Excerpted from KC Blues Society newsletter, Sept. 2005
By Bruce Hibbs
“Acoustic Showcase coming up!
   “ And finally, drum roll please...more drum roll...and a little more. From the great city of Kansas City, the Blues Society is proud to present our town’s very own Rain Dogs.
   This is roots music at its best; throw in a little boogie woogie, and maybe a little mountain jug band blues, and you have one of the most requested bands in the area.”

The Blues News, May 2001
Rain Dogs CD Review by Joni "Woman" Mayberry
   The long awaited initial release from the Rain Dogs is just what the doctor ordered to soothe what ails your musical soul. Digitally recorded, mixed and mastered by Clayton Stubbs 2 stories below O'Malley's Pub in Weston, Mo.; production manager Maryruth Peck has captured the soul of an original performance leaving the listener in a state of folky blues nirvana...The 14 tracks include tributes to Sam Chapman "Hate That Train" and "Stop & Listen", Memphis Minnie "Girlish Ways", J.J. Cale "Pack My Jack" and the father of the blues W.C. Handy "St. Louis Blues" along with Bo Carter's "Who's Been Here?" and even Hank Williams' "Ramblin' Man". Their treatments of the traditional "France Blues" and Jim Jackson's "Kansas City Blues" are especially appealing with all four members providing vocal and instrumental parts. "Viola Lee" was originally recorded back in 1928 but sounds anything but old when Jim & Karla weave their vocal magic. Although "Trouble In Mind" and "Ain't Nobody's Business" have been done countless times, the Rain Dogs breathe new life into these old chestnuts. The one original track "Robert's Dream" was penned by Mike Roark and the vivid imagery leaves no doubt this group is destined to carve their own notch in Kansas City's musical history.

Kansas City Star Magazine
By Kate Hunter
Boogie-Woogie & Blues
    The band Rain Dogs calls its mix of old country blues, boogie-woogie & early rock 'n' roll "American roots music." You'll call it terrific. The local band's first CD, "Rain Dogs," has 14 songs, including "Kansas City Blues," "St. Louis Blues," Hank Williams' "Ramblin' Man" &, from the 1920s, "Jug Band Music." Mike Roark plays a rollicking, boogie-woogie piano, & Karla Peterie provides throaty vocals & plays rhythm guitar, mandolin & washboard. Phil Smith & Jim Herbert contribute vocals & great guitar playing. "Rain Dogs" will get your toes tapping...

2000 Spirit Fest full of Blues!
Kansas City Blues News, Oct. 2000
     ..."A short break and then the band that brought in the largest and most diverse crowd of the day, the Rain Dogs. This multi-instrumented quartet is an acoustic band and definitely at the top of my wish list for next year's KCBS Acoustic Showcase. They drew in families and had the kids and adults alike dancing in the aisles as the sun set and a hot breeze blew in. The appreciative crowd gave them a standing ovation, and they definitely gained a bigger fan base as a result of this exposure..."