THE SUN-JOURNAL Portland, ME
"Folks around here have already heard the music created by Ohlman's
band when the SNL vocalist took part in that great North Atlantic Blues
Festival in Rockland--the blonde bombshell had folks dancing on their
chairs with her very first appearance at that fine, day-long
event...her gutsy, confident stage presence captivated the crowd as she
ripped into such originals as "Sugar Melts," "One Night Called Love,"
and the title track of her first CD, "The Hard Way."—Lucky Clarke
THE HARTFORD COURANT Hartford, CT
"Perhaps you've wondered where the great barn-burning bar bands have gone.
Well, here's one."—Roger Catlin
NEW YORK PRESS NEW YORK, NY
"This second edition of British pop at The Bottom Line included 29
songs, interpreted by some of the brightest singers and players in
town. Christine Ohlman absolutely killed behind a
hit-the-ground-running, take-no-prisoners assault on Dusty
Springfield's 'I Only Want To Be With You.'
Ohlman's mico-mini served as a strategic weapon."—Ken Marks
METROLAND Albany, NY
From the mile-high blonde beehive hairdo to the textbook rock &
roll radio lungs, Christine Ohlman instantly reminded you what
used to be great about rock before it began to think too much.
"Turn" was a linear shuffle of trust and redemption, while "Secret
Heart" had a sting of hurt. "Then God Created Woman" was an epic rocker
showing off ace guitarist Eric Fletcher's expert James Burton-esque
licks.
Ohlman's stage patter was priceless, confiding little secrets in us.
Late in the night, an anxious torching of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away"
sounded impossibly fresh and new, as did the tough-as-nails "All Over
Now."
Watching Ohlman wind between roots rock and blues and never lose control of the wheel was a thrilling, reassuring
sight.—D.M.
WORCESTER MAGAZINE Worcester, MA
"Christine Ohlman doesn't just perform. When
she's on a stage, she OWNS it, taking command of it with her
soulful singing and stage presence. She's an electrifying talent, a born
entertainer.
Watching Ohlman blaze away is a visceral musical
thrill. Fans of vibrant rock and soul owe it to themselves to catch Ohlman
and her band, Rebel Montez, when they appear at the Plantation
Club."—Mark
J. Cadigan
NEW HAVEN ADVOCATE New Haven, CT
" So on to Cafe Nine for Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez. Oh Queen
of R&B, purge me of the pre-packaged, electronic disco that
"covers" me. Ahh, you know, CO& RM are SO good. The band's
originals just kill. Its covers (from classics to stuff pulled from way
deep inside the blues vault) kill. People dancing and smiling. Just a
damn good time. Thank you. I'm OK now."
—Craig Gilbert
PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS Philadelphia, PA
"You may not know Christine Ohlman by name, but you surely know the
beehive haired blonde by sign and sound, from her regular stint as
vocalist in the Saturday Night Live Band. Truth is, those 15-second
musical stingers after the comedy bits don't do her justice. On her
own, Ohlman is one terrific, tough-as-nails singer and songwriter,
mixing up hook-happy, hum-along rock , blues and pop originals with the
kind of panache I haven't enjoyed since Bette Midler was working the
cabaret circuit."—Rick Selvin
WORCESTER TELEGRAM-GAZETTE WORCESTER, MA
"A hurricane is hitting town tonight and its name is Christine Ohlman.
...Ohlman muscles her way into the blues boys club, never falling back
on damsel-in-distress cliches nor passing herself off as a pretty baby.
She tells stories--some happy, some sad, some downright steamy--and
does it on her own terms, rather than bending to someone else's taste
or style.
Rebel Montez, with guitarist Eric Fletcher, bassist Michael Colbath,
and drummer Larry Donahue, is the right hot rod to carry Ohlman's
material.
'Part of the charm of the whole thing is that I come from a background
of listening to a lot of R&B and soul, but have this guitar band.
It kicks real hard and seems to work great,' she said."
—Scott McLennan
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