Trampled Under Foot siblings Nick, Kris and Danielle Schnebelen lend their considerable blues talents as Rick Patterson's backup band on Beat a Demon. But it's Patterson's sharp-toned blues-guitar playing that catches the ear here. His vocals are fine; they're pretty much your standard baritone blues with growls that you hear in the bars. The songs work, too — basic blues tunes with Kansas City themes and tributes, such as the song "Sonny Kenner," about the too-long-gone KC player who's a legend in his own right. Patterson has been around, and it shows. After all, a guy is bound to pick up more than a few licks and tricks from touring with Johnny Clyde Copeland and Chicago saxman Abe Locke. Patterson sums up his story when he sings, I'm still in the game after all this time. And still playing guitar to beat the demon.
