review

(Review by Anne Lawrence, June 2002 issue of Cosmic Debris Musicians Magazine)

When the Randy Duncan Band played at Sound Advice Music Shop in April, I was blown away!  These guys are fabulous!

Randy writes all the music, and most of the lyrics (Del Phillips has collaborated on four or five songs).  Randy, who plays acoustic guitar (left-handed), was joined on stage by fellow band members Tom Kirwin on drums, Richard Sauvé on acoustic bass, and Scotty Donaldson on lead guitar.

It's almost impossible to categorize their music.  I hear jazz / blues / folk / funk and races of Michael Franks, Loggins & Messina, Seals & Crofts.  The even had one song, "Wood & Water", playlisted on a country / roots radio station, so as Del says "go figure".  The band members themselves describe their music as West Coast Guitar-based Folk / Jazz /Pop...which pretty much says it all.

That the music is guitar-based is evident from the very first bar - there is a pulsing guitar underlay to every song.  At the end of the show, Scotty confessed to me that he is primarily a bluesman - you would never know it.  He plays every song, no matter what the genre, with equal skill and feeling.  To me this was really apparent in the song "Doni".

Richard Sauvé, on acoustic bass, is equally talented - he makes the bass sing - gives it a lyrical quality - no easy accomplishment.  He also staggered along with an injured finger the night of our concert.  Talk about dedication!

And the drummer, Tom was great.  He broke into a drum solo during "Bear Stories" that would make Gene Krupa proud.

And then there's Randy.  Randy not only writes all the music and plays the acoustic guitar - he is also the lead vocalist.  His gentle voice is in sharp contrast to the strength of the instrumentals that back it up - that's one of the elements that makes this band so unique.  Randy is a gifted songwriter, and a great musician.

Del told me that the band had been practicing like mad before this concert.  It showed.  The music was tight, seamless.  They all knew exactly where they were going every minute of the night - they rocked!

The band is looking for more gigs - I hope they succeed!  I can hardly wait to hear them again!

- Anne Lawrence, April 2002