Album review: ALLY VENABLE – Heart Of Fire

ALLY VENABLE - Heart Of Fire

Ruf Records [Release date 26.02.21 ]

I chatted to Ally when she toured with Blues Caravan in the autumn of 2019 when it was evident she was a sassy, talented performer from Texas. And very young! This gig was a showcase for three artists from the Ruf stable and Ally – whilst providing backing band support throughout – promoted her then current album ‘Texas Honey’.

Reviewing that album for GRTR! Pete Feenstra noted that she wasn’t quite the finished article: “an artist teetering on the brink of something new and exciting, but not quite there yet.”

A blues performer heavily influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan breaking out into a more mainstream blues rock. So in that respect the album was a mix of the old faithful and the newer less tried.

I remember asking Ally which way she would go with her next album, would the rock quotient be increased? Well, it seems that she’s plumped for more of the same. Maybe at this early stage of her career she is still very much guided by record label and producer (this time Jim Gaines) and her own leaning towards her blues “roots”.

Alongside tougher rock orientated tracks ‘Heart Of Fire’, ‘Hard Change’ and ‘Sad Situation’ there is the rootsy ‘Played The Game’, the bluesy ‘Hateful Blues’ and soulful cover of Bill Withers’ ‘Use Me’. Plus of course the almost inevitable ‘Tribute to SRV’.

But although passionate Ally’s vocals still don’t match the intensity or gravity of the blues rock music she purveys. They remind me of that UK blues rock journeywoman Chantel McGregor but Chantel cleverly diversified to more pop rock orientated tunes which better suited her vocal range and delivery. And arguably that approach maximises your potential audience.

This time round Ally has heavyweight assistance from Devon Allman (‘Road To Nowhere’) and Kenny Wayne Shepherd (‘Bring On The Pain’) who both add heft to the proceedings and it perhaps isn’t surprising they are the album’s strongest tracks.

I think it may take a few more albums to achieve the perfectly formed package. In the meantime, Ally will surely encourage younger interest in the blues which is a really positive thing. Although it has to be said she will still attract the older crowd (a.k.a. men of a certain age) because she is both foxy and photogenic. ***1/2

Review by David Randall

Gig review (September 2019)

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09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
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