Every Damn Time

Black Diamond Heavies

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 23, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alive Records
• ASIN: B000LP5FNQ
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #144,542 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

BLACK DIAMOND HEAVIES are a unique punk-ass blues duo from Tennessee, a soulful rock'n'roll outfit born in the junkyards of the South. The Heavies are John Wesley Myers (bass keys, Fender Rhodes, organ, and voice) and Van Campbell (drums and vocals). Van is from Louisville, Kentucky and comes from a family of bourbon distillers. He also holds a degree in Mandarin Chinese and has drummed professionally on three continents. John Wesley, the son of a Baptist preacher, was born in Port Arthur, Texas, and has been shaking his "testimony" all over the South, playing gospel as a child until the devil got hold of him. Although they hail from the Southern States of America the Heavies see themselves as vagrant citizens of the world. They have spent the last two years on the road, living in vans, and sleeping on floors. They bring their countless hours of live experience onto their debut album; EVERY DAMN TIME is a punk rock album full of sweat, noise and soul. Another amazing duo from the label that brought you the debut albums of the BLACK KEYS and TWO GALLANTS.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Soulful punk blues, January 27, 2007

By	hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Like their labelmates, Radio Moscow, this Tennessee band is a multitasking duo, with vocalist John Wesley Myers doubling on Fender Rhodes and providing the bottom end with bass pedals, and drummer Van Campbell also providing backing vocals. Unlike Radio Moscow's psych-turned-heavy rock, Black Diamond Heavies are closer to the blues and several rungs lower on the hi-fi scale. Myers' electric piano carries the melodic and rhythmic loads in place of guitars (there are none!), and his vocals cross Tom Waits bowery growl with Oscar the Grouch's bark.

The Heavies share a lo-fi sensibility with other Bomp/Alive artists such as The Coffin Lids and Milky Ways, but rather than punkishy raw, the combination of electric piano and overdriven vocals is soulful. The 8-minute "All to Hell" adds gospel touches of Hammond and horns, and the ring of the Fender Rhodes adds a funky Southern flavor to "Signs" and "Might Be Right." This is grungy cellar blues, best heard with a beer in one hand and a beer in the other hand, as well. [©2007 hyperbolium dot com]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The depth of sound is unbelievable, September 27, 2008

By	Evan L. Eckard (san francisco, ca) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I first heard this record, I thought there had to be at least a half a dozen people in the band. I quickly learned that there were only two musicians that formed BDH; Van and John. The tunes are very raw and catchy, John's voice is gruff and soul shaking, while Van's drummin' is somewhere near punk rock, but keeps it within the raw soul sound.

I've played this record over and over and just can't get sick of it. I got the chance to see them live in San Francisco, and was blown away by the performance. This record is a must have - if you don't dig it at first, listen to it again and you'll be hooked.