Blues, as rendered by Midwestern white people, tends to be a rote exercise of following down the same footpaths of chord structures hollowed out by generations of performers. And lyrically, present-day blues tends to be leaden with its lack of authenticity, which has been replaced with a fake cheer. It’s impossible for today’s performers to have the authentic experiences which gave birth to the blues: They weren’t raised in sharecroppers’ cabins, for instance; nor are they likely to be living on the South Side of Chicago as in Muddy Waters’ hey-day, snapping pistols in a rival’s face or knife-fighting over a woman. The cultural soil that made the blues great has all been plowed down to sterile ground and eroded away down the long Mississippi.

So the challenge for a band like Cherri and the Violators is to reinvent the blues and bring something fresh to the table. Happily, even triumphantly, the band has done just that on an album that manages to be both experimental in its reach while saying something new. The Benzie/Manistee County-based band labels their music “contemporary blues,” and you have to hand it to them: they have succeeded in slapping the paddles on the old zombie blues and reviving it as their own personal creation with songwriting that is exceptionally strong.

Vocalist Cheryl Bendig is nothing less than superb; her voice has an addictive flower child quality that recalls the great pop singers of the ‘60s: Linda Rondstat, Judy Collins, Petula Clark. She has a knack for vocal phrasing that takes a song on a gliding, twisting thrust to a wafting, higher level, transforming the music in a way that is inspiring -- even magical. This is especially true on “Time (Wait For Me),” which again, has the feel of something by the ‘60s Mamas & Papas or Spanky and Our Gang that transcends the blues in a way that might make the music popularly viable again. “Mirror Mirror” is another song where Bendig weaves some of that black magic woman spell. Then there’s the surprisingly fresh “Bartender,” which takes an old blues clichè and gives it a gentle kick to new heights. Not every song is a success: “Musta Been Fun” is your standard yadda-yadda blues guitar riff dressed with some Jonny Lang attitude.

But no one can deny that Cherri and the Violators aren’t violating the envelope here, creating their own vision of the blues that is pleasantly pop-oriented and unexpectedly romantic. Bandmates Tony Burke on lead/rhythm guitars, Paul Bendig on vocals/bass, and Pat Eickenroth on drums/percussion serve up a powerful backdrop for Bendig’s vocals, never overplaying their hand. With “Empty Pockets,” they’ve managed to take the blues to higher ground. If nothing else, this CD will certainly make you want to catch the band live.

The band is, as they'd say in Chicago, a real power band. The rhythm section was really tight. I was quite impressed with many of the songs and thought that a couple had cross over potential -- if you know anyone in those camps (Can't Have Two for contemporary/pop and Weekend Song for country). BTW, I loved the line something like" I have you by the heart and she has you by the balls." Delightful lyrics. And musically, the chords go to unexpected places (as in Easy Loving) and I really like that. So BIG congrats on a well done debut.

On the negative side -- and this is not really negative, just my personal preference -- I'd like to hear one or two solos without so much "fuzz" on the guitar. The guitarist is excellent and I'm sure this sound is his taste. Just suggesting some variation. Vocally, I'd try some of the songs down a key and make it more "whispery" in places. Again, just my taste.

I am truly honored that you're doing my song considering the wealth of good original tunes.

Best to you and the Violators. Keep on doing what you're doing. Wish I could catch you in a bar and shake my bootie a time or too.

This hard rocking release by northern Michigan based Cherri and the Violators recalls the glory days of blues rock as practiced by the likes of Foghat or more recently Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers. Like those bands the Violators rock hard but have a bluesy edge that keeps blues fans interested. Leading the sonic assault is guitarist Tony Burke who clearly spent as many hours soaking up classic 70's rock riffs as he spent with the bedrock blues of Albert Collins, Albert King and Buddy Guy. Equally adept at scorching leads as he is with rocking fills, Burke will have jaws dropping every time this disc finds its way into the cd changer. While Burke's guitar is certainly a focal point you can't overlook the vocals of Cherri Bendig who recalls everyone from Lou Ann Barton to Janis Joplin with the ferocious power of her voice. While she isn't always pitch perfect she is always just right for the rocking material. Bendig is also a fearless songwriter with topics covering everything from the monthly bouts that send men into hiding, PMS Blues, to her grudging admiration of a woman who manages to be the center of attention despite being "a cold hearted ball breaking bitch", Ice Queen, to her stern warning to a potentially wandering mate, Can't Have Two, to her homage to the hard partying weekend warriors, The Weekend Song. Those that like their blues served on the rocks will find much to like here.