Since 1989, Joe Bell and his Stinging Blades have been pleasing and scaring the bejesus out of the great local unwashed masses with a blend of hellhound blues, old school R&B, and deep dish soul. Bell is a whirling, twisted shaman who can yodel like Tarzan, howl like the Wolf, and croon like Eddie Arnold with the soul of Tyronne Davis … In person Bell and his Blades mesmerize the faithful with an array of makeovers, including channeling Tarzan summoning Cheetah in the midst of Van Morrison’s “Cleaning Windows”, rolling around on Wolf’s bloody “Killing Floor” run through an Electric Flag filter … and swamping up Dan Penn penned Muscle Shoals window-rattling, door-slammer classic “You Left the Water Running” … But when it comes time to record, Bell and the boys lay down originals that stand up to their iconic cover choices.
Joe Bell and the Stinging Blades:
Funky, Soulful Roots/Rock for Thinkin’, Shakin’, and Carryin’ On
Joe Bell (vocals, harmonica), George Hindenach (drums), Dick MacPhail (guitar), Bill Bryan (guitar), Rob McIntire (bass), and Lindsay Rosebrock (keyboards)