Joe Filisko & Eric Noden - Let’s Go! (2024)

Joe Filisko and Eric Noden are masters at making new music in the style of early acoustic blues artists. Here we have a dozen new tracks recorded live over the summer and fall of 2024 using one ribbon microphone. The approach gives them an authentic sound and vibe that is cool and interesting. This pair of artists wrote all the songs here, five by Noden, six by Filisko and his team, and one was done jointly. Filkso plays harp and Noden handles the acoustic guitar. Both join in on vocals.

“I’m Trippin’” starts things off. Done in the J.B. Lenoir style, a pretty shuffle with some nice guitar and harp bridging the vocals. They go jug band with “Everybody Wants My Money,” featuring added instrumentation of kazoo, washboard, and washtub bass. It’s a great number that will make you tap your toes and even feel like dancing a bit; very cool stuff! Mississippi Fred McDowell inspired “Along The Way” as Noden listed to the song “Shake ‘em on Down” in his car. Filisko huffs out the Mississippi groove to great effect as Noden hits it with some slide.

“Lemonade” is a minimalist cut done Cajun style, a two-step waltz with some added kazoo for effect and to lighten it up. It works. Filisko loves train songs and gives us “Last Steam Train.” to add spice, Joe made Eric turn this into a harp duet and it’s a classic cut– I loved it! Then it’s “Seven, Eight, We’ve Got a Date.” Here Filisko and his cohorts switched up their intentions and gave us a John Lee Hooker grooved tune. The guitar and harp here are priceless.

“Need to Be” switched things up and we go solemn and somber with just a whole lot of melancholy licks and vocals. Well done! They switch gears again with the title track, a romping and bouncing cut that honors Gwen Foster; he was part of the Carolina Tar Heels. “Travelin’ Travelin’” follows that, done in Big Joe Williams style. The two tear it up as they lay out some slick guitar and harp.

Professor Longhair inspired the guitar part of “In That Thing” while Big Walter Horton inspired the harp portion of the cut. Filisko lays out the vocals as Eric strums and drive the piece on guitar. Noden responds to Filisko’s calls and adds kazoo for the instrumental part. Later it’s Joe’s turn to give us some juicy harp. They return to jg band sounds with :Billion One Jug,” inspired by both Big Daddy Stovepipe and the Memphis Jug Band. It’s cool stuff! They conclude with “It’s Love.” done in the style of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGee. Eric adds his harp to Joe’s and adds some well done guitar as Joe sings. A fantastic finish to a super album!

Joe Filisko and Eric Noden are masterful at this music. The songs they create are fresh and enjoyable. They are complex and full of depth despite it just being two people recorded live. The arrangements are precise and well done, the playing is superb and the vocals are heartfelt and solid all around. Acoustic blues lovers will adore this album. I feel it is destined for future blues awards!