Det er 25 år siden den svenske vokalist og mundharpespiller Tommy Moberg begyndte at spille under navnet Trickbag. Band navnet opstod af  New Orleans rhythm & blues-pioner Earl King og hans sang med samme navn. Der er sket en del udskiftninger af bandmedlemmer, og som Tommy Moberg siger: listen er for lang til at nævne, men da ​​kontrabassist Lars Näsman blev hyret viste sig at være en milepæl i bandets historie. Det skete i slutningen af ​​90’erne og han var med på bandets andet album, “Afternoon Mint”, derved blev Näsman sammen med Moberg drivkraften og den kreative rygrad i Trickbag.

Nu tyve år efter andet album, har trickbag udgivet deres 8. album. Her blander de blues, rhythm & blues og første generations rock & roll i en skøn cocktail, der serveres på en underholdende til tider uimodståelig sjov måde. Alvoren bag bandet ses tydeligt i deres detaljerede måde at skrive tekst og musik.

Disse tolv sange er simpelthen fremragende. Fra sange, der fremkalder en R&B sensibilitet ved Gulf Coast som “Come Get It” og I”da-Lee” til 60’ers garagerockers som Rimshot og Kakaddoo og næsten alt imellem, 25 år som har har det hele.

Trickbag er selvfølgelig Moberg og Näsman. De øvrige bandmedlemmer er Fredrick von Werder på klaver og orgel og Johnan Swensson på trommer. Derudover er den engelske mundharpespiller en ekstraordinær stjerne i sig selv, Steve “West” Weston, i flere år nu været et permanent medlem af bandet. Hans soloalbum West Street var årets BLUES JUNCTION Productions Blues-album i 2018. Dette album omfattede den finske guitarist Tomi Leino. Ligesom Weston har denne Helsinki-baserede musiker også været medlem af Trickbag i mange år. Han har også en meget aktiv solokarriere med sin meget dygtige Tomi Leino Trio. Hans guitarspil kan høres på adskillige optagelser fra musikere over hele verden. Hans autoritative angreb på hans instrument er en stor del af det, der giver Trickbag deres karakteristiske lyd og gør albummet 25 Years of Houserockin ‘Rhythm’ N ‘Blues! så gennemført og behageligt at lytte til .

25 years have passed since vocalist Tommy Moberg began playing under the name trickbag. The band name came by way of New Orleans rhythm & blues pioneer Earl King and his song of the same name. Many personnel changes have taken place and as Tommy Moberg states in this album’s liner notes, “…the list is too long to mention but the recruiting of double bass player Lars Näsman turned out to be a milestone in the band’s history.” Joining trickbag in the late 90’s and playing on the band’s second album, Afternoon Mint, Näsman, along with Moberg became the driving force and creative backbone of trickbag.

Now twenty years down the road from that seminal second album, trickbag has just released their 8^th album. Here they seamlessly mix blues, rhythm & blues and first-generation rock & roll into a cocktail that is irresistibly fun.  One of the entertaining parts of this band is that it is a true ensemble in every sense of that word. The detailed songwriting credits reveal a true collaborative effort.

Of course, any album is only as good as the material and these twelve songs are simply outstanding.  From songs that evoke a Gulf Coast R&B sensibility like Come Get It and Ida-Lee to 60’s style garage rockers such as Rimshot and Kakaddoo and nearly everything in between, 25 Years… has it all. A personal favorite is Highways 1. It is an homage to my home state where trickbag has been warmly embraced on their visits here.

Trickbag is of course Moberg and Näsman. They are joined by fellow Swedes Fredrick von Werder on piano and organ and Johnan Swensson on drums. Additionally, harp man extraordinaire, and a star in his own right, Steve “West” Weston, has for several years now been a permanent member of the ensemble. His solo album West Street was the BLUES JUNCTION Productions Blues Album of the Year in 2018. That album included Finnish guitarist Tomi Leino. Like Weston, this Helsinki based musician also has been a member of trickbag for many years. He also has a very active solo career with his very accomplished Tomi Leino Trio. His guitar playing can be heard on numerous recordings from musicians all over the world. His authoritative attack on his instrument is a big part of what gives trickbag their distinctive bravado and makes 25 Years of Houserockin’ Rhythm’ N’ Blues! so thoroughly enjoyable.