I have written reviews for this band for every album they have recorded, so I was so pleased and honoured to be asked by Franco to write the English one for the band. This is raw but sophisticated blues recorded in their local bar 'Paddy Cullen's' in Arluno, near Milan, italy. It is a great jam session with their family and friends as the audience, wish I had been there to witness the occasion. The preview MP3 download is a delight to listen to. All of the bands superb playing, Franco is a real Raconteur, one of the great lyric writers of our time. The work on the cover design provided by Franco's lovely wife Leila Bidler and Photographer Marcus Tondo is really Artistic. Now listen on....
Tracks
1-Rollin Over New Orleans
I remember this track from their first CD 'Family Style - Live Style' way back in 2000, the difference is this is a new live recording. A better arrangement to introduce you to Blues Family Style if you are not already a devotee.
2-Flat Land Shuffle
Lincolnshire where I live is Flat Land here in the Fens, but I think this number is more likely dedicated to Holland as the band play many gigs there on their way to touring the UK. Good 'harp' intro from Franco, good vocal and lyric, a nice little use of the harp mike slipped in to the vocal, listen out for it.
3-I Ain't Breaking Down
Good number reflecting todays Credit Crunch, great lyric that also brings in humourous reference to Franco's cousin Davide and his older brother Marco who plays a good guitar break in the middle of this number.
4-You Dont Have To Go
Now the band are really getting down to some serious Chicago Style Blues, a plee to his woman not to go, not an unusual blues theme, Franco's 'harp' wailing those heartfelt blues.
5-Down To The Bone
A gentler blues this time, very melodic meloncholy sound really down there. Another great lyric and vocal by Franco, really great guitar rif by Marco.
6-Mad Love (I Wanto You To Love Me)
Time for a really slow, down and dirty blues. 'love your baby slow', amen!, I dig that. Good use of the harp mike for effect in the vocal. Lengthy harp on this one Muddy Waters Style.
7-Pub Crawl
This is another track from their 'Family Style - Live Style' album, I had a drink with the band in my local 'The Red Lion' in Spalding and in The 'Running Horse' in Nottingham, both in England singing along with the band with the rest of the audience, a definate participating number, lively and great fun. Wish I was there in Italy to witness this recording and continue the 'Pub Crawl'.
8-Bourbon Dream
A haunting harp, solid rhythm section, meloncholy lyrics about getting drunk over a disagreement with his woman. Makes a great blues.
9-Left My Town
Preaching the blues, Franco weaves a tale of leaving town and his travels. The lord is with him wherever he goes, AMEN .Stirring rhythm thoughout.
10-(The Only) Medicine For You
Solo harp intro by Franco, bring in a solid drum beat from Stefania, and bass from Davide, then superb slide guitar from Marco especialy in the break. Like the lyric too, he is the medicine for all her troubles. A great performance guys and gal.
11-Every Morning
Drum and audience handclap intro. More slide guitar from Marco, great stuff. Franco's lyrics are a different slant on 'woke up this morning' he also blast some superb notes on his blues harp. He also introduces each band member as they play a solo each. Marco, Davide, Stefania and Himself Franco. Tight band.
12-Paddy's Boogie
Another different harp intro from Franco, interesting intro lyrics too, leads into a full blown version of the classic 'Hip Shake' by all the band.
13-Nine Below Zero
Leading into this classic last number, Franco sings and plays a lengthy solo number. You deserve a beer my buddy, I hope with a bar named 'Paddy Cullen's' they serve some Dublin brewed 'Guiness' Carlesberg own them too. Cheers.
Frank Skinner for Spalding Blues Club
www.myspace.com/spaldingblues
FAMILY STYLE Paddy’s Blues.
Family Style are, as the name suggests, a family of Blues musicians from a town near Milano in Italy. The band consists of Marco and Franco Limido and cousins David Bianchi and Stefani Avenali. The CD was recorded in the local Irish bar, called Paddy Cullen’s, in their hometown of Arluno. It was recorded using basic equipment in front of the bar regulars and consists of thirteen self-penned tracks of Blues - Italian style! The sound production is really clean, yet it has a very live and fresh jam session feel, with good lyrics, vocal and instrumentation.
‘I Ain’t Breaking Down‘ is an R&B number displaying Franco's vocal - he has good register and excellent intonation. The Blues is given a new slant in that Franco leans toward the Italian serenade method, which gives an interesting dimension to the whole. ‘Down To The Bone’ is a slow Blues number, with a feel of early-60s British Blues - Franco’s captivating vocal and Marco’s solemn and emotive guitar bemoaning lost love. ‘Mad Love (I Wanto You To Love Me)’ has the feel of B.B. King’s ‘Rock Me Baby’, but with a heavyweight Muddy Waters style harp solo and vocal prominence. The lively ‘Pub Crawl’ is also a strong favourite of locals at The Running Horse in Nottingham. Cheers, Paddy!
