Pull Up The Roots is The Boneshakers‘ 12th album, the follow-up to 2025’s Live To Be This, and it’s grounded in the rhythmic soulful playing swagger which comes from musicians who’re comfortable in their groove. Still fronted by the soulful and powerhouse vocals of Jenny Langer, and with partner Randy Jacobs playing some cool understated guitar behind her, they show again how they’ve earned their stripes by playing alongside artists of the calibre of Bonnie Raitt (who gave them their name), BB King and Stevie Wonder.
This is a mini-album, consisting of just six tracks with a playing time of only twenty-two minutes, and the title comes from the music being recorded, not just in studios, but also in hotel rooms whilst touring, the intention being to go for ‘raw expression and emotional truth over studio perfection,’ with the musicians wanting the ‘feel’ of what they play to be right out front.
Opening track, ‘Your Luck Won’t Last’, is a track the young Tina Turner could have cut her teeth recording and features some nice sleazy sax in the middle, whereas ‘Help The Poor’ is a more bluesy number, with Randy Jacobs demonstrating his dexterity on acoustic guitar. Title track ‘Pull Up The Roots’ is a slower, funkier tune with smouldering vocals from Jenny Langer, and run through with some fine harmonica from Mark Pender. ‘Eat A Peach’ is a smooth soul infused piece played with a very catchy southern groove, with very understated guitar from Jacobs, while ‘Fire On The Bayou’ drips with a deep south ‘feel,’ before it all concludes with ‘Fly On The Wall’, a fine fusion mix of blues and soul.
