Earwig Music artist: Guitar Mikey & The Real Thing - Out Of The Box - New Release Review

Guitar Mikey and The Real Thing have a new cd called Out Of The Box and that's a perfect description for a blues player and this recording. Michael "Guitar Mikey" McMillan teamed up with harp player Billy Gibson and keyboard wiz Mark Yacovone on this 15 track all original release. Blues Attack, a blues rocker, highlights Gibson on harp and has some bluesy/country guitar riffs to beef it up. It's a Sin is a hard driving track giving both Mikey and Gibson a chance to stretch out a bit. It's Goin' Down, an acoustic blues track has some really tasty slide riffs as well as continues great playing by Gibson. Blues Ahead is a more contemporary style blues rocker along the lines of a British blues band. The Bigger Fool gets down in the mud and digs around a bit. This track has some particularly cool guitar playing... slide a la Muddy. This is the best track on the release. Who Is She takes a funky look at the blues and has a pretty sweet organ solo featuring Peter Nunn and of course a nice gritty guitar solo from Mikey. Heart Shakin' Mama gets a cool back beat going and guitar shredding under the melody. When Leo Starts Growlin' blends funk and Texas blues for an interesting track.Mikey lays down some pretty cool guitar on this track too. Out Of The Box has a distinct Santanaesque sound but still staying original and Mikey. Cool Latin rhythms, cool guitar riffs...good close for the recording.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”
This track doesn't appear on the cd but is representative of the bands work.

Lonely Man - Guitar Mikey and The Real Thing

Guitar Mikey and the Real Thing are definite proof that blues is fresh and alive. With the funk of James Brown and the intensity of Buddy Guy combined with the heaviness of Led Zeppelin the band has earned the opportunity to share the bill with such artists as The Thunderbirds, John Mayall, Johnny and Edgar Winter and even hard rock bands the likes of Nazareth.

At eleven years old, Guitar Mikey had already established his destined path when sneaking back stage to meet slide guitar mentor, Muddy Waters. At the age of twelve he began playing in local rock bands and at sixteen, began fronting the critically acclaimed - award winning Steel City Blues Band. Later, this band would feature, and then back Canada’s King Biscuit Boy. Over the years Mikey has been seen from Toronto to Buffalo, Chicago, to Boston, and now in his new home of Clarksdale, Mississippi sharing the stage with the likes of Honeyboy Edwards, Yank Rachel, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Billy Branch, Carl Withersby, Long John Baldry and Paul Butterfield. Many Hamilton fans remember the years of Mikey's regular Sunday night where he helped build the popularity of Hess Village's club, The Gown & Gavel. Here Guitar Mikey would regularly have musicians sit in like Carey Bell, Phil Guy, Eddie Kirkland, Eddie Shaw, Luther Tucker, Don Walsh to name a few. Most recently he has reached his final destination, Clarksdale Mississippi. This is where he will continue playing the music he loves, in the place it was born.

Guitar Mikey and the Real Thing live, are HOT, HEAVY and ELECTRIC. Their recordings are contemporary enough for AOR radio and rootsy enough to please any purist audience. So what do you do with a band like this. Well, you don't do anything except see them and buy their music.
If you like what I’m doing, Like ---Bman’s Blues Report--- Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! - ”LIKE”