Voo Davis Band

What do you get when a 21st Century white boy makes the same exodus as those of his blues idols—leaving Alabama for the big bad lights of Chiraq, um, Chicago?

It could have been a disaster for singer/songwriter/guitarist Voo Davis, but unlike a lot of his blues-rock peers, he never gets tripped up by authenticity. That is, he knows his education came secondhand through classic rock (the blues of the suburban South, never doubt it) and he uses all those stylistic tricks to his advantage. His first two releases were about proving he belonged on that stage.

Now with his third, he’s concentrating on the songs. And swinging for the rafters.

Voo’s vocals don’t sound like much at first, gruff but without a lot of range, but he invests so much emotionally in these 14 (!) meaty originals that you start to feel at home the way he marries Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers’ bark with Rod Stewart’s bite.

Then the details kick in, and even though his lyrical obsessions are pretty standard—the classic blues treatise on the slippery nature of happiness, usually embodied in a nearby woman—his attention to nuance makes them into something much more.
There’s “Find Me a Blackbone,” which uses echo like Hendrix used feedback, the canned and nearly chamber-pop string quartet that turns the pain of “Howling out Your Name” into something redemptive, and the dangerously SoCal soft-rock polish he’s not afraid to apply to “Laughing’ Out Loud.”

He’s still real enough to rock out (the riff of “My Love” is about as crunchy as they come) or let the Piedmont color gentle shuffles like the title track and “Nothing Changed at All.” And if he wanted to divert your attention from the neck of his guitar, Davis has triumphed completely.

It’s only when he rips out a wild solo on every fifth track or so that you remember how he got everyone’s attention in the first place. - Offbeat Magazine (New Orleans)

Voo Davis, Midnight Mist (Butter & Ba- con; 62:52 1⁄2) An exercise in modern blues- rock, Voo Davis’ third album, recorded in Louisiana, has affinities to albums by The Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Yet this native Alabam- an based in Chicago isn’t some rank emulator; in- stead, he brings his likeable, individualized vocals and guitar exhilarations to bear on hardwearing self-penned numbers that carry his own Southern blues moods. Davis is convincing whether hewing to full-tilt or easy-does-it tempos. - Downbeat Magazine

The sound of the Southern States filtered through a dirty, greasy rag

From the opening track to the finale Voo Davis sounds like a cross between Joe Cocker and Roger Chapman fronting an All-star band made up of Levon Helm, Jack Bruce, Duane Allman, Leon Russell and Stefan Grappelli making Midnight Mist tick every box in every category of music that I love.

Made on a shoestring the album opens with When I get Back to You and follows with the title track; and I was already suffering from sensory overload; which isn’t to say this is ‘loud Rock’, far from it but Davis and his band create a ‘big sound’ that hits you like an Alabama heatwave and his brand of Sweet Southern Boogie quickly had my toes tapping.

Individual songs like Low Hanging Fruit, Music in the Streets and Cajun Sun are so cool they leave you tasting the moonshine and smelling the Magnolia blossom as the music filters out of the speakers; but this album grows in stature from start to finish; peaking in the middle with the awesome Howling Out Your Name and epic Find Me a Blackbone which are both full of slinky and dirty guitar licks and enough Hammond B3 to make your ears nearly explode.

Thankfully Davis slows things down after that Countrysonic assault and things become sultry and even a touch sexy with Laughing Out Loud as the singer ‘brings it on home.’

Most versions of Midnight Mist close with the softly beautiful Laughing Out Loud but the Deluxe Edition includes a couple of hot, Blue and righteous tracks called Void and You Wanna Know Why where the rasp in Voo Davis’ voice sounds like he’s actually sorry that the album has come to an end and his guitar solos are straight out of Duane Allman’s hot lick’s book.

I’ve now played this album late at night and on sunny days on headphones walking around town and blasting out in the car; and it is a perfect accompaniment for each - I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Voo Davis - Midnight Mist, Butter & Bacon Records

Released April 20th 2015 - No Depression

Hailing from the same brawny soul-rocker vocal regions as does Popa Chubby, Voo Davis matches that muscle when working his axe and displays a considerably varied burners-to-ballads songwriting range as well. The Chicago-based guitarist also shows a goodly amount of acoustic prowess alongside his high-voltage electric work. Along with the title track, the deceptively titled, exceptionally nasty “My Love” stands out, as do “When I Get Back To You” and “Low Hangin’ Fruit”. - Roots Music Report

MIDNIGHT MIST Voo Davis (Butter & Bacon Records) *****+

The third album from this Chicago based blues ‘n’ roots guitarist is positively incendiary. Produced by Davis himself and recorded in just 3 days in organic analog at Studio In The Country in Louisiana, Midnight Mist is one of 2015’s “gotta have”s.

