Strange Things Happening – Kid Ramos feat. Brian Templeton and Johnny Ramos

Kid Ramos feat. Brian Templeton and Johnny Ramos
Strange Things Happening
Nola Blue Records (release date: March 21, 2025)

By Robert M. Marovich

On Strange Things Happening, the first album in five years by California-born guitarist, singer, and songwriter David “Kid” Ramos, no-holds-barred roadhouse blues meets timeless gospel songs that have shaken the rafters of many churches for decades.

The album’s playlist borrows from the repertories of artists from Sister Rosetta Tharpe to the Ward Singers to Michael W. Smith. Ramos and his rhythm and horn sections go full throttle right from the first (and title) track. In their hands, Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s 1944 gospel hit gets a late night club feel. Special mention goes to Dave Limina and his chortling organ. The only thing missing is the call-and-response shouts between leader and band.

Other standout tracks are “How I Got Over” and “I’m Working on a Building.” Blazing harmonica echoes off the walls on “An Answer to Isaac,” which marries Texas blues with biblical references. The Louvin Brothers’ “Satan’s Jeweled Crown” gets a Tejano treatment.

Other popular gospels covered by the crew on Strange Things Happening include a robust version of the O’Neal Twins’ “Jesus Dropped the Charges” and longstanding favorites “I’m a Pilgrim” and “Nobody But the Lord,” though “Every Grain of Sand” was a bit too ponderous for my taste.

The album relaxes with a slow burning version of “Oh, What a Meeting.” I was shocked to discover that what sounds like a female lead vocalist on the song is actually tenor Johnny Ramos. Johnny also leads the plaintive southern gospel song, “God Walks the Dark Hills.” Kid Ramos and harmonica player Brian Templeton, vocalist and co-founder of the Radio Kings, handle most of the lead singing.

Strange Things Happening is not some hat tip to gospel music as a founding father/mother of rock ‘n’ roll; these fellows sound as if they truly believe what they are singing and putting the full force of their musicianship behind it. Because they do. Truly.

Five of Five Stars

Picks: “Strange Things Happening,” “How I Got Over”