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The Homemade Jamz Blues Band: Pay Me No Mind

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: NorthernBlues Music
Released: 2008.06.10
Time:
 47:22
Category: Contemporary Blues
Producer(s): Miles Wilkinson
Rating:
Media type: CD
Web address: www.hmjamzbluesband.com
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2015
Price in €: 1,00





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Who Your Real Friends Are (Renaud Perry) - 4:32
[2] Voodoo Woman (Renaud Perry) - 4:36
[3] The World's Been Good To You (Renaud Perry) - 4:42
[4] Right Thang Wrong Woman (Renaud Perry) - 4:11
[5] Penny Waiting On Change (Renaud Perry) - 5:12
[6] Blues Concerto (Renaud Perry) - 2:55
[7] Time For Change (Renaud Perry) - 3:54
[8] Pay Me No Mind (Renaud Perry) - 4:28
[9] Jealous (Renaud Perry) - 3:13
[10] Shake Rag (Renaud Perry) - 3:42
[11] Boom Boom (John Lee Hooker) - 6:06

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Kyle Perry - Electric Bass
Ryan Perry - Electric & Rhythm Guitar on [1,5], Lead, Vocals
Taya Perry - Drums

Renaud Perry - Harmonica on [3,6,8,10], Handmade Guitars
Miles Wilkinson - Rhythm Guitar on [2,4,9,10], Engineer, Mastering, Mixing, Producer

Ebet Roberts - Photography
Michael Wrycraft - Art Direction, Design, Layout

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


Engineered, mixed and mastered on the T.A.W.S. Digital Music System.
Tracked at Homemade Living Room Studios, Tupelo, MS.
Overdubs, mixed and mastered at Miles' Boulton Farms Studios, Nashville, TN.



Tupelo, MS-based siblings Ryan Perry (15 years old), Kyle Perry (13 years old), and Taya Perry (10 years old) may be young but they've sure got a handle on what the blues is all about, and this debut disc is eye opening for its professional sound and personal vision. Most of that comes from Ryan Perry, whose guitar playing and rough-hewed, smoky vocals sound like they come from a man at least twice his age, and aside from the set-closing cover of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom," he wrote everything here, and again, it's hard to believe that such solid and fully realized blues songs like "The World's Been Good to You," "Penny Waiting on Change," and the trance blues stunner "Pay Me No Mind" were written and delivered by a teenager. This is a group that can only get better, and that's a delightfully scary thought, because this album is pretty good already. Stay tuned to this band.

Steve Leggett - All Music Guide



The Homemade Jamz Blues Band rocked the Blues world by coming in second at the 2007 International Blues Challenge in Memphis-competing against 100 other bands.Since then, they have amazed B.B. King in person and numerous blues audiences around the United States. Their first CD, Pay Me No Mind, is poised to become the most talked about blues release in 2008. Already referred to in blues circles as the Holy Grail of new releases, Pay Me No Mind is just pure, terrific blues music.

Amazon.com



A blues band featuring a 16-year-old lead guitarist/vocalist, a 13-year-old bassist and a 9-year-old drummer might well strike blues fans as little more than a novelty act. Indeed, Ryan Perry (the 16-year-old, his brother Kyle (bass) and sister Taya (drums) have a novel thing going on, but blues lovers will do well to listen to their debut disc before drawing any conclusions. This Tupelo, Miss., trio knocks down 11 solid tunes, 10 of which were penned by the kids' father, Renaud Perry. ''Right Thang Wrong Woman'' is a great, original blues number. Ryan sings the hell out of the song, and he snaps off a couple of pretty crunchy guitar solos as well. ''Blues Concerto'' showcases Renaud working a fierce harmonica and more strong lead guitar from Ryan. The next generation of blues players sounds like they mean business.

