Guitar & Bass Magazine
(UK) Vol 21 No. 8, May 2010 (June issue)
Pissed Off, Bitter And Willing To Share
As
the title would suggest, Scottish alt-bluesman Hughes' debut album is a
caustic, fuzz-laden, lo-fi affair with gritty acoustic slide aplenty.
Arresting.
Loud Horizon
(UK) April 2010
Pissed Off, Bitter And Willing To Share
(10/10)This is simply a brilliant album!
Originally
restricted to a limited physical release in November 2009, 'Pissed Off,
Bitter And Willing To Share' benefited from some excellent reviews and
was even voted UK Blues Album of The Year by Canada's Blues Underground
Network. As a result, it has now been given 'full release' status and
quite rightly too - music this good should not be hidden away and hard
to find.
Here we have forty minutes of traditional based Blues
music given a bit of an 'alternative' twist, with an added sense of
Glaswegian dark humour. In fact, some of the songs are just downright
'dark' but presented in a form that somehow makes them jolly little
foot-tappers! For instance - a common perception of Blues music is that
it is full of self-pity; that life has dealt the singer a real raw
deal. Craig's songs, for the most part however seem more angst driven
and cynical. But anyone who can open an album with a song asking what
makes someone crack and become a murderous sniper 'On A Rooftop With A
Rifle And A Scope' and yet have the listener singing along to the
infectious slide-guitar backed vocals, gets my vote!
Song titles
such as 'Everybody's Fault But Mine,' 'You Don't Care At All,' 'Dancing
On Your Grave,' kind of give an idea of where Craig's coming from. And
if it's bitter and sarcastic you want, then try 'Poor Thing.'
Following
the two acoustic / slide guitar based openers ('On A Rooftop With A
Rifle And A Scope' and 'Everybody's Fault But Mine') there is the first
of the full band electric numbers. 'You Don't Care At All' opens with a
rasping, chugging guitar riff like that on The Stray Cats 'Rumble In
Brighton.' It's a pacy little blues rocker and shows Craig can really
rock it up big time.
'Poor Thing' is next and reverts to the
acoustic slide sound with Craig's growled, sarcastic vocals, before
'Three Hundred And Sixty Five' takes a completely opposite tact and
shows a more sensitive side to Craig's writing, this one about the
first anniversary of a love lost. And this reflective mood is also
demonstrated later on with 'The TR7s Have All Gone To Heaven' in which
the listener is taken back to the days of youthful dreams and a time
when all you had to worry about was what time you'd be called in for
your tea!
But the overriding atmosphere is dark. 'Dancing On
Your Grave' crashes in with a loud roar of electric guitar, then
reverts to an acoustic base and features a chorus where the 'ah'ah'ah
ah' backing sounds very much like that on 'Fight' by fellow Glaswegians
Sons and Daughters.
'I Don't Mind' still goes with the acoustic
/ slide theme, as does 'Tell Me I'm Wonderful' which is lighter in feel
and the style of which momentarily reflects that of the late Rory
Gallagher.
'Cuban Necktie' is the only instrumental of the
twelve tracks and continues with the dark theme... the track being
named after a notorious method of gangland execution! It has the
rocking sound of George Thorogood mixed with the dexterity of Stevie
Ray Vaughan and could quite easily have benefited from an extension to
its two minutes duration.
Album closer 'Well Well Well, My My
My' is a catchy slide-based number with a driving backing - again in
George Thorogood style - that basically reminds the not-so-dear
departed that they are headed only one way and that they probably now
regret the pain they caused the singer during their time on this earth.
Cheery (?!)... but your foot WILL be tapping!
Colin JacksonBlues Matters! magazine
(UK) Issue 53 - March/April 2010
also
www.paris-move.com
(France) - March 2010
Pissed Off, Bitter And Willing To Share
By
just reading the album’s title, we thought… here we go again, some
self-pitying Glaswegian who’s got to moan about everything and the
black and white album sleeve doesn’t help us feel more upbeat about it,
but Craig Hughes’s music isn’t about that at all. Just prove you
shouldn’t judge a CD by its cover or its title! This kind of Blues
isn’t for the faint-hearted, there is true grit and plenty of gravel in
Craig’s voice drawing us to the dark side with plenty of slide guitar
and stomping. Tracks such as the excellent, fast-paced ‘You don’t care
at all’ and ‘Cuban Necktie’ remind you that Craig Hughes on electric
guitar was and still is a damn good rocker. There are twelve tracks in
this album all written by Craig, and true, life is tough in Craig’s
world: war, recession, death and bankers of course as in the very
factual and heart-wrenching ‘Everybody’s Fault But Mine’ or ‘On A
Rooftop With A Rifle And A Scope’, the story of a guy who’s just had
enough of it and takes a rifle on the roof. ‘Dancing On Your Grave’
feels as if Craig has been inspired by Eric McFadden’s latest album
“Train To Salvation”. There’s definitely some humour in Mr Hughes’
lyrics, black of course! Difficult to describe Craig’s music and its
many facets, it’s as if a Blues line-up of Black Sabbath had decided to
play Tom Waits with a hint of Velvet Underground.Frankie Pfeiffer/Nat Harrapstillgigging.com
(UK) April 2010
Pissed Off, Bitter And Willing To Share
Craig
Hughes learnt his craft the hard way by spending long days busking the
highways and byways of Scotland. In 2005, he got a spot support Tony
McPhee of The Groundhogs and his career received the street cred it
deserved. By 2008, he started hosting That Devil Music a monthly
alternative Blues/roots/country night at The State Bar, Glasgow. The CD is
all self-penned and all vocals and instrumentals are provided by Craig
with exception of bass and drums which are the work of Tommy Duffin.
