Blues Bytes

Review by Graham Clarke

Chicago-born singer, slide guitarist, and songwriter Donna Herula wasn't sure she had another album in her after her 2021 release, Bang At The Door, hit the top of the 2021 Acoustic Blues Album Chart and was named Best Acoustic Album by the 2022 Independent Blues Awards.

Correction [The current album] features Herula with Tony Wittrock (guitar) and Marc Edelstein (upright bass) and drummer Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith who joined the trio in 2021, and the band has been playing together for the last five years as The Donna Herula Band.

Obviously, she found some inspiration over the last five years because Herula's new release, Cold Feet, is definitely a keeper. It includes ten track, eight written by the guitarist (one co-written with Wittrock), and two covers. Joining the band on selected tracks are producer Jon Shain (guitars), Alton Smith (keyboards), Anne Harris (violin), John Jochem (harmonica), Steve Eisen (sax), Rick Barnes (percussion), and backup vocalists Candy LaFlora, Kary Ream, and Rebecca Toon.

The opening instrumental, the lovely acoustic “On My Way Home,” features Herula on National Tricone slide with Wittrock, Shain, and Barnes in support. The lively title track is an amusing rocker about last-minute wedding day jitters, and “Honey Darlin' Baby Please,” co-written by Herula and Wittlock, is a delightful mix of soul and country.

Herula plays resonator and slide guitar on her moving cover of Skip James' “Cypress Grove Blues,” receiving understated backing by the band. “Backseat Driver” is a humorous shuffle with harmonica from Jochem that's inspired by a road trip with the band.

“What You Gonna Do?” addresses a couple dealing with infidelity, as Herula tells her mate to get in or get out of the relationship. Shain plays guitar on this track and Eisen and Smith add saxophone and organ, respectively. The plaintive “Wish I Could See You Again” is another beautiful acoustic number with Herula on guitar and Shain adding acoustic slide.

“Things Can Change” is a soulful track with backing vocals from LaFlora, Jochem on harmonica, Smith playing organ and Wurlitzer, and Barnes on percussion. “Float to Heaven” is an acoustic number inspired by John Prine's storytelling songs, with violin from Harris helping set the somber mood.

The closer is a strong cover of Elmore James/Robert Johnson's “Dust My Broom,” where Herula gets the opportunity to show off her Chicago blues roots with some dynamite slide guitar.

I, for one, am glad that Donna Herula decided to release another album because Cold Feet is an entertaining set of songs that cover a wide range of blues styles. In addition to her slide guitar skills, she's also a gifted songwriter and vocalist, so this release will be a solid fit in any blues fan's collection.Review by Graham Clarke