Billboard



I don’t usually go for “youngster” blues acts. Many times it’s mostly hype, used to eventually break these “blues kids” in the rock and pop worlds. This sure doesn’t seem to be the case with the Homemade Jamz Blues Band. These young people from Tupelo, Mississippi are tremendous musicians, and seem to really feel and love the blues. Recorded in January 2008, Pay Me No Mind was performed by Ryan Perry (16 years old now, vocals and guitar), Kyle Perry (14, on bass) and Taya Perry (10, on drums.) This is truly a family band, as the kids’ father, Renaud, wrote all but one of the tracks on the CD and also contributed spirited harmonica to several tracks. The fact that Renaud Perry wrote most of the songs here goes a long way toward providing the band with a more mature sound than you would expect, or should expect, them to have.

The Songs:

1. Who Your Real Friends Are: This track kicks the CD off in fine fashion, reminding me very much of Son Seals’ early work with Alligator Records. The song features declamatory vocals, raw, funky guitar and drum work so good it’s almost impossible to believe it was performed by a 9 year old. Oldest brother Ryan gets most of the attention, but little sister Taya may be this band’s secret weapon.

2. Voodoo Woman: This song is another up-tempo, raw electric blues, kind of a cross between Son Seals’ raw funkiness and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s heavily rhythmic style (Stevie was a phenomenal rhythm player; go back and listen to his records if you don’t believe me.) I really dug Kyle’s bass guitar work on this song; that young man provides a deep funky anchor to all the cuts on this CD. Who say’s nobody notices the bass player?

3. The World’s Been Good To You: The band slows it down here a bit, throwing a slower blues into the mix. Ryan acquits himself pretty well vocally, as his voice sounds much older and more seasoned than a typical 15 year olds’ voice. The way Ryan plays and sings makes me think he’s one of those kids with an “old soul”, and one of the young people who can truly carry on the blues to future generations (along with his siblings.)

4. Right Thang Wrong Woman: This is a very cool, funky track, one that features the bass of brother Kyle. I’m not sure Ryan really does this song justice vocally (he was straining quite a bit to get to certain notes), especially considering the song’s subject matter. This song would work very well for an older singer who can really belt out the lyrics through a large vocal range.

5. Penny Waiting On Change: We’ve got a slow blues here. It’s really a nice track, with Ryan taking his time on guitar, building tension slowly. He does a nice job vocally – I can hardly wait to hear what this kid’s voice will sound like when he reaches 30 years of age. My guess is that he’ll then have two amazing instruments – his guitar and his voice.

6. Blues Concerto: This track brings the tempo back up, with the band (including their father on harp.) It’s mainly an instrumental vehicle for everyone to riff on with a few basic verses thrown in. This one is basically a juke joint dance number – and a fun one at that!

7. Time For A Change: This song is more contemporary in nature, more of a mid-tempo blues/rock tune with Hendrix influences. These can be heard mainly in the melody and in the use of the cymbals (lots of cymbals.)

8. Pay Me No Mind: This is the title track from the CD, and it would please most anyone wanting to get their “dance on” in a Mississippi juke. You will notice a definite “Two Trains Running” influence here, but that doesn’t take away from the energy of the songs or from the musicianship heard here. These three kids play so well (I think I’m jealous.)

9. Jealous: Speaking of jealous, that’s out next track. It’s an up-tempo, raw funky track with lots of cool rhythm guitar courtesy of Miles Wilkinson (who provided rhythm guitar to 3 other cuts on this CD and produced the CD.)

10. Shake Rag: This is electric blues by way of Chicago with a funky bottom end. Kyle is a heck of a bass player. I don’t know about the “rag” in the title; Shake Boogie might have been a better name for the song. Either way, this song will make dancers shake whatever they’ve got.
11. Boom Boom: Yep, the band covers John Lee Hooker’s famous tune. Many of the songs on this CD are nearly covers (tunes using old song melodies but with new lyrics and arrangements) so it’s only right to credit at least one of them. The kids do a very nice job here, playing it raw and dirty and boogie’n with style.