Craig’s an impressive songwriter his lyrics are a very profound comment
on life, full of rich imagery and emotion.
The bulk of the CD
features Craig on electro acoustic slide guitar but it is broken up
with a fuller band sound on a variety of songs. The CD kicks off with
‘On A Rooftop With A Rifle And A Scope’, a driving electro acoustic
Blues ballad and you get a first listen to Craig's deep, gritty, emotion
ridden vocal telling its tale. ‘Everybody’s Fault But Mine’, again a
Blues ballad whose lyrics bite hard into the mind with their comment on
the human condition and modern day life. Craig may be using the
traditional protest and story-telling methodology of the Blues in his
music but this is a music lyrically centred in the present day. ‘Poor
Thing’ again a Blues ballad displays some clean electro acoustic slide
and finger-picking throughout and once again, those thought provoking
lyrics which characterize the CD. ‘Dancing On Your Grave’, starts as a
fuzzed electric guitar riff before moving into a more traditional
electro acoustic Blues/Country number. The lyrics on this are superb
and matched by the pure acid emotion that Craig’s vocal pours into
them. This song is complex in all aspects and has a deep tribal feel to
it, which is haunting.
‘Cuban Necktie’ is an instrumental and it
great to see musicians in this day and age, who are not afraid to
include an instrumental on their CDs to give more texture and variety
to it. This a Blues Rocker, fuzzed guitar riffs wailing, percussive
bass riff and good drum fills. This is CD of merit and worth a listen,
especially to those who like alt Blues and fine songwriting.
Carol Borringtonbluesinthenorthwest.com
(UK) January 2010
Pissed Off, Bitter And Willing To Share
Treading
similar territory to Dave Arcari, fellow Glaswegian Craig Hughes is an
alt. blues and roots musician and writer, who mainly just armed with
his acoustic slide guitar playing gives us 12 of his own songs – mainly
about the dark side of life, but delivered in an stomping, upbeat
manner.
“Pissed Off,
Bitter And Willing To Share” is his first full-length release,
following on from his “Broke, Lonely And Guilty” EP. Co-producer Tommy
Duffin gives some cuts a full band sound with his drums and bass,
including the rocking and grungy “You Don’t Care At All” – Hughes on
electric slide here and his growl of a voice.
“Everybody’s
Fault But Mine” borrows, not surprisingly by the title, from the blues
standard “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”, with suitable black humour in his
lyrics. The haunting tale of lost love, “Three Hundred And Sixty Five”
is an album highlight, a pretty song again dominated by his acoustic
slide work.
“Dancing On
Your Grave” blasts off with a salvo of electric guitar, before
reverting to some nice fingerpicked acoustic, giving it a nice folky
feel. “Cuban Necktie” – named after a notorious method of gangland
execution – has an uptempo Texas Blues feel on this, the album’s only
instrumental.
Elsewhere
“The TR7s Have All Gone To Heaven” will raise a smile, while “Sighed
Smoke Halo” is probably the album’s hardest song to categorise –
slightly folky, with a bit of psychedlia thrown in for good measure.
“Tell Me, I’m Wonderful” is a full-tilt acoustic slide tune about the
things he wants to hear from his lady! The closing “Well Well Well, My
My My” rides on another electric guitar riff – think something like
Jesus & The Mary Chain meets ZZ Top and you’re there!
Not
one for the blues purists, but Craig Hughes angry, dark take on life
will appeal to those who have open ears – I found his mix of styles
quite appealing, and as previously mentioned definitely in Dave
Arcari’s “punk blues” area, and well worth checking out.
Grahame Rhodes
The Blues Report blog
(Canada) December 2009
Pissed Off, Bitter And Willing To Share
Yesterday
I informed you all that I was going to be listening to a couple of
recently submitted CD's, Craig Hughes "Pissed Off, Bitter And Willing
To Share", Floyd Lee Band "Doctors, Devils & Drugs". Well I
must say that I was more than just impressed, those were two damn good
CD's. Blues Music the way it was meant to be played, down and dirty, no
prisoners taken.
