Photo Courtesy Altered Five LLC
Blues can be the easiest music in the world to play but the hardest to get right. Altered Five Blues Band has got it down. On the title track of their new album, Charmed & Dangerous, the Milwaukee combo performs a familiar story of male assertion that was born in the Mississippi Delta and migrated north to Chicago. It’s been heard a hundred thousand times already, but they deliver it with grit and soul. The singer is believably charming as well as dangerous.
Altered Five have been at it since 2002 and they have been prolific. Charmed & Dangerous is their fourth album—their first for the long-running Blind Pig blues label. Some of their power and lived-in authenticity derives from singer Jeff Taylor, who steeled his voice in local R&B groups before joining Altered Five. But he is matched beat for beat by guitarist Jeff Schroedl, whose instrument sings. Raymond Tevich thickens the sound on keyboards, while bassist Mark Solveson and drummer Alan Arber lay down a rolling beat.
“We’re focused on getting the songs across,” says Schroedl about their studio work. “Before we hit the studio, we spend a lot of time working out the arrangements and getting the lyrics to jive with the groove and overall vibe of the music. We also test out as many songs as possible at live shows before we record. It’s really hard to replicate a live feel in the studio, but we’d like to think that the recordings still have a lot of energy.”
Unlike some bands who assume they can do it alone, Altered Five accepted guidance on Charmed & Dangerous and on their previous album, Cryin’ Mercy, from a veteran producer. Tom Hambridge has earned several Grammy awards and worked with Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, George Thorogood and James Cotton. “We really jell with him,” Schroedl says. “He’s sharp and quickly diagnoses a song from all angles. It’s great to have another perspective from someone we trust.” Hambridge, Schroedl continues, “made several suggestions during the Charmed sessions—from subtle things between instruments to ideas about the form and delivery.”
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Even before signing with Blind Pig, Altered Five enjoyed a measure of acclaim within the blues subculture. Cryin’ Mercy was recognized as “Best Self-Released CD” at the 2015 International Blues Challenge in Memphis and, Schroedl says, “a few songs from that record have been covered by other bands, in the states and abroad.” Charmed & Dangerous has received ample airplay on SiriusXM’s “Bluesville” program and was nominated for a 2018 Blues Music Award.
“As long as there are men and women, blues music will be just fine,” says Schroedl, answering charges that the genre is more important as history than for speaking directly to today’s audience. “There are plenty of artists pushing the blues forward; the music is in good hands with people like Gary Clark Jr., Keb’ Mo’, Tedeschi Trucks Band and others. We attended the Blues Music Awards in Memphis last May and the room was filled with dynamic, modern blues musicians and fans.”
As for Milwaukee, Altered Five are happy to use their hometown as a base, citing, among other things, the proliferation of blues festivals in the Midwest and the city’s location. Schroedl checks off Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Florida and Montana among the states where Altered Five has played. “Most shows are drivable, so it’s good to be centrally located, although we fly from time to time.” He also appreciates the support Altered Five has received from Milwaukee blues societies. “Our local scene is diverse. Some ventures cater toward cover bands, so we had to work through those challenges early on, but we’re comfortable playing mostly original music at all our shows these days,” Schroedl says.
Altered Five Blues Band perform Dec. 14 at 8 p.m. in Shank Hall.
