(Reviews as of 7/22/2017)
They’re a 7 piece harmonica-driven band with a sassy brass section that tips their collective hats to everything from the Mississippi Delta to the south side of Chicago, and I think you’re gonna dig this…. one of the keys to the likeability of this record- they keep moving around, never staying in a particular pair of shoes for too long… The musicianship is excellent, and these blues are ready and willing to show you a good time- let’s party! – John Kereiff – The Rock Doctor
This new album from Delta Wires [Born in Oakland] is full of the big musical ideas that keep the blues genre evolving and ever satisfying.. All the while, the choices made along the way, from sizzling harmonica to crashing waves of horn harmony work together toward one result: … If you’re new to Delta Wires, you’re about to be blown away by some of the finest arrangements around. – Greg Victor – parkbench.live, New York City
…for a horn-based blues band, they don’t stick to any one style either, with their share of jump blues, and lots of modern things … story-songs such as Devil’s In My Headset that update the blues into century 21. There’s always lots of energy, and the tight horn arrangements and sharp guitar lines provide a punch straight through.. – CBC DJ Bob Mersereau on top100canadianblog.blogspot.ca
Delta Wires – Born In Oakland is a Blues treat right out of the box with trombones, saxophones, and trumpets blazing away. Add in some fine harmonica by bandleader, Ernie Pinata, some saucy lyrics, and you have a modern Blues album worth giving many a listen. … Hit the play button again, as once around it not enough for this stellar Blues release. – Debra Angen, LuxuryExperience.com/music_scene
DELTA WIRES/Born in Oakland: They love Chicago and the south, but you know this crew is from the bay area by the distinct sound of Tower of Power vibes lurking in the background of this harmonica and horn driven white blues band. A real party crew that has earned their local treasure status over years of showing up and delivering, this funky, fun set gets the party started—and that’s the only statement it wants to make. A rollicking good time no matter where you hear it. – Chris Spector, Midwest Record – Chicago, IL
The Delta Wires are a musical force backed by tight arrangements, a massive horn section and led by a powerhouse vocalist Ernie Pinata, who also plays a mean harmonica. … Their latest CD Born in Oakland is a continuation of their fiery combo of rock, R&B and blues with one of the greatest horn sections in the business. – Lee County Courier in Tupelo, MS
San Francisco is its own world, even within the West Coast sound. The band Delta Wires has been one of its best practitioners for the past three decades and have just released their latest disc, Born In Oakland on Mud Slide Records. … The band is an over the top seven-piece band that relies heavily on harmonica and horns. … Delta Wires is a very cool band that I wish I had discovered earlier… be sure to check out Born In Oakland ASAP!
– John Porter’s Blues Blog, and a DJ for WCVE-FM Charlottesville, VA
Delta Wires is a high-energy band from the Bay Area that successfully melds contemporary blues with its origins down deep in the Delta. … A veritable living history of West Coast blues, Delta Wires have been bringing the heat for over thirty years. … The horn section in this seven-piece group brings the energy, while Ernie’s harp is the soul and the authenticity. … They definitely know the origins of the blues, and have a finger on the pulse of its future – Don & Sheryl’s Blues Blog, Sheryl and Don Crow, The Nashville Blues Society
This is the 7th release from this West Coast unit that delivers a widely diverse array tunes that range from West Coast Swing to Delta Blues and everything in between. Elements of traditional blues, jazz, R&B, pop and anything else you might imagine are heard here. While it might look to be confusing on the surface, it flows beautifully. … The musicianship is superb…the arrangements are tight and the songwriting is up to the moment, and primarily original. Between the horns and the use of harmonica, it moves from West Coast Swing to Delta Blues smoothly, and without missing a beat. … This is another album that will not easily fit into any given category. I was most definitely impressed with the band’s knowledge of blues and soul, which they blend perfectly. The more I listen to this piece, the more impressed… This is another album I would recommend unconditionally. – Bill Wilson, Reflections in Blue