Roots Music Report

Liner Notes:

About the Album

Detroit’s own Laura Rain and the Caesars have been putting a lot of miles on their Ford V8 motor the past couple years. After releasing their third album (Gold in 2015), the band has continued their heavy touring schedule performing everywhere from Paris, France to San Francisco, CA bringing their unique Motor City funky soul to a new audience.

The band is set to release their fourth album of original Motor City Soul-Blues-R&B on August 21, 2017. Walk with Me is Laura Rain’s best work to date. A delightful trip through funky dance tunes, hard-hitting vintage R&B, and lowdown Detroit soul and blues. Recorded to tape (mostly live) with organ and horns driving the beat, Laura Rain again demonstrates she is a unique and powerful singer with authenticity and presence.

The pair have recorded their latest album at Magnetic Recording in Pontiac MI. Walk with Me is a continuation of their locally grown original vintage r&b, delivering the band’s hard-hitting soul and modern juke-joint blues. From the driving Motown beat and stinging guitar of the title track, to the 80s dance funk of “Pleasure Zone,” Laura Rain uses her voice to engage the listener from sexy provocation, and a call to arms. 

The nucleus of the studio band features a first rate list of local Detroit musicians whom the Caesars are known for; Jim Alfredson (Organissimo) on keys, Steve Bostick (Sun Messengers) on bass, and Darryl Pierce (Bettye Lavette), Rick Beamon, and Jay Jones all taking turns in the drum chair. The horn section features saxophonist Johnny Evans (Kid Rock), jazz maverick John Douglas on trumpet and Rick Steiger (Sun Messengers) on baritone sax. 

Walk with Me again highlights Laura Rain and the Caesars love and commitment to Motor City soul music, pushing their creativity to new heights with a tough, booty shaking wail from within Detroit.