Blues on the Inside
Artist: Stray Dawg and The Wolves
Label: City of Austin Live Music Fund
Released: 2025
Number of Tracks: 9
Duration: 36:00
Website: https://www.straydawgandthewolves.com/
Review by Charles "Dutch" Metzker
Stray Dawg and The Wolves are a high energy Austin Texas-area blues band known for their intense and compelling live performances, driving songs, and bringing the Texas heat to the stage. Led by guitarist and vocalist Stray Dawg, the sound is reminiscent of blues legends Albert King, Freddie King, Albert Collins, and many other blues greats.
Born in Duluth and raised in northern Minnesota, Stray Dawg was captivated by the sounds and songs of any blues music he could get his hands on and became a Region 2 Arts Council Award recipient at 13. As an adult he relocated to the Tampa Bay area, playing the blues and paying dues throughout central Florida. After a short time in Nashville honing his guitar chops, he relocated to the Austin area where he formed The Wolves with seasoned area musicians. Austin has been his home base for the last decade.
After receiving a grant from the City of Austin Live Music Fund, the group released Blues on the Inside in 2025. This latest album is nine tracks of all-original blues material showcasing a powerhouse band in the Central Texas area.
Track 1: Lonesome Town – Nice guitar work and vocals. A long road and dusty boots gets you to this destination, oh yeah. 4:36
Track 2: Guitar Time – Hard times make hanging on a real chore but having a guitar sure helps. 3:56
Track 3: Tell Her That You Love Her – Upbeat offering that puts the emphasis on expressing true feelings. 4:20
Track 4: Playin’ the Blues Again – My baby is feeling so sad. Great guitar licks here. 3:34
Track 5: Get in the Mood – A nice and slow song that gets right to the point – I need to get with you by myself. 5:24
Track 6: Blues on the Inside – Nice keyboard work on this cut. 2:57
Track 7: San-Mar-Shun – Great instrumental work throughout gives a nice touch. 3:14
Track 8: Take Me Home – A black cloud hanging around my head, hard times and many miles from home, I caught a case of the blues. 4:18
Track 9: Cold Rain – Slow groove wraps up the session, I’m driving a long way from home. 5:00
7/10 rating by Dutch.
Hear it for yourself on Youtube.
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