Pat Pepin
What More Can I Do
By Peter "Blewzzman" Lauro © Nov 2025
Pat Pepin and I go way back, and as with so many other of my blues friends we met in Memphis during the Blues Music Awards. It was around 2000 or shortly thereafter. At the time I was the Florida beat writer for Big City Blues Magazine and after seeing a stack of the magazines on the counter at Tater Reds on Beale Street, Red and I got into a long conversation. That's when Pat, who was standing nearby, introduced herself and joined the conversation, and that's all it took. As it turned out, Pat's mom lived in Okeechobee, Fl, which was about an hour from where I lived in Port St. Lucie. Over the years, during her many winter trips from Maine to visit her mom, Pat - and once in a while Mamma Pepin as well - were guests at the House of Blewzz. Although we don't see each other as much as we'd like to anymore, occasionally running into her at a blues event somewhere is always a pleasure. With all that said, it is now my pleasure to tell you about her fourth release.
What More Can I Do features fourteen tracks of which twelve are Pat Pepin originals. Having all of her other releases, I can honestly tell you that this disc contains some of her very best writing. Joining Pat - on lead vocals, sax, kazoo and spoons - are Steve Jones on guitar and backing vocals; Richard Hollis on drums and backing vocals; Scott Elliot on bass and backing vocals; and Bob Colwell on piano and backing vocals. Collectively, the band is affectionately known as The Boneheads.
On "Mother Nature Blues" it's Pat's belief that the "Fires and earthquakes; the oceans on the rise; the earth being dry and barren; the lightening that fills the skies; the heat waves and hurricanes; and cold to the extreme"; are just Mother Nature's way of scolding us for the way we've abused her with "The trash we put trash on the highways; the smoke we created that blocks the sun; the way we poisoned the water; did all that drilling and blasting"; and a whole lot more. Yep, Mother Nature indeed has a case of the blues. Musically, with the Boneheads in a cool shuffle groove behind her, Pat's sincere and heartfelt vocals do a good job of creating an awareness of the problems. Now, if we can only solve them!
The title track, "What More Can I Do" is a somber ballad on which Pat wears her heart on her sleeve. As the title indicates, Pat can't help but wonder if she's to blame for a heartbreaking breakup. With the band in a melancholic rhythm groove behind her, showcasing great range and lots of emotion, Pat shines on the vocals; and her sullen sax leads seem to magnify her pain. Very well done track.
Lyrically, vocally, and musically, "Don't Tie Me Down" is a swinger that's loaded with sass, humor and band banter. The up-tempo dance floor filler has Richard and Scott in a hot rhythm groove on the drums and bass respectively with Pat belting the hell out of some swinging sax leads.
"Little Things" and "Call Me Up" are two songs right out of a late forties - early fifties jazz lounge singer's songbook. Little Things features the band in that so cool jazz lounge rhythm groove being led by deep bass lines from Richard; and Call Me Up features more of the same with some smooth, jazzy guitar runs from Steve. Additionally, they both feature Pat sounding sassy and sultry on the vocals, and sax leads; and very cool backing vocals - reminiscent to songs of the era - from The Boneheads. Great two song segue. Now Pat's got me wanting to hear her do a whole album of stuff like this.
While making love, and everything leading up to it, Pat has two very important words of advice for her lover - "Slow Down". Her take is:"
When you look me in the eyes, while you kiss me on the lips;
You give me a thrill from my toes to fingertips;
Then you start acting like your goal is to get me on my back;
Honey we're making love not war, I'm not under attack.
Slow down, babbbby sloooow down".
Further on into the process it becomes necessary for this warning: "Now you're loving me so tender, and I'm getting in the groove;
Don't be picking up the tempo or you'll be coming home too soon;
We started at first base, now you're trying to steal home;
Better keep your mind on baseball, before this innings blown.
Slow down, babbbby sloooow down".
Musically, with its enchanting rhythm; seductive guitar and sax leads; and sultry vocals; the sensual vibe that's going on is the perfect accompaniment for what's taking place in the song.
Vocally and musically, Pat and The Boneheads nail their rendition of Damn Your Eyes, a song by Steve Bogard and Barbara Wyrick that Etta James had a huge hit with back in 1988. The song - which I'm guessing is being sung to Pat's husband Louie - showcases Pat's fabulous vocal skills and Steve's masterful guitar work.
With the feel of a jug band - with the jug being replaced by a kazoo - Pat and the guys seem to be having a ball on "Sugar Mama". It's a dance floor filler with lots of fun filled sing-a-long lyrics.
Other tracks on this excellent effort include: "Mean Woman"; "I Don't Want To Go Home"; "Drifting" (Glenn Torrico); "Mae West"; "Ride With You"; and "Try Me".
To find out more about Pat Pepin, just go to - www.patpepin.com - Additionally, you can check her out on FB - https://www.facebook.com/patpepin and find her on all of the streaming services. Wherever and however you contact Pat, please tell her that her good friend The Blewzzman sent you.