The Verdict:
You know, this really is a very solid freshman effort from Homemade Jamz Blues Band. It is incredibly difficult to believe this music was performed by people so young. But, you better believe it because this is real blues, people. It will be interesting to see what occurs with this band down the road, especially if the kids start writing their own songs. Many of the songs on this CD are overly-familiar (Daddy Renaud’s influences were showing) but the energy and talent of the band makes up for this. Watch out for this band – the sky’s the limit for them. STLBluesometer rating = 3.5

Lee Howland, aka "East Side Slim"
© STLBlues 2000-2015



It’s hard to believe this album was recorded by three young siblings – and I do mean young - ages 16, 13, and, yes, 9 – in just three days. Not only that, it was all done in their house.

Ah, but that house is in Tupelo, Mississippi.

The Homemade Jamz consists of singer and guitarist Ryan Perry, the oldest; along with brother Kyle on bass, and little sis Taya on drums and backup vocals.

Their story begins in Germany, after their father, Renaud Perry, returned from military career service in Korea with a guitar tucked into his duffle bag. Young Ryan - he was around 7 years old at the most - became fascinated with the Stratocaster copy. A week or so later, Ryan had written a short instrumental song, and was playing along with commercials on television. A hint of the talent to come, for sure.

A few years later, the family returned to Mississippi, and Ryan, 11 by that time, took up the blues in its natural surroundings after listening to B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Albert King.

Kyle Perry joined his older brother at the age of 9, starting out on piano and then switching to bass, which he taught himself. Tara Perry, who had been playing tambourine, joined her brothers after an initial drummer did not work out. It took her two months to learn how to provide the great beat and occasional backup singing.

The next thing you knew, the band was performing at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, taking the second place prize in 2007.

The youngsters don’t sound that young, but they do somehow combine a gritty juke joint sound with a bit of a modern element to it. Singer Ryan has a raw, earthy voice that you’d never guess belongs to a teenager. The producer and sound engineer, Miles Wilkerson, should also get kudos for the splendidly understated and natural mix. No hoity-toity overproduced digital high jinks here.

This 11-track disc is made up of 10 original songs written by Renaud Perry, the dad; and ends with the John Lee Hooker classic, “Boom Boom.” Besides raising this musical brood, the elder Perry should be credited for penning some darn good tunes.

The raw sound gets going right away, on “Who Your Real Friends Are,” one of the best songs on the disc, and not only for the sound. The lyrics are perfect for today’s troubled economic and political times. It’s a breakthrough modern blues song.

“Voodoo Woman” brings in a classic danceable blues influence, and “The World’s Been Good to You” is a nice slow blues, one of my favorites on the record.

Papa Perry even gets in the actual act, blowing some pretty good harp.

“Right Thang, Wrong Woman” is a steady, kind of funky ode to a problematic relationship. Love the way Ryan throws those “ya’lls” in every now and then, and his guitar solo is fantastic.

“Penny Waiting on Change” is another slow blues with a ripping guitar solo by Ryan Perry. “Blues Concerto” is exactly what the title says. It’s fast, danceable, and there’s terrific harp weaving in and out of the guitar licks.

The one song on the album that is not exactly blues is “Time For Change,” which sounds too much like a ballad.

The title track, a true Delta-sounding swampy shuffle, again brings in Dad on harmonica. There are shades of the great North Mississippi bluesmen R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough in this one.

An instrumental, “Shake Rag,” again shows off the guitar prowess of Ryan Perry, giving him plenty of time to show his stuff.

This year, the band toured throughout Europe and North America, and recently were special guests at the grand opening of the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, Miss. They are also scheduled to on the annual Caribbean Blues Cruise in January. (Don’t worry, the kids are being home-schooled, according to a press release.)

With aging blues musicians becoming ill and passing away at an alarming rate, it is a gift to have an incredibly young band with this kind of authentic sound.

We can only wonder how they will evolve when they hit, say, their 20s.

Karen Nugent, October 2008
Boston Blues Society



"The CD was recorded in the band's home in Tupelo, Mississippi, and it delivers blues jams - all blues, all album. This truly is a family production, too, seeing as the three band members are siblings..."

Dirty Linen (p.45)
 

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