For the voodoo magic that permeates these grooves, Davis used a number of vintage guitars as well as pedal steel, mandolin and keyboards. He plays all instruments on 2 of the album’s 14 tracks, being joined on the others by Craig Borchers on drums, Michael Burkhart on the Hammond B-3, Reggie Winterland on bass, Calvin Conway on harmonica and violin. It’s a distinct mix of swampy blues with a roots thing and the muscle of acid-soaked rock, and a heady blend it is.

Part of what makes this album work so spectacularly well is the live of the floor feel, that thing you can only get when musicians are playing together and going for broke. “We recorded the album in three days” says Davis, “two of which were spent on instrumentation and on the third day I finished up vocals. It was ten hours in the booth that day and if something didn’t work the first or second time, we moved on.”

Midnight Mist is dirty, nasty, soulful and heart wrenching, often all at the same time. Davis’s guitar work on tracks like Find Me A Blackbone and Music In The Streets in particular is genuinely thrilling and his singing voice, not unlike Kid Rock’s, is inviting. Where different kinds of music collide is where you often get the most exciting stuff, and Midnight Mist is a perfect example of that. This is one record I cannot recommend highly enough.

ESSENTIALS: Find me A Blackbone, Riverside Blues, Music In The Streets

- See more at: http://gonzoonline.ca/music/music-news/853-the-record-box-for-friday-may-7th-2015.html#sthash.D8AO3iAn.dpuf - Gonzo Online (Canada)

Voo Davis - Midnight Mist

Butter & Bacon Records

14 songs – 63 minutes plus bonus video

www.voodavis.com

Chicago-based singer Voo Davis is recognized for the wide tonal variety he produces on guitar, but he outdoes himself on Midnight Mist, the third disc in his solo catalog.

A native of Anniston, Ala., who relocated to the Windy City as a child, Davis blends the traditional sounds of the Delta and Deep South with smattering of West and South Side licks. He learned his chops at the feet of Blues Music Award winner Eddie King, longtime lead guitarist for Koko Taylor’s Blues Machine. But his technique doesn’t end there. He draws influences from roots music and jam bands, too.

This album, a follow up to the well-received Vicious Things, was recorded in analog instead of digital format and in one take with no computer wizardry tweeks at the Studio In The Country in Bogalusa, La., with Davis playing an assortment of vintage guitars as well as mandolin, pedal steel and keyboards. He’s joined here by Reggie Winterland (bass), Craig Borchers (drums), Michael Burkart (Hammond B-3 organ), Calvin Conway (fiddle and harmonica), and Carolyn Broussard and Dorian Rush (backing vocals).

While the instrumentation and sounds deliver a familiar feel, the music – all of which was penned by Davis — is rooted firmly in the modern. There’s not a single taste of material that would hint at being borrowed or being a cover.

“When I Get Back To You” kicks things off with a breezy guitar intro before Voo sings about waiting for his woman after a long time on the road. His voice is somewhat smoky with a delivery that some might compare to Joe Cocker as he promises to “get myself together” when the reunion finally occurs. His guitar playing alternates between single-note and chord progressions as he finishes the tune with a long solo.

Davis goes acoustic for the title-song ballad “Midnight Mist,” a reverie about driving south through Mississippi on Route 49 while thinking about friends and home and listening to Muddy Waters on the radio. “My Love” is a powerful blues-rocker that continues the trip, this time with Voo heading back to the woman he loves. A finger-picked intro introduces “Cajun Sun,” which speaks of staying up all night looking for knowledge he couldn’t acquire during the heat of the day.

Next up, the search for truth continues in the straight-ahead “Riverside Blues,” which is complemented by rich backing arrangements. Filmed in and around Clarksdale, Miss., a bonus video of this tune also appears on the disc. “Low Hangin’ Fruit” provides a backwoods feel with simple harmonica accompaniment as the search for truth continues. The lyrics suggest that you search early in life in order to achieve your goal.

