Boogie Beasts release fourth album 'Blues From Jupiter':
It’s early 2021 and venues and clubs are closed due to COVID restrictions from the pandemic. Belgian blues rock band Boogie Beasts is looking for alternatives to celebrate their 10 year anniversary. On March 6 they are live on Facebook from Studio Jupiter, where they recorded their second and third album but also owned by their sound engineer Koenraad Foesters. During the entire livestream, Boogie Beasts honor their roots and biggest influence: the blues.
This resulted in an intense and energetic set of 11 covers that were received with great enthusiasm. A few days after the livestream, the band was approached by Reinhard Holstein, owner of German record label Juke Joint 500, with the idea to release this live session as an album. Boogie Beasts agreed but decided to postpone the plan, as they were about to release their third album 'Love Me Some'.
Meanwhile, the band released lead single 'Grinnin' In Your Face' on 21 March 2022, announcing their fourth album 'Blues From Jupiter'. It will be released on 14 October on German label Juke Joint 500 (CD & vinyl) and on Belgian label Naked (digital), and will be preceded by another single 'Who'll Be Next', on 15 September.
Boogie Beasts about 'Blues From Jupiter':
“We're very pleased to announce the release of our fourth album, that is - in many ways - a special one. We've never released covers on single or album before, although we do play a few of them live. Always the Boogie Beasts way, of course, in our particular line up: two guitars, harmonica & drums. People often ask us why we don't have a bass player. Well, it's not new. The Black Keys and The White Stripes have done it, but also original bluesmen like Muddy Waters or Hound Dog Taylor. It makes the music sound more raw and we dig that.
Also, this album is a tribute to our roots. All four of us have different backgrounds but our common ground is our love for raw, passionate blues music. Particularly hill country blues, from artists like R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. It's their hypnotic groove we've always been trying to translate into our own music. But we also like Chicago blues artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, etc. So, when we started in 2011, we all wanted to play blues but without copying our heroes. Boogie Beasts were born during a spontaneous jam session. We just started to sing old blues songs and added modern beats and grooves to it. For the next four years, we continued to play covers, developing our own sound, until we started writing originals. Now, 11 years and three albums later, we've evolved as a band and we've created a very danceable style of our own, but you can still hear where we come from. So, this album is a selection of songs we like and that have influenced us. Some of them are new, others have been on our setlist for years.
On top of all that, 'Blues From Jupiter' is a live session. No overdubs. That way, the album is very honest and close to what we do live.
So, we think this is a real treat for our fans who've been following us from the very start, but also for new fans who want to know more about our roots. A special 'quickie' between two albums, as we're already working on number five as we speak."
The band's favourite tracks:
Jan Jaspers (guitar, vocals): 'Boogie Chillun' - John Lee Hooker
"When I was 12 years old, I received a 3 CD box called 'Blues Festival', which was a compilation of various artists. That's when I first heard 'Boogie Chillun'. The groove and the 'simplicity' of the song instantly grabbed me and has never let go of me since."
Patrick Louis (guitar, vocals): 'Pushin' My Luck' - Robert Belfour
"Take a midpoint between the insistent churning of R.L. Burnside and the otherworldly eeriness of Jr. Kimbrough and that's where you'll find Robert Belfour. I actually discovered this song through its amazing video. The deep atmosphere Belfour creates with only a few words is truly the mark of a great bluesman. His style of playing is also totally unique, groove-based yet very melodic. 'Pushin' My Luck' has been a favourite in my duo Lazy Louis for ever."
Fabian Bennardo (harmonica): 'Long Haired Doney' - R.L. Burnside
"As a teenager I was lucky to meet R.L. Burnside at a concert in my hometown. And a couple of months ago, I had the honour of sharing the stage with his "adopted son" Kenny Brown. I just love them and 'Long Haired Doney' is a song that will always resonate with me."
Gert Servaes (drums): 'You Don't Love Me' - Ellas McDaniel aka Bo Diddley
"I've always been a Bo Diddley fan and even more after our brief meeting backstage at BRBF Peer in 1997! I think we truly honour him by adding a punky, no-nonsense vibe and a pulsing rhythm to this track."
Tracklisting
SIDE A
1. Still A Fool 4:50
McKinley Morganfield
2. Someday Baby Blues 4:30
John Adam Estes
3. France Chance 3:41
Joe Callicott
4. Pushing My Luck 3:51
Robert Belfour
5. Boogie Chillun 7:37
John Lee Hooker
SIDE B
6. Who'll Be Next 2:45
Chester Arthur Burnett
7. Grinnin' In Your Face 3:14
Eddie James House Jr.
8. Long Haired Doney 3:42
Robert Lee Burnside
9. Work Me 4:38
David Kimbrough
10. You Don't Love Me 3:41
Ellas McDaniel
11. No More Lovers 2:51
Arthur William Crudup
