The Lucky Spot
Stacie Collins
Rev Records

With the endearing sassiness of a Gretchen Wilson or Moanin' Michelle Malone and the rarity of being a competent cowgirl honky-tonk harmonica player, Stacie Collins definitely stands out in a crowd. The Nashville native – by way of Bakersfield, CA and a number of other locales including good ol’ Cleveland – released a self-titled debut disc a few years ago that managed to attract some interest amongst country-rock and Americana fans. But like so many “little knowns,” it was her live show that awed listeners. One such listener, a guy by the name of Dan Baird of Georgia Satellites fame, caught a Collins gig and decided that she would be his next sonic endeavor. Shortly after seeing her stage show, he signed up as her guitar-slinging sideman and producer.

That connection has certainly served Collins well; by her own admission, the sophomore effort The Lucky Spot is “a southern rockin' harp howlin' twang bangin' record, baby!” Recorded live in a Kentucky studio that used to be an old farmhouse, Collins and Baird went for a rawer and warmer approach to this disc’s 10 tracks. From her dusky, rollicking vocal strains on “It Ain’t Love,” to the charming set closer “Top of That Mountain,” gritty roadhouse guitar and mouth harp is the call of the day. And with Baird offering up the rhythm guitars and harmony vocals, it almost feels like a Georgia Satellites record in some respects.

What’s great about The Lucky Spot is that it feels like a bit of a time warp. The disc feels like it dropped out of some AOR rock programmer’s bag back in the 1970s; it would easily make listeners of a local station like 91.3FM (The Summit) in Akron very happy. Had cuts like “Never Ever,” “Long Gone,” “Ramblin’” and the title track been released back in the 1970s, there’s little doubt they would be sandwiched in between the Allmans, the Stones, the Faces and ZZ Top. In all, The Lucky Spot is a roadhouse classic – kicking the sophomore jinx square in the breadbasket – and perfect for summertime listening. Treat yourself, because you’re bound to fall for her. And to quote Collins herself, If it ain’t love, it’s yer own damn fault.

Stacie Collins celebrates the release of The Lucky Spot with a gig this Friday, June 29 at 8PM at the Winchester Music Hall, 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood. Joining Collins will be Dan Baird from Georgia Satellites and Warner Hodges of Jason & the Scorchers. Local roots-rockers the Jack Fords open. For details, visit http://thewinchester.net.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

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