Clayton Miller band releases first album

Stereotypically, there are a lot of things families do together. However, besides The Jackson 5 and Hanson, few families have a band together.

Local Lafayette talent, The Clayton Miller Blues Band, released its self-titled first album, recorded live at Duncan Hall in downtown Lafayette.

A real sense of pleasure comes through in this album; the kind of pleasure one gets from jamming late at night with old friends or in this case, family.

The band consists of Dad, Larry, on bass; 18-year-old Clayton on lead guitar and vocals; 15-year-old brother Cole on drums and vocals, and believe it or not, 7-year-old brother L.D. on harmonica.

Both Clayton and Cole sing on the album. Clayton is featured singing on tracks two, three, six, seven and nine, while his brother Cole sings tracks four, five and eight.

"My Time After Awhile" is an explosive cover of blues legend Buddy Guy's original. The amount of talent displayed in Clayton's guitar work on the track is impressive. He plays with the pitch and tempo in such a way that the listener is left in awe.

Clayton also sings on this track. His untamed reverberations resound in the hall like downhearted blues should. The song is nearly 10 minutes long and moves up and down like currents in the ocean in the same way that a classical piece would. Though peaceful and relaxing, it flows with a bit more soul than Bach would have composed.

This being its first album, the CD is obviously a huge step for the band musically. The members are no longer just amateurs, just a few family members getting together and playing for friends and family. The group recently opened up for "The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band" and often plays in clubs in Chicago.