Pulp

Blair Crimmins Redefining "Hot" in Hotlanta

2010-12-15T17:11:38Z

Performer Magazine Natalie Gergely

2010-12-15T17:11:29Z

The Musical Styling of Blair Crimmins & The Hookers is an unusual product in today's music scene. It's one of the few albums that doesn't quite fit into any particular genre. The very first note immediately sends the listener back to a 1920s Vaudeville theatre, where Blair Crimmins intoxicates an audience with his smooth voice and The Hookers support him with flawlessly appropriate musical accompaniment.

The lyrics are narrative and witty, intelligent and entertaining, and Crimmins' energy is so engaging that it's easy to overlook the outlier quality of this album. You'll find yourself wanting more tawdry jazz just like it. Crimmins' accompanies himself on a wide range of instruments: piano, guitar, tenor banjo, ukulele, accordion, organ, vibraphone, trash, and percussion. The Hookers are a band of ten musicians who supply Crimmins with upright bass, tuba, soprano saxophone, clarinet, and lap steel - an unlikely combination of instruments, but a harmoniously solid one nonetheless.

Together this coterie transports their listeners back into a world in which men still wear bowties and golf caps while performing, flapper girls sparkle while dancing to counter the sinister tones of the music, and the audience is always willing to get up and dance. (Performer Magazine)

Rock Fist Review -Benjamin King

2009-07-06T00:38:55Z

I am dumbfounded after hearing Blair Crimmins’ EP, given to me by the editor of RFR. You have to understand that I was handed a small stack of disks to peruse. I went home and flipped through the stack and was drawn to an E.P entitled “Meet the Hookers” by Blair Crimmins and the Hookers. It sounded incredible, and I couldn’t wait to listen to the entire disk. The next day I was eating breakfast with a good friend of mine and he says, “You got to hear this guy Blair Crimmins”. I think you all may see the pattern going on here. It turns out a friend of his, and an acquaintance of mine, recorded the EP. I run home and sure enough the disk says it’s mixed and recorded by Chris Unck; who’s music I also like. I can’t believe what I have heard several times now. This man has taken me back to the first conceptions of rocking and rolling. A time when jazz crazy people of the 30’s swung into a big band room. I’m talking about early stuff like Count Basie, Etta James, and early Ray Charles; into later music such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, or Elton John.

When listening to the first song, “March of the Hookers” I was blown away by the piano and the swing beat drums. I just love an off-timey beat, with big symbol crashes, and a hard bass drum kick. I just pictured a big band room with mobsters sitting around enjoying Duke Ellington. I almost thought I was in a movie. The EP keeps pace with the song. The vocals are incredible! That also equals a good record; I mean this kid has pipes. I almost think he could sing in a serious theatre production if he wanted to. I love his little ukulele and slide guitar love song, “Without You”. I am reminded of a nice beach front hideaway, and fifties surf. Without giving the entire record away, it later takes us to a song that sounds like he uses wash boards and a string bass to make. You ask, how good can that sound on record? All I can say is total brilliance and creativity. It’s like an old New Orleans marching band coming down the street, with the jazz horns and eurhythmic hand clapping. He finishes the EP on the song I think is his best vocal performance. He hits tones I didn’t he think he had. I stand corrected! This guy has something to say and he does it with some soul. It sounds like it’s poured out all over “Long Walk Home”.

All I can say is go see this show. I can’t wait for my first Blair Crimmins show. I want to figure out who plays with him. I want to know everything about this band. How do they pull this off live? The record sounds so good I visualize the music and different scenes sung out in perfect tone. I’m sure it all fits together live. I hope I’m right on with the feeling and attitude I get from this E.P., because I’d like to ask these questions in an interview. - Benjamin King

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Independent Weekly, NC 5/20/09

2009-06-02T02:56:29Z

"With a smile and a glint in his eye, Blair Crimmins entices listeners into his world. Songs jump with a 1920's gaudiness, reminiscent of tawdry, dangerous jazz. A multi-instrumentalist, he delivers off-kilter piano lines and rapid guitar strum, but tenor banjo, ukulele and accordion aren't out of the question. While devious lyrics can mirror the sinister Charlestons they accompany, Crimmins also has a grab bag of unjaded torch songs at his disposal, spotlighting the loneliness of a life spent in the shadows." - Independent Weekly, NC 5/20/09