Blues Matters! magazine
(UK) Issue 49 - July 2009
Broke, Lonely and Guilty (EP)
Lack
of money, being alone and guilty of committing a crime - enough to give
anyone the deep blues, and on this seventeen-and-a-half minute EP, that
is just what Glasgow, Scotland based alt.blues and roots singer and
guitarist Craig purveys. The five songs are generally down-tempo
items, and titles such as 'Everybody's Got To Cheat And Lie Sometimes'
and 'He Loved Her And She Sent Him To Hell' are indicative of darker
sentiments, with world-weary vocals, and a bottleneck guitar style that
draws on the greats, such as Son House, Muddy Waters, Blind Willie
Johnson, and others (that last-named title is almost jaunty by
comparison with the other tracks). Alt.Blues lovers can buy with
confidence.
Norman Darwen
Blues Bunny
(UK) March 2009
Hope It Makes You Happy b/w All the World’s Women
Craig
Hughes is from Glasgow which is not exactly the home of the blues but
fortunately he doesn't know that. Armed with a guitar and the devil on
his shoulder, he growls through "Hope It Makes You Happy". Laconic and
twisted - but in a good way - he berates his lady for wanting a song
named after her. That's what we need - none of this angst ridden
rubbish but a sinking in of the boot just when it is needed. Damn, you
can even sing along to it. Class!
On the flipside - if there were a
flipside for it to be on - is the melancholy "All The World's Women". A
more conventional blues number, Mr Hughes guitar playing seems more
assured here than on "Hope It Makes You Happy" and he successfully
manages to make this song sound like it had fallen right out of time
itself. Works for me!
A record destined to be on vinyl? Hell, yes.
Bluesbunny
Blues Bunny
(UK) February 2009
Broke, Lonely and Guilty EP
The
world is a strange place. You'd think you would find the blues in
somewhere like Chicago and not in dear old Glasgow but here we have
singer songwriter Craig Hughes and his EP "Broke, Lonely and Guilty" as
evidence.
Obviously a blues stalwart, the first song "Everybody's
Got to Cheat and Lie Sometimes" starts and finishes with pops and
crackles just like an old 78. It's a pretty clear sign that Craig
Hughes is going to be handling things with respect (and a not
inconsiderable amount of impassioned slide guitar). There's always
going to be tears before bedtime with this kind of music and "He Loved
Her and She Sent Him to Hell" demonstrates that point and may I tell
you that makes a refreshing change from the self pity that normally
characterises Glasgow singer songwriters. "Bale of Blood" mixes
up redemption and rock to quite memorable effect as well.
The blues
ain't nothing but a feeling, or so the saying goes. It's fair to say
that Craig Hughes has that feeling and in this self obsessed,
antiseptic world that we live in that is very welcome. Turn the lights
down, turn the volume up and see if the Devil visits you too.
Bluesbunny
Last.FM
(UK) December 2008
Ship Sails Away (from Broke, Lonely and Guilty)
Look up melancholy in the dictionary and be prepared. In a good way. So down it makes me feel glad to be me.
Ken Robertson
Blues Bunny
(UK) November 2009
live at The State Bar, Glasgow
Now,
finding a good or even great blues guitarist around Glasgow is like
finding Moses and the burning bush - it doesn't happen too often - but
I think the search is over. Hughes is an impressive guitar player who
plays his guitar with impeccable virtuosity. Then, when you add his
gruff, bold vocals to the old Scottish twang, he makes for one hell of
a performer.
Ryan Lashkari
Blues Bunny
(UK) August 2009
live at The State Bar, Glasgow
Now,
Craig Hughes is what you would call an imposing performer. Not the kind
of guy whose beer you'd want to spill. Better off seeing him live.
Armed with fine wit, anger, and a Takamine, Craig Hughes suppressed all
his frustrations and observations into a brilliant 45 minute onslaught.
Imagine RL Burnside was deported to Glasgow for his sins. Might well
have sounded like Craig Hughes. Brilliant.
Peter McGee
Rockradio.co.uk
(UK) Rock Blogs: Blues On The Road - July 2009
That Devil Music @ The State Bar, Glasgow July 3rd 2009
Grand night at the State last night ... Blog regular Craig Hughes played a fine set with some cool new numbers ...
Dave Arcari
Rockradio.co.uk
(UK) Rock Blogs: Blues On The Road - July 2009
Blues on the River Festival, The Ferry, Glasgow June 27th 2009
Our buddy Craig Hughes plays a crackin’ set.
Dave Arcari
Dave's Diary
(UK) davearcari.wordpress.com - June 2009
That Devil Music @ The State Bar, Glasgow June 5th 2009
That Devil Music last night was great – ever-dependable Craig Hughes played a great set ...
