Review: Big Dez 'Chicken In The Car But The Car Can’t Go'

Big Dez

By Mike O’Cull

French blues crew Big Dez takes listeners from Paris to Chicago and back on the band’s tenth release Chicken In The Car But The Car Can’t Go. Out on November 12 on the Socadisc imprint, the new record is a shift from the more rocked-up sound of the group’s last effort Last Train to a more classic Chicago blues style. Bandleader, vocalist, and guitarist Phil Fernandez was inspired to head in this direction after spending some quality time in the Chi working with blues diva Liz Mandeville on one of her albums in 2019. The original plan was to track new material in Paris and mix it in Chicago. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic got in the way and the band wasn’t able to return to the USA. Instead, they worked with producer and engineer Jim Godsey to mix the set remotely. Returning to Chicago was a nice idea but Big Dez still wound up with a hot new record that blues fans everywhere are going to fall in love with.

Big Dez has been tearing up European stages and airwaves since first coming together way back in 1996. The group’s debut album Sail On Blues dropped in 2003 and they’ve been making cool music and winning new fans ever since. As a unit, their style blends the humor and melancholy of the blues with funk, rock, and soul elements, which gives Big Dez a flavor that’s totally their own. The current Big Dez lineup consists of Phil Fernandez on guitar and vocals, Lamine Guerfi on bass, Paco Leftyhand on guitar, Guillaume Destarac on drums, Léa Worms on keyboards, and Marc Schaeller on harmonica and is always balanced, powerful, and expressive. They’re one of Europe’s finest bands and are becoming more visible in the US market every year.

Big Dez wastes no time getting to the good stuff and launches the new album with its title track “Chicken In The Car But The Car Can’t Go.” It’s a tight, funky number that’s anchored by a chopped-up rhythm guitar track that will go right through you. The rhythm section percolates the groove from beginning to end and Fernandez gets all the backing he needs to throw down on vocals and lead guitar. It’s an engaging cut that will pull you right into the party.

“Up And Down The Road” keeps the funk coming in a highly dynamic, mid-tempo kind of way. Drummer Guillaume Destarac is a master of ebb and flow and his sense of when to drive and when to pull back makes this one a gift to hear. The entire band is absolutely skin-tight and the way they wrap themselves around the pocket here is a lesson in how that particular trick is done.

“Oh! Baby Doll” is a full-throttle old-school rock and roll song with a stiff backbeat and the fire required to send a venue full of fans into a dancing frenzy. Fernandez is ferocious in this up-tempo territory and you can practically feel his energy in the room. This is the genuine sweaty, late-night, bar room stuff we all love and Big Dez gives it all they’ve got.

“Fall In Love Again” is a sweet, emotional ballad with an acoustic guitar texture that makes for a great vibe shift among all the other more kinetic songs. Phil is smooth and understated on this one and the band falls into line behind him. It’s an honest, tender moment that adds a lot to the sequence of the album.

“Got To Find My Baby” gets deep into a shuffle groove that’s so righteous that these blues almost play themselves. Marc Schaeller’s harp work is stinging and strong, as are the guitar parts. It’s a straight-on, good-time blues tune that does everything right. Big Dez is nothing but fun and Chicken In The Car But The Car Can’t Go is destined to get roots music lovers up and moving. Turn it up and get down.

Watch the Album Teaser