Gulf Coast Records artist: Albert Castiglia - Righteous Souls - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Righteous Souls, from Albert Castiglia and it's chocked full of great music and heavy talent. Opening with Centerline, a rocker with a cool backbeat, Albert Castiglia is upfront on lead vocal and guitar, joined by Jerry Jemmott on bass, Jim Pugh on keys, D'man Martin on drums, Kid Andersen on guitars, Lisa Andersen on backing vocals, and features a great twin guitar duel with Popa Chubby. Great opener. Kevin Burt has the mic on R&B track, Mama, I Love You featuring a strong bass line by Jemmott, tight rhythm by D'Mar and really nice guitar work by Castiglia. Rick Estrin is upfront with Castiglia on Jr Wells' Come On In This House. Estrin's contribution is terrific and Castiglia milks all of the juice from his guitar, complimented by Pugh on piano making this one of my favorites on the release. Buddy Guy's funky, The Dollar Done Fell, features Josh Smith and Castiglia working the guitars and terrific vocals by Castiglia and Lisa Little Baby Andersen with Jemmott and D'Mar driving the rhythm. Excellent! Wrapping the release is another Wells track, What My Momma Told Me, with Castiglia really singing the Chicago blues. Estrin on harmonica really gets it going and Monster Mike Welch does a great job screaming the blues n guitar. Dyna


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mite closer. 

Gulf Coast Records artist: Lara Price - Half & Half - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Half & Half, from Lara Price and it's got the spunk of a "real" classic blues rocker from the early 70's. Opening with We're Still Friends, a bluesy rocker, Lara Price, leads with her gutsy vocal style with Randy Hayes and Kid Andersen on drums, Endre Tarczy on bass, Baxter Robertson on keys, Sue McCracklin, Maureen Smith, and Lisa Leuschner on backing vocals and Mike Zito and Might Mike Schermer whipping out some sweet guitar interplay. Solid opener. Funky, Things Ain't Everything, has a terrific bottom, courtesy of Clint Simmons on drums and Nick Jay on bass. Price slips into a great vocal slot on this one and David Jimenez and Chris Tondre add tight guitar riffs, with Trevor Nealon on keys and McCracklin, Smith and Leuschner on backing vocals. This will get you moving. Solitude is a vocal showcase for Price singing an Ellington song, paired with Matt Burger on guitar. Very nice. Wrapping the release is spunky rocker, Heart On A String, with  Randy Hayes driving the beat on drums. Price really has that Memphis sound on vocal, Tarczy reinforces the bottom on bass and Robertson adds great key rhythm. Schermer on guitar lays nicely in the groove and McCracklin, Smith and Leuschner blend nicely with Price adding a solid richness. Airplay choice and smooth closer for this release. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: The Wicked Lo-Down - Out of Line - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Out Of Line, by the Wicked Lo-Down and it's really strong. Opening with romping shuffle, Kill Me Or Keep Me, Nick David on lead vocal, has a great voice and Paul Size and Jeffrey Berg on guitars really add a lot of swagger. Brad Hallen on bass and Nick Toscano on drums round out the band making this a power to reckon with. Excellent opener. Chuck Berry flavored, Marchin' On, really has great form and Size adds really nice riffs. If you don't know Size, we called attention to his broad notoriety in a post ( Paul Size, Johnny Moeller, Anson Funderburgh) back in 2011. Super musician and in great company with Judge, Funderburgh and Moeller. On The Wildest One (Lester's Boogie), Hallen on bass sets a great boogie line and Size and Berg really get the boogie feel going and David works his own vocal against harmonica that really wails. This is a terrific boogie that will leave you wanting more. Excellent track. Not to spoil some of the surprises in this release but if you like ZZ Top and Bill Gibbons, there are plenty of Texas style riffs that will have you rocking in your seat. Slow blues, If I, is a soulful track giving David center stage to showcase his voice and Size on guitar plays excellent response on guitar to his call. Size rolls out a super solo taking the track ever deeper to close the number. Very nice. Another Texas shuffle, You Don't Know Me, has just the right feel with Berg driving the rhythm and Size trading with David, guitar and vocal. David pulls out his harmonica again with some fleshy riffs and Size takes the track to the end. Very nice. Guitar rocker, Vanna Be, is all Size with an excellent driving guitar runner. Hallen and Toscano keep up the bottom for a classic rocker. Wrapping the release is hard driving, I Just Can't Make It and really an excellent closer for this super fun release. Size pops on the slide and rides it hard. If you don't check out this release, it isn't because I didn't tell you...CHECK THIS ONE OUT!!!

