Album Review of
The Picnic Sessions

Written by Duane Verh
May 22, 2015 - 12:00am EDT
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Ian Siegal’s laid-back acoustic soiree proves highly song-centric.  Thanks to this, and to the performances of Siegal and his crew of roots notables- Alvin Youngblood Hart, Jimbo Mathus and the Brothers Dickinson (Luther and Cody)- this set possesses staying power beyond its good-vibes veneer.  The Brit blues growler delivers strong on meaty originals and well-suited covers: Tom Russell’s”Gallo Del Cielo” and Townes Van Zandt’s “Heavenly Houseboat Blues”.  There are traces of Townes, and Kristofferson as well, in Siegal’s “Wasted Freedom”.  Other standouts include “Stone Cold Soul”, “Keen And Peachy” and the mini-suite “Beulah Land”.