Most of the songs on this disc are downright primeval with the dominant instrument alternating between the harmonica of packrat Thompson to the lead guitar of Robert "Lightning Boy" Thomas. The rhythm section pulsates relentlessly throughout. They may be Floridians but I can’t imagine this music being played in an air conditioned nightclub. It would ruin the effect of this humid, sticky music.
As you would expect, all of the songs are originals. The opening song is called "Them Jelly Blues", and if there are influences to be found in the music of Smokehouse, they come from people like Lazy Lester, Lightning Slim, and Howlin’ Wolf. On a tune called "Swamp Jukin’" the band totally cuts loose with a sound that’s a cross between Chuck Berry and John Lee Hooker.
It’s moonshine music if there ever was.
With the anthem-like "Go Down Moses" the band slowly builds the intensity to a simmering boil. With "Hoy Hoy Hoy" you can practically hear the mosquitoes buzzing around. And finally there’s "95 South (The High Sheriff From Hell)." This song is a great story about Packrat being pulled over by sheriff Big Jack Buford and his dog Hitler. I personally drive on 95 south every afternoon between Groton and East Lyme and I’ve never had this kind on encounter before. Maybe if I roll down the windows and crank up Smokehouse as loud as I can I’ll inevitably get pulled over by a humorless state trooper!
The liner notes refer to the Smokehouse sound as the "Excello" sound that originated in southern Louisiana. But the Louisiana blues scene of today is a mix of Creole, Zydeco, and the jazzy New Orleans sound. Smokehouse is swamp blues pure and simple. It is a sound unique to the state of Florida and Smokehouse absolutely nails it. So if down and dirty blues is what you like, they don’t get any more down or dirtier than this.
-Bill Harriman****1/2