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Mike Zito - Life Is Hard - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Life Is Hard, from Mike Zito and it's a solid release. Opening with driving blues rocker, Little Milton's, Lonely Man, Mike Zito on excellent lead vocal and guitar sets a great groove. With Reese Wynans setting a solid keyboard, Calvin Turner on bass, Lemar Carter on drums, and Paulie Cerra on sax, this is a strong opener. Fred James' Life Is Hard is a terrific blues track and Zito knows how to milk every drop of blues out of it. Soulful vocals and stinging guitar riffs really makes this track soar. Excellent! Zito original, Forever My Love, is a bluesy ballad with a great melody, setting up for Zito to take that standout guitar solo and his nails it. Tab Benoit's Darkness, is a good selection for this set working nicely with heave drum accents by Carter, and super guitar work by Zito and guest Joe Bonamassa. Walter Trout's, Nobody Moves Me Like You Do, enhances the set really well with it's firm bass work by Turner and tight drum work by Carter. Rich guitar work by Zito and Bonamassa over Wynans organ really anchors this track. Wrapping the release is Rev Gary Davis' Death Don't Have No Mercy, with Zito singin acapella and with rich backing vocals by Steve Ray Ladson, Dannielle Deandrea and Jade Macrae. The track is dark and I like it. With a haunting guitar and keyboard sound over firm drums, this is an excellent closer. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Chris BadNews Barnes - BadNews Travels Fast - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, BadNews Travels Fast, from Chris BadNews Barnes and it's solid set of rock and blues rock. Opening with radio style rocker, and title track, BadNews Travels Fast, BadNews Barns on lead vocal leads the way with a tight guitar lead by Kenny Greenberg, driving bass lines by Tommy MacDonald, and Tom Hambridge snapping tight on drums. Ace harmonica player, Jimmy Hall who led his own band, Wet Willie and worked quite a bit with the honorable Jeff Beck really makes a nice contribution here. Excellent opener. True Blues is a cool, upbeat blues track along the lines of Thrill Is Gone. Not sure most would pick up on it, but it really does have some searing guitar riffs by Walter Trout. Driving rocker, BluesBaller Baby calls on Mike Rojas on keys to do the heavy lifting with Barnes on this one and he really does a fine job. Kenny Greenberg rips hot guitar solo on this one and Max Abrams sails on sax making it a definite hot spot in the release. Wrapping the release is cool rocker, Mushrooms Make Me A Fun Guy with it's spoken vocal lines and rock stroking guitar rhythm. Rojas uses electric piano to carry the counter melody and MacDonald and Hambridge hold the bottom tight. This is a fun release. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Kevin Burt & Big Medicine - Thank You, Brother Bill: A Tribute to Bill Withers _ New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Thank You, Brother Bill: A Tribute to Bill Withers and it's great! Opening with Who Is He (And What Is He To You)?, Kevin Burt on guitar, harmonica and lead vocal sets up a funky groove. With Scot Sutherland laying down a deep bass groove, Kevin Valdez with a perfect funky rhythm track on guitar and Eric Douglas really punching on drums, this track is strong. I really love Douglas' snappy work on Kissing My Love and Sutherland really sets the bottom on fire with his bass work. Burt really demonstrates what a great vocalist can do and his harmonica playing is top notch as well. Excellent! I'm Her Daddy is another vocal showcase for Burt but it's the slick guitar work on this track that caught my attention. Sure, he covers Ain't No Sunshine and Lean On Me and both tracks are great... but you already know that. Grandma's Hands is definitely one of Withers' masterpieces and Burt really does it nicely. His soulful vocals make the track a definite must have redo and his guitar interpretation on his solo is really nicely done. My favorite on the release. Wrapping the release is up beat title track, Thank You Brother Bill with it's laid back funky approach. Burt rides the groove with a strong melody, answered by guitar lead and solid rhythm guitar by Valdez. Burt's lead guitar and harmonica are both tasty making hits a real nice closer. