Boomerang Boomerang

Boomerang's eponymous 1971 debut also proved to be their last (though a shelved second album remains stashed away somewhere), and its surprisingly stripped-down and unfettered blues-rock approach will probably surprise those familiar with vocalist/organist Mark Stein's earlier work with psychedelic overlords Vanilla Fudge. Clearly inspired by the white-knuckled intensity of Led Zeppelin's first two albums, economic hard rockers like "Juke It," "Cynthia Fever," and "The Peddler" attempted to deliver the same thrilling brand of sheer power masking barely reigned-in virtuosity. Like every other six-stringer of the day, guitar wunderkind Ricky Ramirez (press clippings claimed he was 15 at the time of this recording) was thrust into the role of guitar hero whether he liked it or not; and, despite falling well short of achieving headline status (witness his nonexistent post-Boomerang career), he handled himself convincingly enough throughout, even contributing a nifty backward solo to "Hard Times."

Boomerang is the third offering from Eric Sardinas & Big Motor. It marks the trio's recording debut with drummer Bryan Keeling, a session and touring ace who spent six years with Shooter Jennings & the .357s. Founding bassist Levell Price is back of course, and the band enlists a small and select list of guests on various tracks. Inside the recording's cover sleeve are the words "….dedicated to my friend Johnny Winter. Thank you for the memories…." Winter's influence on Sardinas' playing is incalculable and acknowledged. But on Boomerang, recorded after Winter's death, the music is a direct reflection of his unruly good-time spirit. Check the title track where Sardinas' phrasing combines both early Texas and Delta blues in the intro in the same fashion Winter did. Both acoustic and electrified resonators are placed on stun, wrangling over Price's fuzzed-out choogling bass boogie.