Dave Arcari
FEATURES
Blues Underground Network
(Canada) January 2010
Year End Review 2009
no.6Craig Hughes "Pissed Off, Bitter And Willing To Share"Best British Blues AlbumCraig Hughes "Pissed Off, Bitter And Willing To Share"... These are the movers and shakers that will define or have already defined the Blues.
The
Artists and Albums ... were chosen because they represented to me
something that was either unique, fresh, totally enjoyable to listen
to, or all of the above. They were not chosen by how much air play they
got, or how many copies they sold, those are industry standards which I
feel can at times mask true talent and neglect real talent.
Leicester Bangs
(UK) December 2009
A
little Q&A with Craig Hughes. On his new record, Pissed Off, Bitter
and Willing To Share, he sings, plays guitar, bass and stomps a bit.
Tommy Duffin plays drums and some bass, too.Leicester Bangs: Tell us a little about yourself.Craig:
I play alt. blues and roots music, think of myself primarily as a
guitarist but have seen the dreaded 'singer songwriter' tag applied,
not entirely inaccurately...LB: How did you start out making music?Craig:
Started playing guitar at around 12 years old. There was a good scene
where I grew up - everything from blues to metal to punk and prog at
the same gig, often in the same band. Sometimes in the same song. It
was a good atmosphere to learn in.LB: Who did you grow up listening to and how do they influence what you’re doing now?Craig:
I first showed a real interest in music when I was a wee boy, and I was
really into rock 'n' roll and rockabilly. Loved early Elvis (had a
copy of The Sun Collection which my dad gave me the day Elvis died) and
at the time Bill Haley was my favourite - my folks took me to a Bill
Haley show at a rock'n'roll revival show at The Glasgow Apollo when I
was 9 years old. That did it. As the years rolled on I went through a
lot of fazes, many of which stayed with me, and ended up in an
alternative-rock head-space throughout the 90s - Rollins Band, RHCP,
Soundgarden and so on. Now I'm playing primarily solo blues, but it's
with that attitude, I think. The biggest influences on what I do now
are probably Richard Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III, Skip James, Keith
Richards and Chuck Berry. And Lemmy.LB: Tell us about your latest release.Craig:
The latest release is my first album, 'Pissed Off, Bitter and Willing
to Share', which kind of picks up where the EP 'Broke, Lonely and
Guilty' left off. Where the EP was made up of fairly melancholy
slide-heavy blues, and was pretty dark stuff all in, the album is a
more aggressive and perversely upbeat affair - although lyrically it
still draws from the darker side of life.LB: Do you get out and play your music live, and if so, what can an audience expect at one of your shows?Craig:
My shows are solo acoustic affairs, but aggressive and full-on - I
break a sweat. I play mostly my own material but occasionally throw in
covers by anyone from Robert Johnson and Howlin Wolf - which you might
expect - through Kris Kristofferson and Jerry Reed to Motorhead - which
you might not. I put on some promotions in Glasgow under the banner
That Devil Music, which is me performing with one or two other acts - I
prefer to promote myself in the city as there are so many rip-off
merchants at work in the live scene, particularly at the grass-roots
level where everybody's trying to catch a break.LB: What aspects of playing and recording music do you most enjoy?Craig:
There's a school of thought that has the kind of stuff I do down as
some kind of catharsis, which probably isn't far off the mark although
I think that's more in the writing stage. Recording can be quite
frustrating at times, but there's that great moment when it comes
together and you think: cool - that's a proper fucking record, that is!LB: Where can people find (and buy) your music?Craig:
The album is out now - the CD is currently available from the Channel
Nowhere site and my website, where there's all sorts of other
fascinating gubbins to catch your eye, and will be available from CD
Baby (CD/download) from the end of November 2009. CD Baby is handling
digital distribution which takes time to roll out - the EP is already
available to download from CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, Lala etc., so look
out for the album to start appearing on those stores over the next few
weeks.You can also check me out on MySpace, YouTube and Last.FM, amongst others.
www.leicesterbangs.com
INDUSTRY QUOTES
Great performer.
Paul Clarkson, Sunny Govan F.M.
For
anyone who likes their blues, and I mean real blues not your Gary Moore
siphoned, commercial, rock blues... this is down'n'dirty slide geetar,
gravelly voice 'I'm gonna kill myself or someone else close to me"
blues. I really recommend you check this guy out... Many moons ago he
was the guitarist in a band I played with, and I hold him in the
highest regard as a musician.... And if you live in Glasgow pop on over
to a show, you won't regret it!
Grae Tennick, Morpheus Rising
Kick
ass Glasgow based alt.blues singer/songwriter. Top notch songs about
infidelity, death, lost love and all that. Miserable and depressing in
the best way.
Ken Robertson, What's That Noise?
Reviews/Publication links