By David Steinberg /
Journal Staff Writer
Bob Malone has a smooth, relaxed speaking voice. His singing voice is another story: It's been accurately compared to the singing voices of Randy Newman, Tom Waits and Dr. John.
What does Malone think about that?
Though flattered by the comparisons, he asserted that his voice just comes out of his mouth the way it does.
As for Malone's music, it crosses over into blues, jazz and rock.
“I think I will cover all sides of me in the concert,” he said in a phone interview from his home in West Hollywood, Calif.
Malone was referring to his Sunday, May 4, concert at Downtown Albuquerque's Windchime Champagne Gallery.
He's working on a new album that he said will be weighted more toward rock. His last CD, titled “Born Too Late,” fused blues and jazz. Regardless of what style of music he sings, his songwriting — the music and the lyrics — are intelligent and catchy.
For example, here is an excerpt from his song “The Stripper”: “He believes that/Elvis is coming back/Steppin' on a crack breaks your mamma's back ...” Further on, the song's chorus opens with: “And he thinks the stripper likes him/He thinks he's getting the eye and/Tonight he's gonna strike like lightning …”
In that song's introduction in the CD booklet, Malone wrote that in spite of the riches, the comforts, the technology and the information Americans have access to, “some of us are still so easily duped.”
On another song, “So What If It's Hallowe'en,” Malone writes in the booklet that it came about when he looking for work and called a friend at a music publishing company. The guy asked him to write a Halloween song for possible use on a TV show, but advised Malone to “make sure it's fluffly and danceable and lacking in content. … The TV guys like that sort of thing.”
This is an excerpt from the chorus: “So what if it's Hallowe'en/Man, I was already scared/All I got to do is take a look in the mirror/There's more than enough horror there x…”
When he performs solo, as he will on Sunday, Malone said he makes sure that he grabs the listeners' attention with his opening number.
Malone said he always opens with a song that carries this ear-catching title: “I Know He's Your Husband, But He Don't Know That I'm Your Man.”
Bob Malone
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 4
WHERE: Windchime Champagne Gallery, 518 Central SW
HOW MUCH: $15 in advance at Bookworks, Natural Sound and online at www.abqmusic.com or call toll-free (800) 838-3006. $20 at the door
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