Charlie Read

Item: Read Between the Lines
Author: Chris MacIntosh

Read Between the Lines

(2003)

Reviewed by Chris MacIntosh

TIDAL Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Music

Label Car-Tunes RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2005

blues rock classic rock

I tend to have a fairly vivid imagination and instrumental music often paints pictures in my mind. The music of Jeff Johnson takes me to faraway exotic locales, while the music of Joshua Seurkamp brings me to places of mystery and wonder. The first solo effort by West Virginia guitarist, Charlie Read is entitled Read Between the Lines and it has the same effect on me. This album brings me back to the mid '60's, the days of high school and many conversations with friends about their and my favorite guitar players. Who was putting out the hottest licks around, was it Peter Green, Jeff Beck, Mick Taylor, or perhaps Clapton or Page. Many good tunes, many good licks and many sources of inspiration to fill a young man's musical dreams.

I can picture this band setting up their gear in the back of a smoky club, sitting around waiting for their turn to hit the stage and discussing the set list and the order of the songs to be played. The majority of the songs on this project are original compositions with the exception of the traditional "Wayfaring Stranger" which is given a very tasteful treatment. The playing, the production, everything about this album makes me want to hit the road and see these guys perform their chops live somewhere. This is not a sterile perfect production devoid of any soul or feeling, what I hear here is a bunch of guys who know and have a deep love and respect for guitar driven rock n roll music. I would hope that in a live setting that the band has the tendency to jam a bit because at a little over a half hour for eleven songs, I was left wanting to hear more.

The musicians consist of Charlie Read on lead guitars and bass, Matthew Read on rhythm guitar, Isaac Read on drums and Duane Flesher on piano. Do yourself a favor and check these guys out at their web site www.charlieread.com.

5 tocks