LONE CROW REBELLION – COAL TRAIN BLUES (no label) Since their beginning six years ago, western PA’s Lone Crow Rebellion has steadily built their following and reputation as a sturdy, blues-based outfit. On their second full-length album, “Coal Train Blues,” the group demonstrates their style of hard-driving blues and blues-rock over 10 tracks, showing strong songwriting and tight musicianship, as well as versatility on a variety of blues angles. Singer and guitarist Greg Long, keyboardist and singer John Samanka, bassist Pete Horm and drummer Jason Sopic work well together as a cohesive unit, resulting in a consistent, steady sound through the entire album. Lone Crow Rebellion also shows a knack for telling stories, evident from the start with the shuffling southern rock-tinged title song album opener “Coal Train Blues,” a reminiscent tale of toiling in a coal mine. Underscored by John’s prominent keyboard riff, “Blues for Better Days” assembles several vignettes of folks dealing with hard times and yearning for hope and brighter futures. John’s keys and Greg’s guitar tones help craft a Dire Straits flavor on the road trip ode “Cruise,” and the group generates their own swampy blues-rock vibe on “The River.” Hints of Steely Dan inform the blues of “Real Bad Man,” while the tangle-with-the-law number “Lucky Penny” displays a southern-edged blues-rock twang. Lone Crow Rebellion brings their harder edge on the driving blues-rocker “Orphan Boy Blues,” the swaggering “Shame Shame Shame” and the feisty boogie finale “Sneaking Out.” The songs are solid and the group’s hearty performances make each number shine. The vocals sound crisp, and the balance between John’s keys and Greg’s guitar gives overall fullness to the group’s presentation. The production sounds clean, with all components of the group’s sound coming through clearly in the mix. “Coal Train Blues” shows a band hitting their stride, as Lone Crow Rebellion further establishes their footprint in the state’s blues-rock scene. (CD and vinyl copies of the album can be obtained through the group’s website, www.lonecrowmusic.com.)