Band : Tumblin’ Dice
Album title : Let It Roll
Label : (own release)
Distributor : (own release)
Release date : November 2008 (originally Summer 2007)
Release : cd-R

As mentioned in the review of The Hendrix Files’ Live At Leuven, Tumbin’ Dice counts as one of Belgium’s leading Rock cover acts…and they’ve been around since 1987!

Founded that year by singer David Ronaldo (Circus Ronaldo), guitarist Charly Verbinnen (see also The Hendrix Files), and bassist Frank Verdier (recently started a new tribute band called Phil T. Lizzy – one guess only whom is covered here!) as a means to give tribute to one of their old time favourite bands Rolling Stones, the band soon picked up material from other classic acts, playing whenever Ronaldo had time off from his main band. The band went on through the years in several line-ups (eventually also adding drummer Hans Boeye as a permanent member), and played hundreds of clubs and festivals, both in and out of Belgium.

As far as I know, the Let It Roll recording is the band’s only “album” to date. Recorded for the most part at DVR Recording Studio in Spring 2007, the cd-R contains a 10-song sampling from the band’s live set. Included (chronologically) are Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary”, RollingStones’ “Paint It Black”, Neil Young’s “Like A Hurricane”, Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rollin’ Stone”, Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For the Devil” (yeah well, I díd mention they were a fave band, right?), Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” (includes some very inspired/ inpiring moaning by an otherwize uncredited female), CCR’s “Green River” (obviously TC is partial to them as well), Little Feat’s “Willin’” (with half of the songs mentioned so far featuring backing vocals by Luc Degraaff). Bob Dylan’s (but better known in its rendition by Jimi Hendrix) “All Along The Watchtower” (drums played by Ivo Opdebeeck), and finally Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild” were actually recorded at Verbinnen’s own studio Charly’s Cavern (the latter getting additional Hammond B3 organ plyed by one Niels Verhees).

I have to admit that at first I was somewhat put off by Ronaldo’s signature hoarse voice, which seemed somewhat out of sink with the material offered, especially when compared with the original stuff (Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rollin’ Stone” being the exception), but after a couple of listening sessions you really tend to focus on the musicianship rather than on the singing…and one tends to get used to the Ronaldo voice after having listened to the album enough times! Not that his rendition is always equally as acceptable, mind you! I’m simply appaled by what he does with the Steppenwolf song, and I ain’t none too fond of what he did with the album opener either. On the other hand, supposing I was to come acrosss the band on some multi-stage festival and I had to choose between Tumblin’ Dice and some “hot” Melodic Punk Rock act, I knów which band I would pick to go look at, see? (I was talkin’ ‘bout Tumblin’ Dice, o’course!) Right, tribute band, so at least I don’t have to bother you with the always personal rating!

Oh, you might be interested in knowing that following the release of their cd-R, the band (reinforced with backing singers Luc Degraaff – correct, same as on the CD! – and Pascale Michiels) did a bout of gigs during the Summer, then appeared on the 4-gig Guitar Greats Tour ’07 (also featuring Jan Akkerman and Ana Popovic), done in October. I’ve found no music files of the band on the Internet (you may have more luck, because I had to hurry finding any info at all), but you can find a video of the band playing “Baby Get It On” (darn, I can sing the song flawlessly, but at this very moment I’ve forgotten whom it was originally performed by) at users.skynet.be/tumbindice/YouTube (which is also whence I found the info comprised herein…oh, wait a minute: you can actually listen to mp3-files of “Like A Rolling Stone”, “Sympathy For The Devil”, and “Green River” at that same site!).

Tony.