“Howling Out Your Name” is an interesting love song in which the singer keeps returning to the woman again and again. But this time, he’s had enough … he won’t come back until she walks out the door. It’s full of rich imagery with “shame-seekers waggin’ their fingers/Infiltrating my doubt.” An intro that hints of American Indian drums and a steady rhythm pattern that would be a comfortable fit in any juke introduce “Find Me A Black Bone,” a cry out for a device that will mystically enable the singer to help him deal with a woman who’s totally out of control. It’s a reference to the black cat bone, a lucky charm in the African American tradition, that brings good fortune and provides protection from evil.

“Nothing Changed At All” is a welcome change of pace. It’s a slow tune with rich tonal qualities atop a syncopated rhythm pattern. It sings about the difficulties of everyday life. The funky “Music In The Streets” follows. It’s an uptempo bit of funk with just a hint of rap. “You Gotta Wait” is a pleasing blues shuffle that proclaims: “My reputation is shot/But my soul is true.” But the singer still won’t wait for the woman he loves because she’s wearing someone else’s ring. It’s simply her turn.

The slow-paced, tenderly delivered “Laughing Out Loud” provides a rundown of the mistakes in life the singer’s made, while “Void,” a simply stated song of lost love delivered with powerful musical texture. The disc ends with “You Wanna Know Why” in which Davis provides a stinging answer as to why a relationship fell apart.

Available through Amazon and iTunes as well as direct from the artist through www.louisianamusicfactory.com, Midnight Mist is perfect for folks who are looking for modern blues that aren’t trapped in the only one-four-five progression. Davis possesses traditional sensibilities in his craft, but delivers his music with one step in the future. He’s learned from his elders, but he’s making a statement that’s all his own. - Blues Blast Magazine

07 Find Me a Blackbone - Voo Davis (from the album Midnight Mist) - Voo Davis stomps in and demands “Find Me a Blackbone”, dialing in the vocals from an alternate universe and borrowing the searing guitar riffs from the devils back-up band - See more at: http://thealternateroot.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3320%3Aalt-root-top-ten-songs-of-the-week-05-04-15&catid=208%3Awhat-s-trending&Itemid=268#sthash.WvPcurur.dpuf - Th Alternate Root Magazine

Americana is definitely the best genre to describe Voo Davis’ music. The Alabama-born, Chicago-based guitarist/singer’s music is an amazing amalgamation of blues, jazz, rock, country, jam band, and roots music. He toured with Eddie King, who played guitar in Koko Taylor’s band for years, and he learned his lessons well, both as a seasoned vocalist and as a versatile and powerful guitarist. Davis’ latest release, Midnight Mist (Butter & Bacon Records), is both his most ambitious and his best to date.
Davis begins with the blues, of course. The opening track, “When I Get Back To You,” is a solid blues rocker featuring his slide guitar playing and his gravelly vocals. The title track begins gently with Davis playing mandolin and roars to a conclusion with him playing some blazing pedal steel. “My Love” is a scorching blues rocker with Davis’ roaring guitars and Calvin Conway’s harmonica battling it out. Conway doubles up on harmonica and fiddle on “Cajun Sun,” which features more fiery fretwork, and “Riverside Blues” is an intense midtempo blues with outstanding slide.
Davis unplugs for the country blues “Low Hangin’ Fruit,” backed by Conway’s harmonica, followed by the ominous “Howling Out Your Name,” a haunting track where he plays all the instruments. The Hill Country-styled “Find Me A Blackbone” is pretty fierce, with distorted guitar work and plenty of echo in the vocals. The wonderful “Nothing Changed At All” finds Davis mixing electric and acoustic slide guitar and Conway doubling on harp and fiddle again.
“Music In The Street” is a short, but funky blues rocker, followed by the loose and soulful “You Gotta Wait.” “Laughing Out Loud” is loaded with soul, too, with Davis playing Rhodes piano and offering one of his best vocals on the disc. The bonus tracks are as good as the rest of the album. Davis plays all the instruments on the moody “Void,” and “You Wanna Know Why” closes the disc in rousing fashion with some stellar turns on guitar, piano, and fiddle.
There’s also a bonus video of “Riverside Blues” included, but in truth, blues fans shouldn’t really need any additional incentive to pick up Midnight Mist. This is one of the more compelling releases I’ve heard this year, thanks to Davis’ endlessly inventive guitar work, his blues-powered vocals, and his impressive songwriting skills. – Graham Clarke - Phoenix Blues Society

