P.L. Williamson – Whirlwind EP Review

When it comes to the blues, authenticity is key. And so, as one looks at P.L Williamson, member of Mammal and Pete Murray’s band The Stonemasons; the idea of a foot-stompin’ one man blues machine seems far-fetched. However, Williamson doesn’t just part-time in a couple of Australia’s biggest acts. A genuine wheat farmer from the genuine outback; Williamson’s toe-tappin’ hillbilly blues comes across as the kind of music the man would play to himself late at night, rather than a contrived departure from his other projects.

Closest comparisons would be to garage rockers The Fumes, or the recently signed Seasick Steve. P.L Williamson discuss’ pretty down-to-earth goings on, “gotta stop gambling/ gotta stop gambling” he muses on ‘One Armed Bandit’; he rues for yesteryear on ‘Old Friend’, “my fingers don’t play like they used to/ my hair don’t grow like it used to.”

Nobody could ever accuse a bluesman of reinventing the wheel, but there’s arguably no better portrayer of real, raw emotion than a real, raw bluesman. And it’s with this in mind that P.L Williamson’s debut EP Whirlwind sits as an enjoyable listen. You’re not hearing anything new, but these are straightforward and heartfelt stories about a simple life out in the bush. One could imagine Williamson as a much loved character in Red Dog, for instance. He even has his own blue-heeler on the EP cover. Outback blues, what’s not to like?

Tagged blues, Bush, Mammal, One Man, Outback, P.L Williamson, pete murray, Red Dog.