Underdog Heroes is as much the name of the new Black Oak Arkansas’s first full-length new recording in three decades as it describes this rockin’ rollickin’ American Southern rock band’s ethos. With founding members Jim “Dandy” Mangrum singing in his imitable growl and Rickie Lee Reynolds manning guitar, this 12-song collection pretty much sounds like the BOA of old.
Things really kick into gear on the title track featuring Samantha B. Seauphine duetting with Mangrum with a wild loud guitar lead around it all. It’s the slow clean guitar noodling and dead rocker name-checking of “Channeling Spirits,” the deep blues tribute to a BOA alumnus “Ruby’s Heartbreaker,” and Mangrum’s inimitable snarl from the center of a swamp on “The Wrong Side of Midnight” that deliver a really dynamic middle to Underdog Heroes. “Do Unto Others Feat. Shawn Lane” has guitarist Lane soloing away, while the strut of “You Told Me You Love Me” and the over-the-top “Jonnie Won’t Be Good” round out the record.
Along with Mangrum, Reynolds and Seauphine, Black Oak Arkansas circa 2019 includes Lonnie Hammer on drums, Billy Little on bass, and Randall X Rawlings on lead guitar. The outfit really musters all the ragged yet ballsy strength this band was known for in the 70s, giving Underdog Heroes a very strong showing indeed.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