I just received the newest release, Midnight Mist, from Voo Davis and it's hitting on all 12 cylinders! Opening with When I Get Back To You, Davis is on track and laying down an easy to love melody along the lines of the early Doobies but with flashing hot guitar riffs poking from north, south, east and west. Nicely crafted, Davis' multiple guitar lines compliments themselves and the track nicely and his vocals are great as always. Title track Midnight Mist, is strongly melodic with clean articulate acoustic guitar work. Strong slide guitar work from Davis highlights this track with it's almost Marshall Tucker or John Mayer like warmth. My Love hammers it's way out of the gate with a driving guitar (Davis) and drum (Craig Borchers)combo topped with hot harp work from Calvin Conway. This is exactly what I liked about Voo Davis the first time I heard him. Strong, stripped down in your face blues rock. Excellent! Cajun Sun has an infectious guitar rhythm and Louisiana rhythm with hot slide riffs over the top. Very nice! Riverside Blues is a soothing track with a catchy melody. It's super how Davis can take a simple melody, sing his guts out and rip quietly behind the scene on his slide without making it overbearing... a very cool quality. Southern funk infused Low Hangin' Fruit has a great groove. Davis' vocals on this track are some of the best on the release teased along by Conway and Davis in addition to resonator work hits Lowell George flavored slide work on electric. Excellent! Howling Out Your Name is the most highly produced track on the release reminding me of some of the tracks done by Plant and Page in 1969 (without the hindrance of Plant's annoying vocals). Find Me A Backbone has a real raw country blues feel with wound out electric guitar sounds and rudimentary drum beats. This is a simple but possibly the coolest track on the release. Excellent! Nothing Changed At All is a nicely crafted track with a smooth sophistication. Music In The Streets has a quick funky tempo with a really slick guitar lead. You Gotta Wait has a strong R&B feel. A well structured track highlighting Davis' soulful vocals and tight drums by Borchers and B3 by Michael Burkart. Davis has great feel for lead guitar and adds just the right amount without making the track feel overburdened. Laughing Out Loud is a simple but nicely executed ballad. A quiet blend of slide guitar, acoustic guitar and vocals makes this a particularly nice track. Void has a feel of early country folk music. With acoustic guitar, piano and vocal accompaniment, this is a track that should see a bit of radio play. You Wanna Know Why almost has a cat Stevens like vocal and a familiar Clapton riff that is repeated throughout the track as garnish. Davis finally cuts loose on his electric guitar for an extended and adventurous guitar solo. A simple rocker this is another track that could easily see broad appeal. - Bmans Blues Report

Link is interview with Making a Scene - Making A Scene

Voo's ALBUM:

Southern soil and Chicago grit came together to create the sound that rises from his acoustic slide playing (The Alternate Root).

Now, with his third studio album, 'Midnight Mist' in four years, Voo Davis looks to advance his sound and solidify his place on the music scene. With a passion for lyrics and a gift for creating emotion with a guitar, Davis encompasses all that is right about an independent musician in today’s field of millions. It brings genres together instead of separating them into a neat package of similarity. It’s a real album in the day of the one song release. And more importantly, it’s a continued story of a musician who deserves the spotlight and who’s been called 'A budding talent who is so much more than a screaming guitar' (Cantopia Wordpress).



The nicely packaged album starts off with "When I Get Back To You", a sturdy blues track, showcasing Voo's impressive ragged vocals and most of all: his incredibly skilled (slide) guitar playing! The B3 organ adds a very nice touch. Title track "Midnight Mist" begins rather quiet, with some acoustic guitar, offers us the presence of a mandolin and the haunting sounds of a pedal steel, building up to an epic jamband climax with great solos on the electric guitar and ending quiet again. "My Love" features very loud bluesrock, where Calvin Conway's harmonica never gives way and demands well-deserved attention. Ah, "Cajun Sun" offers a beautiful meandering melody, Calvin also plays fiddle here. Favorite! "Riverside Blues" develops as some kind of power piece, with incredible slide guitar throughout. Pace slows down a bit for "Low Hangin' Fruit", the acoustic slide guitar in a fierce duet with the harmonica, organ and electric guitar watchful in the wings. "Howling Out Your Name" starts off -indeed- with the sound of howling winds and Voo, adding a little echo effect to the microphone, plays all the funky parts here - I even hear a cello. "Find Me A Blackbone" goes back to a traditional pattern of the electric countryblues, more microphone effects make this sound like a feverish field recording of snake handling from days long gone by. This song is co-written by Dan Rinenbach. For "Nothing Changed At All" Voo tries to relax a little, creating a gorgeous sound with his acoustic and electric (slide) guitars, based on a fine hypnotic rhythm, Calvin plays harmonica as well as fiddle parts. Another favorite. There must be a reasonable amount of overdubs, but the recording is so good, that this album sounds like all of it was flawlessly recorded at once.
"Music In The Streets" goes back to the funky bluesrock and this short track does impress me the least. "You Gotta Wait" gets a beautiful old school soul organ sound, after the strange little take-off. The last regular track, slow "Laughing Out Loud" also has a classic 70s soul or if you want: Tony Joe White like vibe, with more beautiful relaxed sounds, Voo plays, besides his guitars, also the Rhodes piano here.
Then we get to the bonus tracks. "Void" has a very interesting sound, the intimate vocals sung more closely into the microphone. Voo plays all instruments himself again and gets more in the folk singer-songwriter mode. Can I pick a bonus track as my third favorite? "You Wanna Know Why" gets loud and spicy again, in jamband fashion, with some outstanding parts by fiddle, piano and of course the guitars. There's also a video of "Riverside Blues" included on the disc.

