Don't Call No Ambulance

Selwyn and his band did a righteous show at the Bisbee AZ Blues Fest. He worked the crowd like a 40 year vet. The music was tight and on the button. He and the band were all very kind and generous doing photos and autographs afterwards. They worked hard and the hard work payed off. I would love to see them again.

Legit album

Amazing talent!

Not as well known as many other blues artists, Selwyn Birchwood’s blues is certainly deserving of greater attention. His most recent release on the Alligator label ‘Don’t Call No Ambulance’ serves as a fine introduction to his music with a mix of blues vocal and guitar stylings. Selwyn’s guitar mixes red hot guitar licks and a driving style filled with original licks and slide work and an evangelist’s fiery vocal attack reminding me of many of Son Seals and newcomer Gary Clark Jr.’s, strident singing. This is most evident in the album’s title track ‘Don’t Call No Ambulance’. At the same time, Selwyn Birchwood is very capable of switching things up as evidenced by the tune, ‘Walking in the Lion’s Den’, which, if I didn’t know it, I would have guessed was Tom Waits’ singing. Selwyn Birchwood appears capable of mixing old school blues from both the Delta and the Chicago blues scene with his own interpretations of both blues stylings. ‘Falling from the Sky’ brings in the horns backing his rhythm guitar and solo work with vocals that are sung with a real passion and earnestness devoid of any false emotions. A standout tune, ‘Overworked and Underpaid’, a fine blues number and one of the my favorites on this CD, speaks out for anyone who has worked their hearts out only to be disappointed to find that their efforts are rewarded with a pink slip. ‘She Loves Me Not’ exhibits Selwyn’s soaring vocal range and the heartbreak which is at the very heart of almost all blues. It is quite remarkable that Selwyn Birchwood has such a range of vocal styles. Often a singer/guitarist can be recognized because of their singular style of playing and singing, yet Selwyn has a diversity of styles that make this album a real pleasure to kick back and enjoy. What we have in this very enjoyable and well produced album is a mash up of blues guitar and vocals whose mix of stylings will not bore you. It is one of those albums that deserves to be listened to in toto from cut 1 to cut 12. Hope this review has been of some help to you. Thanks for reading.

Got this on CD yesterday when it was released and it doesn’t disappoint. Fantastic followup to his first album. I may be a little biased since I’ve heard him live in my area several times!