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Popa Chubby - Live at G. Bluey's Juke Joint NYC - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Live at G. Bluey's Juke Joint NYC, from Popa Chubby and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with Neil Young's driving Motorcycle Mama, Chubby on lead vocal and guitar lays down a real cool rhythm reinforced by Michael Merritt on bass, Mike Dimeo on keys and Stefano Giudici on drums. With it's rock N' roll feel and rhythmatic approach on lead. this is a solid opener. On Hey Joe (you all know the track), PC keeps the original arrangement but of course puts his own signature on the guitar work. Using Hendrix like phrase reinforcement and with a tight rhythm by Giudici on drums, this is a strong concert track. After building to a frenzy, the track quiets under the improvised melody by Dimeo on keys, and closing under the firepower of PC. With a Latin feel and surf phrasing, 69 Dollars this track really got the  crowd moving. Another original, Grown Man Crying Blues is a lumbering track with a drone bass line and plenty of space. Dimeo and PC both get a sloid spot in the center front and both do really nice jobs making this one of my favorite tracks on the release. On Texas style, I Don't Want Nobody, PC really gets a nice lope going with just a little more tempo and great vocals. Dimoe gives up an aggressive organ solo followed by PC who doesn't moss a lick. Steel Horse Serenade is a charging instrumental with long, melodic, guitar and organ phrasing with traces of prog music. Very cool. Ballady take on on Jimmy Cox's Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out, gives Dimeo lost of space to stretch on organ and PC follows with a meaty guitar solo of his own, showing straight up blues riffs and metal plucking for a dynamic ending. Wrapping the release is a rocking cover of the Stones', Sympathy For The Devil. This is a great set that PC put together and really jamming on the closing track. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Jason Ricci & The Bad Kind - Behind The Veil - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Behind The Veil, from Jason Ricci and The Bad Kind, and as always it's a feast for the ears. Opening with Casco Bay with it's waltz tempo has a really cool swagger. Ricci on lead vocal and dynamic harmonica tone sets the pace with Kaitlin Dibble on backing vocal, Brent Johnson on guitar and backing vocal, Jack Joshua on bass and vocal and John Perkins on backing vocal makes this a really interesting opener. Switching to New Orleans R&B sound on 5-10-15, Dibble has the lead on vocal, a really strong harmonica solo by Ricci and Kid Andersen's guitar work really set this track apart. Very nice. Bobby Rush's Ain't She Fine is a great track with an aggressive, funky rock beat. I love the lead vocal lines and Johnson's guitar work in concert with Joshua on bass and Perkins on drums, all wrapped by Ricci on harp is terrific. Classic, St James Infirmary is a smart pick for this band giving Ricci a great showcase for his vocal style and excellent harp soloing and Johnson to spin a strong solo on guitar as well. Terrific, terrific track. Funky, Why Don't We Sleep On It, is another really strong track with some dialogue between Ricci and Dibble who trade lead vocal lines over a potent bass riff by Joshua. Joe Krown on B3 adds tension and Johnson's stinging guitar lead is perfect. Wrapping the release is Booker T's Hip Hug-Her with it's tight instrumental bottom courtesy of Krown, Perkins, and Johnson, melody on harp by Ricci.  Hot guitar work by Johnson and smoking harmonica work by Ricci take this track home with Krown on B3 making this an excellent closer for a truly excellent release. 