Voo is very good at mixing other genres and influences with the blues, incorporating the soul, funk, country and folk flavors into these tracks, instead of hopping from one unexpected sound to the next. 'Midnight Mist' is an album, not just a collection of tracks and the sequence is well thought out.

While it is sometimes difficult, even for avid rootsmusic lovers, to tell one blues guitarplayer from the other these days, Voo Davis stands out. He is very creative in bringing something new to his skills all the time, not just playing one blistering solo after another.

I keep forgetting Voo lives in Chicago for a long time already, he sounds as Southern as can be. Not quite Sonny Landreth yet (there's only slide guitar god), but almost getting there, in the blues ballads I hear sometimes the gritty compassion of Drew Landry, for the more traditional soul songs I could fill in names of quite a few stars from the past. Long tracks, to a total of 62 minutes of music, the video not included - which means you'll get lots of value for your hard earned money. Just too bad, there are no lyrics included, I wish Voo had printed them on the inside just like he did for the previous release, but he promised me he will post them on his website! - Insurgent Alt Country (Denmark)

What the critics are saying about Voo Davis’ “Midnight Mist”…
From the opening track to the finale Voo Davis sounds like a cross between Joe Cocker and Roger Chapman fronting an All-star band made up of Levon Helm, Jack Bruce, Duane Allman, Leon Russell and Stefan Grappelli making Midnight Mist tick every box in every category of music that I love. I’ve now played this album late at night and on sunny days on headphones walking around town and blasting out in the car; and it is a perfect accompaniment for each - I can’t recommend it highly enough.
~Alan Harrison No Depression
There is no shortage of blues guitar gun slingers these days. It can even be difficult to tell one from the other for many people. Gary Clark Jr. has had success melding his influences from outside the blues and there are a few folks who ride a blues/metal blues/country or any number of other blues trains but Voo Davis isn’t like any of them. His guitar skills are on display throughout ‘Midnight Mist’ but he summons more control and relies more on his songwriting and production abilities than tossing in more hot licks. There are a ton of bluesmen I love that will never be able to take that step because it is easier to play solo after solo than it is to write a real song. Don’t get me wrong, I spin plenty of such blues; my point is that Voo Davis crafts each song and leaves me wanting more. I’m not sure where Voo can go from here but I suspect he already has something rattling around in his head and I can’t wait to hear it.
I highly recommend ‘Midnight Mist’
~Doug Hanson Mojo Lists
5 Stars.. Hailing from the same brawny soul-rocker vocal regions as does Popa Chubby, Voo Davis matches that muscle when working his axe and displays a considerably varied burners-to-ballads songwriting range as well. The Chicago-based guitarist also shows a goodly amount of acoustic prowess alongside his high-voltage electric work. Along with the title track, the deceptively titled, exceptionally nasty “My Love” stands out, as do “When I Get Back To You” and “Low Hangin’ Fruit”. Duane Verh Roots Music Report
“When you open the album and you hear the first chords of "When I Get Back To You" then you just think the "Allman Brothers" to hear, to Voo raw but powerful deployment. The album is varied and the right vibes are definitely there!!”
Eric Shruurmans Rootstime Magazine
“5+ Stars Midnight List is one of 2015’s gotta have’s. Midnight Mist is dirty, nasty, soulful and heart wrenching, often at the same time. This is one record I cannot recommend highly enough.”
John the Rock Doctor Gonzo Online (Canada)
“Davis takes the balls out approach of one take recordings..he goes well beyond blues guitar slinging.”
Chris Spector Midwest Record
This talented Chicago based musician has recorded for our ears a spicy stew that has an underlying blues feel and then all kinds of spices and flavors just to keep us on our toes..This man plays a plethora of instruments, he not only plays them but plays them well and in a variety of genres that blend all the styles and tastes and whatever else is in his rich blend of music which has the afore mentioned blues, but also swamp-rock, zydeco, psychedelic sounds and extracts an essence from it all to form a pool of emotional waters.
~Toa Boy No Depression
“Voo is very good at mixing other genres and influences with the blues, incorporating the soul, funk, country and folk flavors into these tracks, instead of hopping from one unexpected sound to the next. 'Midnight Mist' is an album, not just a collection of tracks and the sequence is well thought out.
While it is sometimes difficult, even for avid rootsmusic lovers, to tell one blues guitarplayer from the other these days, Voo Davis stands out. He is very creative in bringing something new to his skills all the time, not just playing one blistering solo after another.” ~Johanna B. Bodde Insurgentcountry
“Voo Davis sings somewhere between John Prine and Joe Cocker and writes in the spaces between our lives like a crack in the wood where the light gets in. This follow-up to his solid “Vicious Things” CD could eventually wind up a roots-rock classic.”
~ Mike Greenblatt Goldmine Magazine
“Midnight Mist from Voo Davis is hitting on all 12 cylinders”
~Bmans Blues Report
“Voo always had a little bit of that Red Clay mixed in with his blues roots, plus excellent vocal chops and absolutely killer guitar tones help to separate Voo from the rest of the contemporary pack. Voo can play everything with strings. On Howling out your name and Void Voo plays every instrument further showcasing his mighty talents”
~Don &Sheryls Blues Blog - Multiple

