Grant Cook is kind of a local celebrity around East Texas, (where I stays), he's here, he's there, he plays everywhere, over 300 gigs a year. He's been host to several open mic nights around Tyler for years and boasts that he and the band, the Starving Artists Band, know over 3000 songs. These events always attract a lot of people, some really good musicians and some, well, they don't need to quit their day jobs. But Grant and the band are patient with the amateurs and can jam with serious ones. Everyone has fun at these live events.
The World Wide Web can be a small place. I was surfing the SW Blues web site and listening to sample tracks from their music store and stumbled onto Grant's CD, Loop 323 Blues. Everyone from any small town can relate to the frustration Grant sings about in the title track, "It's two o'clock in the morning, nothin's
goin' on, streets rolled up a couple of hours ago, Lord knows I don't belong…" Loop 323 runs around the big small town of Tyler, Texas. Grant plays a mean guitar, but as an added bonus, this tune features legendary guitar player Bugs Henderson.
Grant plays several styles of guitar on this CD, from traditional blues to country blues to funky and roadhouse blues. His crisp vocals let you really understand the lyrics. In "Wonder Why," you can feel the pain through his tender vocals and lines like "I thought forever meant the rest of our lives." Add some solid guitar riffs and here is a song people can relate to. Another tune right on the money is "Plan B," guys can relate to this song, about getting shot down in flames at the club, you got a have a back up - a Plan B. Grant knows. Check out this fun tune; dial 7 on your CD player.
The Starving Artist Band consists of Dave Bonner on bass and dobro, Charlie Bullard on drums, Bob Gentry on upright bass and Mike Frank on organ and harmonica, check out the dobro and harp on the traditional blues tune "I Just Don't Know," slow, laid back and blue.
This party album will get your blues shoes stomping. You can feel the energy they deliver live. Grant Cook is good guy, nice and personable. Loop 323 Blues shows off some of his and the band's considerable talent. The CD jacket has Grant holding a sign that says "Will Work For Food!" Buy his CD so he can do what he does best, playing the
blues.
