Danny Boy Phelan: “Live at the Leopard Frog Barn”

It’s always engaging when young musicians pay homage to their predecessors. It shows appreciation for the musical “giants” of the past, on whose mighty shoulders we often stand.

I recently had the pleasure of witnessing the musical time machine that is Danny Boy Phelan at Donnelly’s Pub in Thorold, Ontario.

This impressive multi-instrumentalist banged out a set that harked back to the old Mississippi Delta blues and Country blues idioms.

Following a conversation which led to a social media hook up, he sent me his latest recording…a live set entitled “ Live at the Leopard Frog Barn.” (available here)

Things start off with a brazen harmonica intro, leading into the yearning, bluesy scowl of “Danny Boy Blues”. The harmonica stays predominant throughout,..weaving in and around Phelan’s vocal line, creating a “Q&A” of sorts. There’s also some good old fashion foot stomping dictating the quarter note pulse. It’s an effective opener.

The monotone drawl utilized in ”When My Baby Left Me” lends itself well to this wistful tale of love lost.

The mood is further enhanced by Phelan’s tasteful acoustic guitar work throughout, particularly his masterful slide work. (The man has chops)

The banjo takes center stage for “Darling Cory”, an American folk classic that gets full traditional treatment here.

Images of the distant rural south come to mind as Phelan pours out his melancholic vocal pinings…and as the pulsating stomping quickens as the tune progresses, it’s all one can do to refrain from clapping along feverishly as it draws to it’s mournful conclusion.

The banjo remains on Phelans knee for the final track “Come Along Home”. The shortest song of the set, it’s a direct, albeit brief, salute to this raw, emotive genre known as the blues.

Another major plus throughout this recording is, of course, the sound quality. Every note, stomp, and vocal is presented up front strong and clear, a quality that for the most part is keenly absent from those early recordings from the 20s and 30s.

Kudos to Danny Boy Phelan for his unwavering dedication to genuity for this live offering. For fans of the genre, or for those curious enough to be exposed to these deep musical roots , “Live at the Leopard Frog Barn” pays off in spades.

Highly Recommended!!!

Steve Obrien

*Special thanks to Danny Boy Phelan for his correspondence and info sharing.