Blues Revue Magazine Dec 07 / Jan 08, Issue 109

The cover's cartoon image of a marsupial mechanic aside, Awesome Posum, the new self-released disc from San Diego singer-guitarist Robin Henkel, is serious business. A variety of approaches conspire to make this a compelling blues project, from baritone guitar train rhythms ("I Got My Feet To Ramblin") to languid guitar chording ("If I Was A Truck"), jaunty National slide ("Steel Guitar Rag"), Delta string-snapping ("Roll and Tumble Blues"), and jazzy ukulele (a surprising rendition of "Milk Cow Blues"). Support from three talented harmonica players with distinctive styles--Billy Watson, Kellie Rucker, and Ben Hernandez--rounds out the sonics. Hernandez (best known for his duo work with Nathan James) handles vocals on some tracks, but Henkel is a crafty, commanding singer in his own right. Thumbs up.

--Tom Hyslop