Carol Borrington
Blues Matters! - UK
Franco Limido’s (Family Style front man) favorite Bar near Milan is called “Paddy Cullen’s”. This is the place where Franco relaxes after a demanding Italian or European tour. Bar owner Andrea Porrati was the man who persuaded Franco to record his own penned songs.
The result: “Paddy’s Blues”; thirteen songs recorded in the pub, some with an audience, some without. Using basic equipment and the excellent acoustic of the bar resulted in a blues album played with passionate Italian temperament.
The albums opens with the excellent: “Rollin’ Over New Orleans”, but not just this one all the songs on the album “Paddy’s Blues” are just fantastic.
Brothers Franco and Marco (Guitarist of “Family Style”) Limido are responsible for the “penning”, both lyrics and music, they prove that they master songwriting and playing.
“Family Style” and their album “Paddy’s Blues” lean heavily to the Chicago Blues style, but they manage to give it their own touch, their own identity. The chemistry between “Family Style” and the Chicago Blues style results in fabulous songs like “Bourbon Dream” and “I Ain’t Breaking Down”.
“(The Only) Medicine For You” is an almost authentic blues song. The credits for this song go directly to the way Marco plays his slide guitar and the blues harmonica of Franco.
The brothers even play a nice boogie and make a bow ( an ode so to speak) to their hangout “Paddy Cullen’s” in the song “Paddy’s Blues”.
Voice, blues harp, guitar and slide guitar are perfectly balanced without anybody being too prominent. The Limido brothers know what it takes to bring harmony in their songs. Cousin Davide Bianci on Bass and Stefania Avenali on drums provide a solid foundation.
The production of “Paddy’s Blues” is a very well done job!
“Family Style” chose to play some covers of great musicians on their latest album: Jimmy Reed’s “You Don’t Have To Go” and Willie Dixon’s “Mad Love” proves that this is not just a band, “Family Style” is a blues band of High quality. The album breathes the relaxing atmosphere in what it is recorded, that also is a great plus.
Family Style is “dotting the I’s” on “Paddy’s Blues” and they prove to belong to the top of the European blues bands: Real good blues with an Italian Bite!!!
Wil Wijnhoven
www.bluesbreeker.nl (translated by: Ton Wanten)
Family Style are an Italian blues band, coming from near Milano, and are based on the talented Limido brothers, Marco and Franco. Marco is the guitarist and Franco the harmonica player. The band regularly tour in Europe, frequently in the UK, having released a live album recorded there, "Live In Nottingham". This album, "Paddy's Blues", was recorded at a special session set up at "Paddy Cullen's", an Irish bar in Milan.
The band are steeped in the blues of their Chicago idols. Franco holds down the vocals, writes most of the songs and plays powerful amplified blues harp. In fact Franco was enlisted by the late Robert Palmer to guest on the blues album he recorded, sadly just before his death. Marco, along with rhythm section Davide Bianchi (b) and Stefania Avenali (d) hold down a tight backdrop for Franco's harp.
The standard, "You Don't Have To Go" segues effortlessly into an original slow, minor key blues, "Down To The Bone" where Marco takes the main solo on guitar. "Mad Love" is a slow riff, with a heavy debt to Muddy, played with feeling. "Bourbon Dream" is a departure from the regular shuffle fare, a minor key blues over a rhythm on the toms.
"Left My Town" is a duet with just guitar and Franco's vocals, an original in R L Burnside style, that works well and which segues into "Medecine", led by Franco's harp and Marco laying down slide guitar. These two songs work very well together.
"Paddy's Boogie" kicks off with Franco on acoustic harp and Marco playing a Hooker boogie riff and half way through swapping to amplified harp with the full band picking up the boogie. Franco plays the Sonny Boy Williamson song "Nine Below Zero" just as the old rogue himself did late in his career, solo, on acoustic harp.
Family Style can belt out a rocking blues shuffle but they have the confidence to use 'light and shade', dropping back to a solo harmonica or a duo, to add drama to the show. There's some fine musicianship on this album and Franco shows a strong ability to write songs both in the blues genre and also in English! This CD will be snapped up off the bandstand by fans of this hard working band.
Mike Garner
New Zealand Blues Sociey
Dutch Review and pics of our March 14th gig in Roermond, NL CLICK HERE
German Review, pics and video of our March 14th gig in Roermond, NL CLICK HERE
