Cherri & the Violators
Straight Ahead Rock & Blues
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LYRICS:

Review:

~Nominated for a WYCE Jammie Award~

 

On their second disc, Northern Michigan based Cherri & the Violators explore the glory days of the mid 70's where songs that rocked were informed by the blues but were well removed from the Delta. That's not to say that blues fans won't find familiar sounds here. They will, but they aren't the standard boogies and shuffles that fill all too many regional blues discs. Instead, the blues creeps in by way of the band's self penned lyrics and the terrific guitar work of  Tony Burke who sounds like he has spent equal amounts of time listening to Jimmy Thackery, Robin Trower and Johnny Winter. Stand out tracks include Bartender which features a "two ships passing in the night" style conversation between a bartender and a patron over a wah wah fueled guitar groove, Fretting for Nothing which is a rocking exploration of the jealousy/suspicion worm at work, Time (Wait for Me) which is a majestic, atmospheric number that could fit on a Clannad disc, Don't Call Me Baby, which has a rockabilly groove, Mirror, Mirror, which sounds a bit like Ann Wilson of Heart taking on House of the Rising Sun and Up For Me, which is a rocking tune with clever lyrics about things not being quite what they appear. Also worthy of note is the irresistible, slinky acoustic reprise of the title cut. Lead vocalist Cheryl Bendig delivers the songs in a voice that has the raw power of Janis Joplin but the finesse of Ann Wilson. Overall, a solid effort that is worthy of a listen the next time you want to hear something beyond straight blues.- Mark Gallo

Up For Me:  listen

You've been uptown, knocked down, drinking half the night
You've been tossed up, thrown out, give that lime a bite 

You strut right up to me, and think you'll have your way
I toss you back, but there's something that I ought to say. 

Are You Up for Me
Are you up for me
Everything you've ever done, I've probably done it twice
And though I look good standing here,
I'm really, not that nice. 

You've been picked up, poured out, Salty little smile
Got a bite to ya, boy do ya, Man I like your style. 

You strut right up to me, and think you'll have your way
I toss you back, when I really ought to run away. 

I'm a straight up body shot Sunrise in my eyes
No training wheels on these heels Make you lose your mind. 

You strut right up to me, I think I'll have my way
I toss you back, but there's something that I ought to say.

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Bartender listen

Hey, bartender, tell me what to do
I'm torn in little pieces
Let me talk to you.
The women come in to shake their asses
Them men know me by name
I'm just standing here washing glasses
Nothing's going to change

Your problems, aren't my problems
Your crimes, not my crimes
Put me out of your misery
Stop wasting my time.

I thought that I would make some news
That was how it seemed
I thought that I had paid my dues
But you drowned out all my dreams

(hey bartender) I thought I'd kick some ass
(tell me what to do) I thought I'd take some names
(torn in little pieces) I'm just washing glasses
(let me talk to you) Nothing's going to change.

Hey Bartender.

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Fretting For Nothing listen

You call about a quarter to two
I'm busy working but I'm thinking of you
You call about a quarter to three
Tell me about how much you're missing me.
You want to see if you were on my mind
You were fretting for nothing, I'll be home on time.

You call about a quarter to four
I'm busy working, baby, watching the door
You call, about half past five
Getting me in trouble 'cause you're calling all the time
You want to see if you were on my mind
You were fretting for nothing, I'll be home on time.

No need to wonder, no need to call
No need to worry about anything at all
I'm packing up, I'm on my way
Gonna rock you baby all night all day

I call about a quarter to eight
Been home since seven and you're running late
I call about nine of five,
Even as I dial I see your lights in the drive
Ain't going to tell you what was in my mind
I was fretting for nothing, now you're home on time.


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Time (Waiting for Me) listen

Wait for me, I'm trying to keep
Up with your demands
All I've got is these two hands.

Time taking time take away, take me through another day
Give it time give it play, give me clever words to say
Say I'm right, say I'm wrong, say you knew it all along
Say that time marches on, marches narrow straight and long.
Time can't keep; can't keep time. 


Time, time is up, double down, time is chasing me around
Chase the gold, chase the prize, tracking down your alibis
Buy more stuff every day, then just throw it all away
Made of dust made of clay, have you hugged your kids today?
Time can't keep, can't keep time.

Time silent time voices loud, losing faces in a crowd
Time is lost, lost and found, running sand run aground
Give it time, time to heal, all the anguish that we feel
Keep it live, keep it real, keep on running in a wheel.
Time can't keep, can't keep time

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The Waltz  listen

Questions I pose to the sea, return unanswered to me
Who am I, why must I be alone and drowning
Everywhere people I see, couples and young families
All seem as frightened as me, hearts in hiding

Love says, I'll be there
There's nothing to fear I'll be there
We'll be all right tonight, you saved my life tonight
You ease my mind. 

Why do we all have to be alone and adrift aimlessly
Lifes' little riptides can me so overwhelming
Whatever we lose in the sea, even a you or a me
It's always ourselves that we will find in the sea.

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Empty Pockets listen | reprise

I've got empty pockets, and old shoes
Got a threadbare coat, got the unemployment blues
Where are all the factories?
I can't make it if I'm making fast food deliveries.

Got a nice clean record, I can't deliver anyplace
Been knocking on doors, see them slamming in my face
Don't want no state clerk looking down on me
I'd rather spend my last dollar betting on the lottery.

Don't want to clean their rooms, don't want to operate their slots
Don't want to serve their drinks, bag groceries at the save-a-lot.
All the good jobs gone overseas, 
I can't make it if I'm working in the tourist industry.

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Musta Been Fun listen

Wake up moaning, with a raging thirst
And a burning sensation that can only mean another tattoo

Grab a quick shower, get my shirt off the floor
Hot black coffee, and an ice cold mountain dew

Highway, traffic stuck
Gotta Lotta stuff to do
Hands on the wheel, 
Isn't moving, isn't moving, isn't moving .. (repeat)

Must have been fun, must have been all right
Must have torn it up Must do it all again, tonight.

Roll on moaning, with an aching face
Rope burned wrists, and I lost my favorite shoes

Got a vague memory of last night's escapade
And that burning question: What the hell did we do??

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Don't Call Me Baby listen

Dancing at the nightclub, take a break to rest
Fella on the barstool says, 'Baby you're the best"

Don't call me baby
I'm not your baby
You can't call me baby,
Cause you ain't no daddy to me.

What's a babe like you, doing in this place?
Come here often baby, I think I've seen your face,
Don't call me..

Try to tell them not to, but the point's already moot..
Soon as I get angry they say, "Baby, you're so cute."
Don't call me..

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Mirror, Mirror listen

Bleeding fingers, spinning wheel
Shards of glass in my heels
Mirror, mirror, in the dark
Take this crystal ball apart

Braided hair makes flimsy rope
Poison apple in my throat
Raven hair has turned to grey
Ruby lips fade away.

Don't want to look, don't want to see
What this evil world has done to me
Mirror, mirror in the dark
Take this crystal ball apart

Tarnish on the jeweled crown
Moths and spiders in my gown
When does maiden turn to crone?
Slay your dragons on your own.

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Cherri & the Violators  ♫  PO Box 44 Brethren, MI  49619
Phone : 231-510-9674  ♪  E-mail: cherrimail@yahoo.com  ♪  Myspace.com/cherriviolators

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