
‘ACCOUNT TO ME’ TRIBUTE ALBUM GETS RELEASED FRIDAY
Now, Mowery, a prodigious blues harp talent in his own right who performs with The Hawktones, is returning the favor by paying tribute to the late Primich with an uncommon, heartfelt new studio album on Old Pal Records, “Account to Me,” officially being released on Friday.
On Wednesday, the Grand Rapids musician previewed the solo album recorded at Goon Lagoon studios with a live in-studio performance of the CD’s final track, the Rev. Robert Wilkins’ “That’s No Way to Get Along,” with Jimmie Stagger on guitar and vocals. Listen to the show’s podcast here.
Mowery and his band, The Hawktones (which last year released a live album, “In the Open”), plan to fire up an even more scintillating tribute to Primich at 8 p.m. Friday during a CD-release show at The Stache inside The Intersection.
They’ll crank out live renditions of songs from the album, including Primich originals, covers he often performed and a couple of unfinished Primich pieces that Mowery completed in the studio with the permission of Primich’s family.
Hank Mowery, “Account to Me”
The album also spotlights powerful Mowery originals such as the poignant and compelling, “If I Knew What I Know,” about a friend questioning what he might have done differently to change things. “He had some demons,” Mowery says of Primich, “and they sort of caught up to him.”
All 10 tracks ooze with authenticity and a rare vintage feel. “It was a great learning experience. (Co-producer) Tommy Schichtel was just great to work with and had as much input on this as any of the musicians,” Mowery says of the analog recording process.
“It has a lot of textures to it. … A lot of the songs are different. It’s not a straight blues CD by any means. Blues fans will like it, but we weren’t caught up in saying we have to make a blues album. We kind of let the music go where it was going to go.”
On Friday, Mowery will be joined on stage by guitarist Troy Amaro, drummer John Large, pianist Chris Corey and bassist Junior Valentine, plus former Primich bassist Patrick Recob, who also appears on the album.
WITH A FAB NEW ALBUM, THE B-SIDES ALSO ON FRIDAY’S BILL
Friday’s concert is actually a dual CD-release show for Goon Lagoon recordings with national distribution. Grand Rapids’ The B-Sides will perform after Mowery, celebrating release of their self-titled Spinout Records album featuring Tommy Schichtel (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards), Christopher Schichtel (vocals, bass), David Stanton (guitar, bass) and Peter Curry of Los Straitjackets fame (drums, percussion).
Blues Harp Passion: Mowery
The foursome’s lusty songs pay homage to the jangling and fuzzy guitar pop of the ’60s, complete with sweet hooks, tasty harmonies and an injection of New Millennium energy and garage-rock muscle.
Mowery plans to use the opportunity to head back into the studio with some of these top-notch musicians this weekend to start work on yet another album, calling once again on all those influences of so many legendary bluesmen.
“You steal little bit from all of ’em,” he offers, “and hope you create your own sound out of that.”
For more about Mowery and his band, visit his website at hankmowery.com.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
