Crazy Blues Prodigy
Grant Britt
Posted On October 14, 2015
When Andy Poxon first started playing clubs, he had to bring his parents just to get past the doorman. But Poxon’s age has never interfered with him getting on with his career, which he started at age nine. Poxon seems to have come to his craft fully formed. His 2013 debut, the Duke Robillard-produced Tomorrow, showed an 18 year-old who played like a seasoned vet twice that age.
Poxon’s latest, Must Be Crazy, produced by Delbert McClinton keyboardist Kevin McKendree, doesn’t sound like any 21 year-old, neither lyrically, instrumentally, or spiritually. His phrasing sounds honed by years of juking it out in head-cutting contests, in smoky dives. His licks are original, well thought out, and perfectly executed. And the stuff he writes sounds way over the head of a 21 year-old, unless he’s lived most of his life either on or under a barstool. Besides, even though Poxon’s replaced the big fluffy red Afro he sported on his debut for a more conservative ‘do, he still looks like he’s about 13.
As for the music, though, “Living Alone” has a Delbert McClinton feel, funky and jangly with country-flavored soul, skunked up with some stanky Keef Richards licks and a philosophy which Richards embraced on every tour. “Turns out living alone ain’t so lonely after all,” Poxon sings.
Poxon shadows Lyle Lovett vocally and instrumentally on “I Want to Know,” perfectly emulating Lovett’s big band sound behind Poxon’s Lovetty vocals and pristine, jazzy Les Paul riffs.
Allen Toussaint could have penned “Making a Fool,” a loose-limbed strut with McKendree rolling up the keys behind Poxon’s prickly guitar, prodding any street corner stragglers into joining the second line in progress.
Poxon isn’t the only prodigy onboard. Nine-year-old Yates, son of keyboardist/producer Kevin, gets a co-writing credit (with Poxon, who wrote or co-wrote all 13 cuts), as well as an organ contribution on the closer, “Rebound.” As is the case with everything else on here, it doesn’t sound written or performed by young ‘uns, but more like the work of two old pros grooving solidly together like a Booker T / Steve Cropper exchange from the MGs Stax days.
For the second time, Poxon proves he’s no novelty act, but a solid talent who’s gonna be a fixture and a force to be reckoned with on the blues scene for a long, long time.
