Exercising the Demons

A sidebar band by singer/guitarist Fuzz of the jam band stalwarts Deep Banana Blackout, Big Fuzz is a curious mixture of straight-up bar band boogie in the continuum that stretches from ZZ Top to Blues Traveler, mixed with a level of almost punkish aggression that's kind of unusual for a band in a scene more often associated with post-hippie mellowness. The album kicks off with the bluesy "Top of the Hill," a song powered by a heavy beat from drummer Andy Sanesi and Fuzz's own heavily distorted guitar that — no kidding — sounds a lot like the White Stripes would if they had a more traditional lineup. Throughout the album, the band's secret weapon is organist Barry Seleen, who plays old-school instruments like a Hammond B-3 and a '70s-style Clavichord, giving the album a funky flavor akin to the best of the Band or Little Feat, but in keeping with the band name, Fuzz hogs the spotlight for himself most of the time. Luckily, his playing is varied and refreshingly free of both derivative licks and excessive showboating, making Exercising the Demons a jam band album that even those allergic to "tasty licks" can appreciate.