Andre Williams
I Wanna Go Back To Detroit City
Bloodshot Records
Despite suffering the effects of Reagan’s “Trickle Down Economics” and Clinton’s NAFTA “free trade” policies that left the once most profitable (and fourth largest) city in America in literal ruins, Detroit ain’t dead yet. And if Andre Williams has anything to say about it, it ain’t gonna expire anytime soon.
Williams, the 79 year old funk/R+B/garage rock badass gives a heartfelt shoutout to his adopted city on I Wanna Go Back To Detroit City. Backed up by players generally a third of his age including Matthew Smith (guitar and production) from Outrageous Cherry, guitarist Dan Kroha (The Gories, Demolition Doll Rods), and on a few cuts, the legendary funk master guitarist Dennis Coffey, Williams serves it straight up, giving major props to his town on the title cut and “Detroit (I’m So Glad I Stayed)” with his mixture of greasy R+B, blues (“Mississippi Sue”) and garage rave-ups that he’s been renowned for since he first hit the charts with Going Down To Tijuana in 1955. His rep was made with albums such as Greasy from 1996, Can You Deal With It? with the New Orleans Hellhounds, and 2012’s Night and Day with The Sadies. Everyone of ‘em is a stone classic, and Williams comes across larger than life on every track, part pimp, part godfather, and all class. His newest continues the streak, with gritty, funky grooves and biting guitar providing the mojo for Williams’ words.
Yeah, the glory days of Detroit might be well past, but the city has an able champion in Andre Williams, who, like the Motor City, ain’t gonna go down without a fight. Give ‘em hell, Andre!
