Music review: Foghat 鈥� 鈥楿nder the Influence鈥�
With Foghat鈥檚 latest effort, the band continues to build upon an infectious style of boogie rock that longtime fans have enjoyed since the self-titled debut release in 1972.
While it took me several years to understand the meaning of the band鈥檚 odd name, I became a fan of the British rockers with the release of 鈥淟ive鈥� from 1977. Containing only six tracks, it seemed like all the cool kids from my school owned a copy in some format and I still consider it one of the best live albums of the 鈥�70s.
This live recording would capture the band at its peak and go on to become Foghat鈥檚 best-selling album fueled by smokin鈥� versions of 鈥淔ool for the City,鈥� Willie Dixon鈥檚 鈥淚 Just Want to Make Love to You鈥� and 鈥淪low Ride.鈥�
Even without original members Dave Peverett, Rod Price and Tony Stevens, Roger Earl (original drummer and founding member) carries on the vintage Foghat sound with a strong supporting cast that includes lead vocalist and guitarist Charlie Huhn, who joined Foghat in 2000 after earlier stints with Ted Nugent and Humble Pie.
With 2010鈥檚 鈥淟ast Train Home,鈥� Foghat offered up a robust collection of blues covers with a few originals sprinkled in just for good measure.
For 鈥淯nder the Influence,鈥� the band rallies to punch out 12 tracks that sport quite a bit of bite.
The album opens with the raucous title track before leading into the AC/DC swagger of 鈥淜nock It Off.鈥�
The boys deliver some infectious rock blues on tracks like 鈥淢ade up My Mind,鈥濃�漊pside of Lonely鈥� and a cover of Savory Brown鈥檚 鈥淪he鈥檚 Got a Ring in His Nose.鈥�
The band does justice to an up-tempo cover of 鈥淗eard It Through the Grapevine鈥� as well as a spirited remake of 鈥淪low Ride.鈥� Nick Jameson, who played bass on the original version of the band鈥檚 biggest hit, sits in once again to help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the classic track.
Foghat used PledgeMusic to help raise funding for the new album that was released on the band鈥檚 own Foghat Records.
Foghat continues to tour tirelessly while proving the smoke still promises to linger for a long time to come.