Review: Big Wolf Band ‘Rebel’s Journey’
By Martine Ehrenclou
With one of the coolest album covers of the decade, a beautiful 1967 black Mustang, complete with bullet holes in the back, serves as the intro to Rebel’s Journey by the highly acclaimed UK blues-rock group, Big Wolf Band.
Big Wolf Band just won UK Blues Band of the Year 2024 by the UK Blues Awards. And it’s well deserved. This is a rock outfit with heart and soul led by frontman Jonathan Earp. All songs were written by Earp with the exception of a couple of co-writes with Justin Johnson. He sinks his teeth into his personal journey, songs about his savage health challenges and what he’s gone through to pull himself out of a dark hole. It’s that determination to push through and overcome that’s a mainstay of Big Wolf Band’s new record Rebel’s Journey, an apt title for a badass frontman and rocking outfit.
Out April 19, Rebel’s Journey is an inspiration, a testament to resilience and the healing power of music.
Big Wolf Band teases their sound from blues, southern rock and rock & roll, a cross pollination of rock. And it works. They have built a reputation as being one of the best live bands on the circuit, delivering dynamic shows with an expansive range of self-penned songs.
“Rebel’s Journey highlights my own personal battle with my mental and physical health,” says vocalist and guitarist Jonathan Earp. “I have a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (HEDS) which affects everything. I had surgery in mid-2019 during our Be Free tour to repair damage to my right shoulder, dislocations, and nerve pain. Unfortunately, the operation caused more pain and numbness and for nearly 2 years I struggled to play; some days to even hold a plectrum.”
Kicking off a most enjoyable record, is “Empire And A Prayer,” the best kind of driving song. There’s nothing like driving at high speed down the highway to clear one’s head and unleash the confines of what you’ve left behind. With a Rolling Stones vibe in the intro, Big Wolf Band captures the perfect rock & roll vibe.
Big Wolf Band includes Jonathan Earp (lead guitar, vocals), Mick Jeynes (bass), Tim Jones (drums), Justin Johnson (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Robin Fox (piano, Hammond organ), and Zoe Green (backing vocals).
“Valley Of The Fallen Kings” is a true standout, a Southern rocker with groove. A well written tune with catchy hooks, it borrows a southern flavor with guitars and harmonies that remind us why we press repeat on this highly listenable record.
Tasteful guitar riffs (Earp) abound on Rebel’s Journey, along with his rich and soulful voice that’s reminiscent of Noah Hunt from the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band. And that’s never a bad thing.
“Six Strings Loaded” is a throwback rocker about making a deal with the devil. It also highlights how playing guitar is soul-saving given the hell Earp has gone through. The lyrics are poignant especially in light of his suffering with health issues. Music does indeed have the power to heal. Earp’s guitar riffs are soulful with space between the notes (yes!) and they are as moving as his vocals and the lyrics. The band is tight, locked down in the groove. A stellar outfit if there ever was one.
There are several songs here that reflect Earp’s fierce determination to not let illness win and you can feel that in the music. Songs like “Living On Borrowed Time,” a rocker with stellar guitar, reveal his journey through challenges, rather than around them. The guitar solo is fierce, but not overplayed.
Earp says, “Songs like ‘Standing in the Rain’, ‘Black Dog Blues’ and ‘Living on Borrowed Time’ are about the battles I had during those dark days. My condition will always be a challenge but one I live with and continue to prove doubters wrong.”
And it’s that confidence, a sense of toughness mixed with vulnerability that invites listeners in and holds us there. Rebel’s Journey will do that for you too, along with outstanding blues rockers like “Got Me Reeling” and “Darker Side of You” a moody number about a heartbreak over lost love.
An uplifting and insightful record, Rebel’s Journey by Big Wolf Band is a gem.
Pre-order Rebel’s Journey Here
“Living On Borrowed Time”
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