Blue Ink Newsletter
October 2007
D.A. & The Hitmen
Lucky Dog
D.A. & The Hitmen’s new rock/blues album sports high energy that
grabs your attention by delivering soulful vocals, powerful
harmonica, and screaming guitar with a nice mix of sax. The band,
together since 2001, has chemistry that is undeniable and apparent
in their solid performance on Lucky Dog. All songs are written by
band members, Lance Dieckmann and Paul Alvarado, which demonstrate
their songwriting versatility.
Lucky Dog brings a nice mix of slow medium, and fast tempos
that. pack a punch and make you want to hear more. Their creativity
and talent reflect a refreshing approach that any rockin' blues
lover will: appreciate.
Go out and catch them live and pick your own copy of Lucky Dog.
These guys mean business.
~ Steve Burns
~
October 2007
While all artists strive to make some sort of impact, the
path chosen to get there can differ greatly. Most performers choose
to go the solo route, but a rare few hit their stride when they team
up with a musical collaborator. Local heroes to which this theory
applies includes the teams of Jeff Berkley and Caiman Hart, as well
as Steve Poltz and Dr. Robert Driscoll of The Rugburns. Lesser known
but equally worthy of that distinguished company is blues rock band,
D.A. & The Hitmen.
The quartet, who perform at The Tiki House on Friday, Oct.12, comprises
of frontmen Lance Dieckmann (harmonica / vocals) and Paul Alvarado
(guitar) with Bob Prater (bass) and Greg Henning (drums). The band
emerged in 2001 from the ashes of a short-lived previous group, The
Blues Invaders, focusing on songs penned by the songwriting team of
Dieckmann and Alvarado
The various members of D.A. & The Hitmen have played in numerous bands
over the years, but have generally stayed close to their roots. For
both Deickmann and Alvarado, blues has been a lifelong passion.
"I was bit by the blues bug around 10th grade," recalled Alvarado,
who has been playing since the age of 9. "I first heard Johnny
Winter on an album that my sister's boyfriend brought over to our
house. At that time in San Diego you couldn't hear stuff like that
on AM radio. He made his live debut at the age of 16, playing the
songs of Wilson Pickett and other R&B standards. For Alvarado, the
decision to stick to blues came easy. "I won't say that other
styles haven't influenced me, that's for sure," he said. "However, I
try to stick to my guns to be a master at one thing, rather than be
(less) at a lot of other styles." Dieckmann on the other hand,
spent years on the local rock club circuit before making blues his
mainstay.
"I started singing almost 30' years ago in various bands in San'
Diego," he remembered. "I played some harmonica back then too, but
it was only about eight or nine years ago that I got more into the
bluesy side of rock."
Since then, influenced by the likes of Paul Butterfield, Deickmann has
become a mainstay at the annual Harpfest harmonica' festival.
The band has released two albums to date, 2002's "Looking Past the
Blues" and the brand new "Lucky Dog." The division of the writing
chores was natural. "Singing is not really my passion,"
explained Alvarado of his sticking to the music. Meanwhile,
Dieckmann contributes melody lines and lyrics. According to Alvarado
there is one particularly notable challenge to penning songs in the
genre. "Because blues music has such a long history, the
challenge of writing a blues song is trying not to sound like carbon
copies of other tunes. "The songwriting team-up has yielded
dividends since its inception. Though their stay in The Blues
Invaders was brief, their lone album, "The Invasion Begins," was
nominated for Best Blues Album at the 2001 San Diego Music Awards.
The feat was matched by their debut album in 2003.
It is readily apparent from the get-go that anyone listening to this CD will have a really good time The funky opener "It's a Beautiful Day" is a blast of James Brown-style R&B that sets the tone for the rest of the album. Full of confident bravura and attitude, it lays down an irresistible groove complemented by horns and harmonica. And it never lets up from here. The title track that follows is a boisterous exercise in rhythm punctuated by Lance Dieckmann's aggressive vocals and Paul Alvarado's soulful guitars. All throughout, Dieckmann throws down some mean harmonica lines that go down well with Alvarado's articulate and muscular axemanship.
On a technical level, I'd have to say that these guys are top-notch musicians. The entire band displays a tight looseness that can only have been achieved through relentless gigging. The rhythm section is right on the money, creating a seamless backdrop that makes the soloists sound even better. Everything is tastefully arranged and performed, from the guitar and harmonica solos to the horn blasts. Yet while Lucky Dog is a professionally produced recording, there is a rawness to the music that lends it weight and credibility. There's a live feel to this effort that's hard to capture in the studio. These guys really nailed it
The album never gets stale; the energy level is
consistently up and the songs are refreshingly varied. These guys
really know their way around the blues and it shows. They'll take a
turn doing rockabilly on a tune like 'Bring it On; then switch
gears to walking blues on "Mrs. Sunshine." "Empty Lives" is a
classic example of slow blues in a minor key. For me, the most
memorable songs are the falling-down funny "Hohner for You Baby"
with its bawdy double entendres, and the swaggering "Single Life," a
tune that lets you know "that's just the way it is" in downtown San
Diego's bachelor scene. They have really gone to great lengths to
write interesting lyrics. There are no throw-away cliches.
On occasion, flashes of Stevie Ray Vaughan,
Leslie West, or Government Mule might surface in their sound, and
that's definitely a good thing. With the blues, one's influences are
expected to show, and they have obviously been listening to some
real masters of the form. This is as fine an example of electric
blues-rock as you could ever hope to find. It's got energy, variety,
tons of attitude, and it's even a little scary at times. When D.A.
and the Hit Men roll into town to party, either join them or get out
of their way.
D.A. & The Hitmen
Lucky Dog
Blues Magazine, February 2008
Double Barrel Records
Paul Alvarado's blazing guitar combines with
Lance Dieckmann's soulful harp and vocals to make a strong
impression when this band climbs on stage. The Hitmen bassist Bob
Prater and alternating drummers Jaime Luna and Gregg Henning provide
the kind, of driving motion that makes this band so successful.
They're contemporary in every aspect of the game, and the 12 songs
on this latest album are all originals. Yet, they follow tradition
through their adventurous blues. The scene turns gritty and full of
life as each selection tells a story rooted in the blues life.
"Lucky Dog" deals with love fulfilled, "Voodoo
Queen” takes-the band for an exotic ride through New Orleans, "Stop
the Rain" returns to a theme of hope and faith, "Mrs. Sunshine"
gives 'thanks for some of the brighter things, and "Empty Lives"
send out a warning. About how it can all turn in on you if you’re
not careful. There's plenty to think about here. Dieckmann and
Alvarado live it through all their songs. Based in San Diego, D.A. &
the Hitmen was formed in, 2002 but D.A. (Dieckmann and Alvarado)
have been together much longer than that. Their continued
collaboration provides warmth any consolation for the soul. They
care, and their music proves it.
~ Jim Santella
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