Voo Davis — Midnight Mist
Label: Butter & Bacon Records

I was listening to the album, letting the whiskey-soaked Southern soul/rock fill the air and trying not to focus in on the words, as I went about my business at 2:00am. I like to do that — let the album play a couple of times before I actually sit down to review it. I figure it’s something like letting a bottle of wine breathe before tasting it. So there I am, letting my ears get used to the chords and trying not to judge, when all of a sudden I find my hand reaching to the volume control. Instinctively, my fingers were compelled to turn the volume up. Way up. “What was this song that’s in my collection of tunes,” I wondered to myself, “and why don’t I recognize such a powerful and enticing song?” Suddenly, I looked at the track listing information and discovered that it was a track from the new CD I had almost forgotten I was listening to. The song, titled “Void,” was by Voo Davis and it was one of the most magnetic tracks I’d heard in quite awhile. I could easily listen to this dusty, confessional track all night long. Voo Davis doesn’t just creates sounds that rise from his guitar, he creates sounds that release real emotion from the instrument.
None of the other 14 tracks were much like “Void,” which was even more exciting. They are all original, organic, and wonderful in their own way. Voo Davis is a seemingly never-ending source of blues and roots musical invention. His songwriting skills get a workout with the variety of styles and levels of intimacy achieved in this collection of songs.

Voo Davis plays a variety of guitars, as well as mandolin and pedal steel. Other musicians prominently featured on the album include: Michael Burkhart (keyboards), Reggie Winterland (bass), Craig Borchers (drums) and Calvin Conway (harmonica, violin). On “Void,” it should be noted that Davis plays all instrumental parts, all by himself.

If you’re looking for an album you can put on at 2:00am and find yourself staying up all night, as you press the “repeat” button, Voo Davis is your man. Midnight Mist, indeed. I’d say it’s pretty solid stuff anytime at all.

