For those that don’t know, Howie Campbell is a blues musician who has been making his way through modern Americana music for many years. Not only has he honed his skills as a guitarist, songwriter, and performer, but he has become known for his unique style that blends blues, rock, and soul, influenced by greats such as B.B. King, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix.
URL: https://howiecampbell.com/
He incorporates his own personal experiences and perspectives into his music, and though he’s mostly self-taught, it’s clear that he was born with a knack for the craft of making music. Campbell says, “I’m one of those guys who can make music on just about anything I pick up. My main instruments are acoustic and electric guitar and Native American flute. But I also play bass, drums, and dabble in sax, clarinet, and keyboards. Developing songs and instrumental soundscapes is what I enjoy, especially when it involves other musicians.”
Howie Campbell’s newest album Northern Roots – Southern Soul is a masterful showcase of his love for blues, rock, and soul music. With a tracklist arranged like a concert setlist, this record of twelve tracks takes listeners on a musical journey filled with upbeat rhythms, soulful melodies, and bluesy grooves.
Starting off with “Shuffle Down, Mama,” the opening track serves as a funky and danceable introduction that immediately hooks listeners into the bluesy atmosphere of the “concert-esque” album. “Do What’s Right” takes the energy even higher, incorporating horns to add to the soulful vibe, while maintaining the bluesy roots that run throughout the record. “Back Country Fun” offers a quick change of pace, showcasing Campbell’s skills in riff-driven rock with less emphasis on electric guitar and a forward-driving tom-tom drum.
“Never Let It Fade Away” is a standout track on the album, incorporating crowd vocals, a fun saxophone solo, and doo-wop vocal harmonies in the chorus, adding even more energy and excitement to the record. “Love You All the Time” slows things down, tapping into a softer realm of Campbell’s songwriting with beautiful female vocals complementing his gruff blues vocals. The light and enjoyable production of the track serves as counter-programming to the electric blues aesthetic of the album. “Poor Wayfaring Stranger” is another unique track, incorporating his love of Native American flutes and telling a folksy story through its lyrics, demonstrating Campbell’s incredible songwriting skills.
APPLE MUSIC: https://music.apple.com/jm/album/northern-roots-southern-soul/1641381289
“One Thing (I Wanna Know)” returns to classic blues rock, with a standout guitar solo that truly shines. “She Likes Her Blues Red Hot” is a funky piece of music that hammers home the blues genre on the record, reminding listeners of the concert setlist concept that ties the entire album together. “Waikiki” is a laid-back track, again incorporating flutes as it functions almost entirely as an instrumental piece, leading into the upbeat and positive “Golden Sunlight,” reminiscent of 1970s easy-listening rock, similar to the Edgar Winter Group.
Closing out the album is a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready,” giving the record a bombastic and exciting finale that really gives the project a “live album” atmosphere and vibe. The deft quality of using it as the record’s final track proves that Howie Campbell’s Northern Roots – Southern Soul is a must-listen for fans of blues, rock, and soul music. With a tracklist that flows seamlessly like a concert setlist, this album takes listeners on a musical journey filled with plenty of styles and sounds that feel more like relics than real genres in the lens of today’s musical landscape — if that’s the case, then Campbell is playing lead archaeologist and reintroducing a younger generation to a plethora of iconic, crucial pieces of rock history through his own work.
Chadwick Easton