Contino – Back Porch Dogma
By Grant Britt
Although the music sounds like it came out of N’awleans by way of the Mississippi delta, Contino calls Las Vegas home. Accordionist/ frontman Pete Contino is the son of Dick Contino, the self-proclaimed “world’s greatest accordionist” who made a revved up version of “Lady Of Spain” his signature piece, appearing on the Ed Sullivan show a record 48 times.
But son Pete is not a chestnut revivalist, preferring Zydeco-tinged blues as his medium of choice. Think Wood Brothers with a Creole accent.
It’s an eclectic mix of genres. “V-8 Ford” sounds like it came right off Muddy’s back porch. “Zydeco Train” could have been taken from Tab Benoit’s catalogue. “Dog Days” and “Monkey” have a Randy Newman flavor, and “Nothing You Can Do” sounds like it fell off one of Delbert McClinton’s setlists.
Though the band bears his name and he does the vocals, Contino doesn’t hog the spotlight, adding just the right amount of accordion to the mix. It’s a truly ensemble cast bolstered by Al Ek’s nasty slide and honky-tonk fingerpickin’, Billy Truitt’s jangly Big Easy-flavored keys, backed by Jim Lovgren’s fonky drumbeats and Rob Edwards upright bass.
Despite a proclamation that they “will travel up to 10 miles from Las Vegas” and still offer to play weddings, Contino’s sound is unique enough to take them a bit farther from home and into arenas instead of church halls. So even if you have to crash the wedding or take off for Vegas, go for it. It may be your last chance to see these boys up close before they blow up big.