Essential Downloads: “When I Get Back To You,” “Low Hanging Fruit,” “Void.” - Parcbench

Voo Davis has a new one, “Midnight Mist,’’ out since late April on Butter & Bacon Records. He’s a fierce Chicago blues guitar shredder – clearly less incendiary than Dave Hole but Davis definitely melts the mist with enough energy to heat Chicago for the winter. Besides being a bad-ass guitar player, Davis has this Wilson Pickett vibe going with the vocals – and he writes all the songs. The guitar aggression on “Cajun Sun’’ is typical Davis – laid back and fierce all at once. If and when blues makes one of its once in a while comebacks when it’s so old it’s new, Davis could be the one leading the way back. - Ventura County Star

VOo Davis in Top #30 National Jam Band Acts at #16 - Relix Magazine

Voo Davis (niet verwarren met Boo Boo Davis) werd in 1973 geboren in Anniston, Alabama. Hij trok op jeugdige leeftijd met zijn familie naar Chicago, waar hij in de West-Side de blues ontdekte. Hij speelde daar met mensen als Eddy Clearwater en de legendarische drummer Chico Chism.
‘Midnight Mist’ is inmiddels zijn derde cd na ‘A Place For Secrets’ en ‘Vicious Things’.
Meer dan op zijn vorige cd’s grijpt Voo Davis terug naar zijn Zuiderse roots en daar zijn wij niet treurig om. Het feit dat de plaat werd opgenomen in Bogalusa, Louisiana is daar zeker nier vreemd aan. Hij wordt bovendien begeleid door uitstekende muzikanten zoals Michael Burkart (Hammond B-3), Calvin Conway (harmonica, fiddle), Reggie Winterland (bas) en Craig Borchers (drums).
Van bij de start zit het er al bovenarms op met de schitterende rocker ‘When I Get Back To You’. Titeltrack ‘Midnight Mist’ gaat, door de inbreng van Voo Davis zelf op pedal steel, ietwat meer de country richting uit, maar het blijft allemaal op een schrikbarend hoog niveau voortdrijven.
Op ‘Howling Out Your Name’ en ‘Void’ speelt Voo Davis zelf op alle instrumenten en toch zou je denken dat een ganse bende hier aan het werk is. Liefhebbers van slide gitaren komen op ‘Midnight Mist’ ruimschoots aan hun trekken en die komen eveneens op het conto van Voo Davis.
In ‘Cajun Sun’ is door de fiddle van Calvin Conway het Zuiderse gevoel helemaal aan de orde en of dit nog niet genoeg is serveert Voo Davis ons een uitgeklede videoversie van ‘Riverside Blues’.
Voor ons komt ‘Midnight Mist’ nu al in aanmerking voor ‘plaat van het jaar’. - Keys and Chords

Voo Davis and A Place for Secrets
Posted on November 7, 2012
No matter how amazing your talent, how many stages you stand on each year, how many miles pass beneath your feet, blues is highly unlikely to make you a household name. The current field of musicians crisscrossing the country today may be the best ever. That will, with a little luck, put dinner on the table and gas in the tank but probably not much more for the men and women of the blues.

One such musician is Brian ‘Voo’ Davis, A Chicago bluesman with a talent for every instrument he picks up. It is his guitar work that truly stands out as extraordinary however. Voo has the personal tragedy in his past to merit more than simply sounding like the blues, he understands them deep in his soul and you can hear it in every note.

I had heard of Voo on and off but there are simply too many musicians to keep up with. It wasn’t until recently that I downloaded his album, A Place for Secrets from Amazon. Yes, I used the words downloaded and Amazon in the same sentence. Unfortunately Voo doesn’t have a CD or Flac available yet, MP3 is your only option. I was not deterred however and for several days Voo has been my constant companion.

Voo plays most of the instruments himself on this album with a little help from his producer Steve Bores. Davis’ opens with Told Her, a well written song that showcases his abilities beyond the stringed instruments. He takes this up a notch on Home Again, a slow jam ballad that Voo pumps full of emotion. He wails back to life with Levee & Le Bon Temps Roule, a slide guitar extravaganza. The scream of Cherokee Chant brings Davis’ string work into focus and leaves you wanting more.

There isn’t a moment on A Place for Secrets that loses the flow or feels out of place. It shines the spotlight on a budding talent who is so much more than a screaming guitar. I look forward to seeing him live when he stops by Austin and will be keeping him in heavy rotation on Turntable.fm. Give Voo Davis a listen and let me know what you think.

To learn more about Voo check out his website or Facebook page.

