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"ALTHOUGH RAW HIDE RECORDED THIS ALBUM IN BELGRADE, THE QUARTET PLAYS IN A PRONOUNCED 1950s CHICAGO STYLE. THE HARMONICA PLAYER IS BETTER THAN ONE WOULD EXPECT, AND THE RHYTHM SECTION IS ADMIRABLY RESTRAINED AND SYMPATHETIC. " PETER
RASCHOFF - "LIVING BLUES" - JAN/ FEB 1995
"In
August 1993 i received a request for my latest CD from Markovic Miroljub
in Varvarin, Serbia. He asked for it as a gift since there was no value
for Yugo money at the time. I sent him several different artists as well,
asking only for a sample of local blues music. In return he sent LPs and
CDs featuring Serbian blues bands. I was most impressed by RAW HIDE, and
after i moved from Alaska to Arkansas Vlada asked me to come over to
produce the new CD and play several shows with the band.
Upon
arrival i was immediately taken in as "one of the gang" by the
members of the band, and we hung out quite well together (most essential:
even more then the music! ). We played a blues festival in Belgrade as our
first gig and the band responded to me better then many American blues
bands, and sounded better then most! (a bonus for Jovan and I was to meet
and talk with Jr. Wells: our idol became our friend ).
As we
continued to play together i began to appreciate to the deep feeling for
the blues these guys have.
The commitment of Stan and Giba to playing with feeling rather then
licks they learned : the fact that Mickey and Misha lock in to a groove
without "showboating , and the depth of feeling Jovan has for the
music and his instrument.
After many musical adventures from
Sabac to Senta to Belgrade, we went into the studio (big enough for the
simphony!) where they really proved themselves to be professionals. In two
days it was recorded (most tracks are first takes, with very few overdubs)
and mixed in one 12 hours marathon. We went directly to my farewell gig at
club St. James, and three goodbye parties the next night. This band is a
mighty force: not just for Serbia, but for the planet: listen to RAW
HIDE, a world class blues band".
GARY
SLOAN -
STORY FROM "
GYPSY MOON " IDEJA: CD 003 - 1997
"A
SERBIAN BLUES BAND WHO GOT HOOKED UP WITH GARY SLOAN GETS DOWN- HOME, UP-
FRONT AND DIRTY. PICK HIT: " DOIN' MY THING ", WHICH LAMENTS NOT
FINDING REAL BLUES IN ARKANSAS, BUT FINDING IT IN INSTEAD IN THEIR OWN
BACKYARD. " "BLUES
ACCESS" - No. 27 - FALL 1997 |
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