BOB CORRIVEAU AND HOT UNDER THE HOOD
bloodshot eyes remain blue
By Lindsay Wilson
Bob Corriveau, affectionately known as “Sideshow Bob” by the Calgary blues community, has finally done it. With his new project, Bob Corriveau and Hot Under the Hood, Corriveau has unleashed his debut CD, Future in the Blues.
Like several other Calgary musicians, Corriveau was a student of the blues under the late Calgary harmonica player and bluesman, Back Alley John.
Back Alley John, who spent a lifetime sharing the stage with blues legends throughout North America, as well as mentoring the award-winning Sue Foley, relocated to Calgary in the late '80s. While he continued to perform full-time, Back Alley also mentored a number of Calgary musicians – teaching them about the history of blues and the purity of the genre.
Corriveau was one of these Calgary musicians and maintains that Back Alley, although passing away in 2006, remains his greatest inspiration for Future in the Blues.
“The album is dedicated to the memory of Back Alley John and I wanted musicians who had worked with John on other projects. Kevin Belzner on drums and Suitcase James on bass, in particular, had recorded a few CDs with John,” explains Corriveau, whose only cover track on the album is Back Alley John’s song, "Future in the Blues."
Recorded at what is becoming known as one of Calgary’s premier recording studios, Alchemy Studios, Corriveau went to great pains to ensure this album had that authentic, raw blues feel.
Along with Belzner (drums) and Suitcase James (bass), Corriveau also worked with local blues icon Bill Dowey (slide guitar, keyboards), Randy Ousten (guitar), Jeff Muller (guitar, producer) and Dylan MacDonald (harmonica, co-producer).
“I was happy to be part of Bob’s CD. We’re old friends and it was great to work with such a great group of musicians,” says Dowey of his contributions to the recording project.
With all of the tools in place and a bevy of songs in fine shape for recording, Corriveau attributes the final push to put this project to work to his harp-heavy friend, Dylan MacDonald.
“Dylan gave me the encouragement and support to finally record. I am so happy he did, because if I had not I would have regretted it for the rest of my life,” says Corriveau.
Future in the Blues contains ten tracks that are deeply rooted in the blues tradition. Corriveau kept the overall theme of the CD bluesy, but included two rock tracks on the roster.
“I label myself as a roots and blues singer-songwriter and the CD, I hope, conveys this. My eyes are blue when they aren’t bloodshot - which is most of the time…” laughs Corriveau.
Please visit our main site at AlchemyStudio.ca - thank you