If Voo Davis offered his music on CD, Vinyl, or Flac along with MP3, which would you purchase? - CanTopia

Bravo on guitar, Brian ' Voo ' Davis, has wedged between his hands, an anonymous slide guitar in one of the many blues trios on the roads of the American South, but the quality and the ability to follow the tortuous paths of Jimi Hendrix (there was born the nickname ' Voo ') has changed the life of multi-instrumentalist Voo Davis (plays all guitars, organ, bass, piano, harmonica and producer Steve Bores the rest, drums and bass). An extensive showcase of partnerships-without ever leaving an unguarded corner, is particularly aggressive and full of nuances, he continued to fill over the decades until the fate did not create new outlets, the exit of “A Place for Secrets” is born only after the death of his wife in 2009. Listen to Told Her and Never Be The Same as placing him at an intersection, but knows which way go Voo Davis ready to give vent to a powerful bluesy pluralism: from the ballad with harmonica, leaning brilliantly to lap steel in The Wild One, the final Beautiful Tattoo and dazzling Out Of The Blue, flutter certainly while remaining an avvoltolata blanket in melancholy Classic, Caught You Bleeding – also because it leads to the past when it is inclined to take the ' road home ' Home Again. A Place for Secrets is calm on the surface, underneath the first layer gusting lives slide guitar by Levee & Le Bon Temps Roule, the sound effects are intensified in Back To Chicago, the passage of the fingers on the strings of the slide becomes more agitated, more rapid and sullen in Cherokee Chant while staying close to a full awareness when pushing in authorial research directions in Crisis. Voo Davis works with emotions and moods of the blues, offered “A Place for Secrets” with expressive maturity somewhat encouraging.
-Cheapo Music Web Magazine - Cheapo Music Web Magazine

Another awesome edition of Powderfinger Promo Radio this week filled with great music. Voo Davis was your artist of the week with his new album "A Place For Secrets" we played 3 awesome tracks! - Powderfinger Promo Radio Jume 11th, 2012

About Voo Davis

Born in Anniston, AL in 1973 Brian "Voo" Davis' love for music began at an early age. While Davis' father loved the AM radio of the 70's, his mother stocked old 45s of Motown, Sun, and British sensations of the day. While struggling in the South, the family moved back to the Chicago area and began a modist life.

While Davis may have started listening at an early age, he didn't start playing guitar until age 19. By 21 Davis was booking his own gigs on the Blues circuit while cutting heads as a lead guitarist. In 1995 Davis formed the Band "Loose Change." It was a three piece known for their aggressive and dynamic stage shows. Davis earned the nickname Voo for his vast knowledge of Hendrix songs and the ability to play them on command. While on the circuit Davis has sat in with Chicago Blue Legend Eddie "the Chief" Clearwater, Chico Chism, New Orleans based Ironingboard Sam, Lamont Cranston, Chicago harp blazer Matthew Skoller, and many others.

Davis learned about the victories and difficulties of the road while working with W.C. Handy award winner Eddie King, KoKo's former Band Leader. King's amazing stage presence and head-cutting, finger-picking approach to the guitar was a great compliment to Davis' aggressive single note style. While touring the US with King, Davis sharpened his skills playing at some of the nation's best Blues Clubs and Festivals, including Chicago's Blues Fest. When it seemed Davis' young career was just taking off, he walked away to pursue other personal endeavors.

What brought Voo back to music? Personal tragedy struck in 2009 when Davis' wife passed away. This motivated the young slide player to pick it up again while filling a void left by his wife's early passing. It wasn't long before many of the 12 songs to "A Place for Secrets" were completed. Songs Davis held on to for 10 years were finally being completed and ready to play.

Teaming with Producer and multi-instrumentalist Steve Bores, the two constructed an album of numerous styles and personalities. While Bores also played drums on the album, both men worked the bass. Davis shows off his ability to handle several instruments on the album playing all guitar parts, organ, piano, harmonica, and all backing vocals. Like any reputable musician, Davis is able to tap into both personal tragedy and triumph to create music with incredible depth and meaning. His eclectic and dirty guitar stylings of standard and open tunings draw you in and keep you asking for more. His sound is unique, and his voice makes you a believer.

~ Pete Pettorini
Go Rogue - Go Rogue

I have been listening to A Place For Secrets, the most recent release from Voo Davis. Davis has built quite a reputation as a skilled slide player and performer working with Eddie King. Davis teamed up with Producer and multi instrumentalist, Steve Bores.The result of that collaboration is this recording... part introspective, part extrovert... all musical. His vocals are seductive and his playing tight. Levee and Le Bon Tempe Roule shows the tables turn with Davis on a wide open acoustic slide jam with harp and drums. Home again shows Davis' strength as a balladeer and songwriter. The intentional discord in parts of the melody draw attention to solemn nature of the track. Overall a very enticing recording. - Bmans Blues Report