The houserockin' blues are in guitarist Jim Suhler's blood. He's spent the better part of the last decade as George Thorogood's right-hand man in the Destroyers. But Suhler has also led his own blues-rock behemoth, Monkey Beat, for more than seventeen years and a handful of albums. Suhler has also recorded collaborations with fellow guitarists Alan Haynes and Mike Morgan.
Suhler's latest effort with Monkey Beat is Tijuana Bible, the album presenting an inspired blend of blustery original Texas blues-rock and covers of tunes from folks like Elvin Bishop (who steps in for a guest appearance with some tasty slide-guitar), Rory Gallagher, and AC/DC. Other musical guests on Tijuana Bible include guitarslinger Joe Bonamassa and soulful singer Jimmy Hall (of Wet Willie).
Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat's Tijuana Bible
Historically speaking, a "Tijuana Bible" was a small B&W pornographic comic book featuring notable politicians, movie stars, and athletes of its era. Although these under-the-table naughties were produced anonymously from the 1920s through the early-60s, their popularity peaked during the Great Depression. With raw artwork, bawdy sexual storylines, and questionable bordertown provenance, the title is oddly appropriate for Suhler's wild-eyed collection of raucous "devil's music."
With a rolling tumbleweed groove, a funky vibe, and Suhler's best Billy Gibbons' vox, the title tracks sounds like vintage Z.Z. circa Rio Grande Mud. As Suhler lays down some scorching leads, the lyrics allude to those mysterious Tijuana Bibles, works created in a "narcotic haze," nobody knows where they come from, but everybody knows what they're about. "Devil In Me" is a classic swamp-blues romp-n-stomp with riffs as big as the roots of a cypress tree and a locomotive rhythm as the sins of a lifetime coming charging down those iron rails like an angry wild hog o' justice.
Tales of Sin & Salvation
In many ways, Tijuana Bible is a conceptual work, filled with stories of doomed men and wicked women. As such, Elvin Bishop's "Drunken Hearted Boy" fits into the theme like a hip flask in your back pocket. With ol' Elvin himself dropping by to lay down a few greasy slide-guitar licks, Suhler's twangy vocals are perfectly matched with Shawn Phares' reckless honky-tonk piano.
Suhler's cover of AC/DC's "Up To My Neck In You" is provided an appropriately loose-limbed performance, the rhythm section choogling along as Suhler toasts a few notes with his flamethrower fretwork. Tijuana Bible holds a few tales of Texas bordertown hijinx, as well, the lyrics speaking of outlaws and outcasts, crime and punishment on the last American frontier. "Mexicali Rum" is a slow-burning bluesy rocker with a solid boogie beat and soulful vocals, the song itself a tale of drug running across the Mexican border.
The riff-heavy rocker "Chaos In Tejas" tells of the trouble that results from such sordid activities, which is complimented perfectly by a menacing cover of Rory Gallagher's rip-snorting "I Could've Had Religion," a tortured mix of romantic heartbreak and outlaw pathos. Suhler's "Po' Lightnin'," a heartfelt tribute to blues great Sam Lightnin' Hopkins, matches slinky guitarwork with a funky Texas beat and a perfect lyrical representation of the bluesman.
The Reverend's Bottom Line
There's something in the water down in Texas that seems to breed talented blues guitarists, and Jim Suhler is the latest in a long line of skilled, passionate fretburners that began, perhaps, with Blind Lemon Jefferson, ran through Lightnin' Hopkins and Johnny Copeland, and was rekindled by the Vaughan brothers.
Monkey Beat is a more than capable blues-rock outfit, perfectly pacing Suhler's incendiary guitarplay and imaginative lyrics. Tijuana Bible is a lot of fun, a roaring bonfire of bluesy riff, razor-sharp leads, and rocking rhythms strong enough to kick out the jams and please the ears. (Underworld Records, released February 17, 2009)
