Howard's end

Dave and Young Neal are scorching on What It Is

by Bob Gulla

Dave Howard

The question remains: "Just how did the blues get to Rhode Island?" They started down in the Delta made their way over to Texas, up to Chicago, and out to LA and New York City. It took almost 50 years to get to Rhode Island by the time it arrived here in the late '60s, but since that time it's never left. And somehow, the Biggest Little has managed to put out some of the country's very best blues, roots, and homegrown R&B.

Two of the outfits responsible for keeping the home blues fires burning -- Dave Howard and the High Rollers and Dave's old compadre Young Neal Vitullo -- have come together in a huge way on a new reunion album, What It Is . . . Is This! (Salad Records), a rockin' and rollin' guitar-centric trip through Texas and Chicago roadhouse blues sounds with some West Coast swing tossed in for good measure. Leavened by the raucous licks of Vitullo and co-guitarist Tom Ferraro and supported by Howard's gritty blues vocals, the record offers scorching proof that roots music is alive and well here at home.

"We were lucky enough to learn the blues from all the guys who came before us," says Ferraro. "I remember seeing Duke [Robillard] back in the '70s and thinking how stressed I was that he was living in the same state! I had my work cut out for myself!"

In light of all the trends the State has seen come and go over the decades, one has to wonder why since its arrival the blues hasn't ever gone away. From Roomful to the T-Birds, Duke, Ronnie Earl, along with guys like Howard, Tommy Enright and Chris Vachon, "It's gone through waves of popularity," says Howard. "Stevie Ray made it more popular, and its receded since then. But it's a testament to how entertaining an art form it is. People grow up and learn that the blues is where everything came from, so it earns a certain respect from music lovers. When I heard the T-Birds play it twenty years ago, I couldn't believe how hip they made it sound. The same with the Blasters out in LA. They were doin' it cool, rockin' it up."

That's exactly what the Highrollers do on What It Is . . . Is This! Recorded over a two-year period by Joe Moody at Danger Multitrack, the band leans into 12 songs of hummin', hard-nosed blues, from the Howard/Vitullo classic "Long Deep Kiss" and the Howard/Ferraro original "So What?" to two excellent covers: a raved-up swing rendition of Dave Van Ronk's folk standard "King of Sunday Street" and Johnny "Guitar" Watson's searing staple "Looking Back." Throughout the album the band takes the primal rock and roll of guys like Watson, Little Willie John, and Chuck Berry and puts a big-time '90s spin on it. It's fast, fun, and ferocious, precisely the way Howard and the Highrollers like it when they play live.

Which prompts another question. Considering the band's success on the live circuit, why bother making albums at all? "I like to write songs," Howard explains. "I've prided myself at doing original material in this genre pretty well. A lot of these songs in the '80s we were hot." He laughs. "In the beginning, I thought we'd make some money at [making records]. How foolish we were!"

Still, despite the band's lack of recorded music, folks come to the show singing the words. "That makes me feel good. Now we want to be set apart from every kind of cover blues band. It may be similar, but now it's time to push it, set ourselves apart."

Dave Howard and the High Rollers' CD Release party will be Saturday, February 12 at the Call in Providence. (They're also at the Red Rock in North Kingstown on the 11th.).

WANDERING EYE. Grüvis Malt's been pretty busy these days, with a new disc, Sound Soldiers, and lots of local and regional action. Tonight (Thursday, February 10), they hit western Mass, over at a place called Club Helsinki in Greater Barrington for a $5/two-set show. Call (413) 528-3394 for directions. On Monday they play a Mystery Valentine's Day Show, which doesn't really do anybody any good cuz they didn't tell us where or when. Their email reads thusly: "We're not supposed to tell anyone where this show is, but if you're really lonely on V-Day, find us, and we'll make you forget all about him/her, and embrace Grüvis."