 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Backtrack Blues Band - A Day By The Bay - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, A Day By The Bay, by Backtrack Blues Band, and its a solid live performance recorded at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival in 2022. Opening with Best Friend's Grave, Sonny Charles on lead vocal and harmonica is in the groove with excellent guitar work by Kid Royal, and supported by Little Johnny Walter on rhythm guitar, Joe Bencomo on drums, Stick Davis on bass, Wayne Sharp on B3 and strong backing vocals by LaTonya Oliver and Dana Merriwether. Solid opener. Dixie Grill is a cool boogie with a great rhythm. Charles, on lead vocal ramps up his harmonica with strong phrasing over the rhythm of Sharp on B3. Times Is Hard is my favorite track on the release featuring Royal on lead vocal. With it's slow, deep blues feel, both Charles and Royal get plenty of time to stretch. Sharp lays in a real nice B3 solo building more tension before Royal comes back with excellent guitar phrasing to sew things up. Wrapping the release is You'll Come Back Someday a cool Chicago style blues with a few strong harmonica runs by Charles. Sharpe on B3 kicks in a real nice set of his own before turning the floor over to Royal with his stinging attack, trading off with Charles. Solid closer for a real solid release. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Ole Lonesome - Tejas Motel - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tejas Motel, from Ole Lonesome and it's a cool, modern, interpretation of traditional blues with a grungy rock feel. Opening with Yvette, Zachary Feemster on vocal and guitar sets a solid foot in the mud with thick blues but with a modern, blues rock edge. With J. Wesley Hardin on bass, Gregory Mosley on keys, Jimmy Devers on drums and Greg Achord on guitar, I really like their stripped down guitar driven, but not overplayed approach. Gold Chevy has a cool, 60's vibe with it's heavy footed bottom by Devers and Hardin and power guitar riffs by Feemster and Achord pushing Feemster's vocal call, giving it pseudo Zep feel but in a fresh, grungy way. Another LZ influenced track, Momma's Worry will have you rocking out with a great bottom and excellent melody. Otis Rush influenced, Ain't No Good, is the most traditional blues track on the release and clearly shows Feemster's vocal work and fluid guitar blues runs.  Wrapping the release is title track, Tejas Motel with a Willie Dixon / Wang Dang Doodle feel. I like it's saunter and stroll with guitar and vocal. With glistening electric piano by Mosley and a perfect bass work by Hardin, Feemster stands back like a circus barker and paints a great image vocally. Excellent closer for a real tasty release. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Joanna Connor - Best of Me - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Best of Me, by Joanna Connor and it's wild. Opening with funky blues number, House Rules, Connor dons her notorious slide guitar, accompanying herself on lead vocal, also featuring Josh Smith on guitar, and backed by a serious horn section of Fernando Castillo on trumpet and flugelhorn, Carlos Sosa on sax and flute, Raul Vallejo on trombone, together the Grooveline horns, Shaun Gotti Calloway on bass, Jason Edwards on drums, and Curtis Moore Jr on organ. Super opener. Title track, Best of Me, is a smooth, soulful, ballad featuring really nice vocal by Conner and nicely articulated lead work making hits an ideal radio track. I Lost You is another slow blues with excellent vocal and guitar lead by Conner, complimented by Dan Souvigny on rhythm and keys. Blues driver, Mercury Blues, really gets rolling with Conner pushing on vocal and letting the slide fly, joined by David Abbruzzese on drums. Very cool. Wrapping the release is blues rocker, Shine On with Gary Hoey joining on guitar and Jason Ricci joining on harmonica. With a really great beat, heavy riffs by Hoey, a driving bass line by Calloway and a tight drum bottom by Edwards, this is a solid closer to a real solid release. 

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Gulf Coast Records artists: Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia - Blood Brothers - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blood Brothers, from Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia and it's pure blues music. Opening with Hey Sweet Mama, a romping blues rocker, Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia share the mike for nicely blended lead vocals and Chuck Berry influenced guitar work makes this an excellent opener. With Zito and Castiglia on guitars, Douglas Byrkit on bass, Matthew Johnson on drums, Ephraim Lowell on drums and Lewis Stephens on keys this is a tight band. Over a classic blues vamp, Fool Never Learns is a driving rocker. Castiglia on lead vocal and Zito and Castiglia trading hot riffs, makes this a strong contender for radio airplay. My favorite track on the release is You're Gonna Burn with really strong, soulful lead vocal and excellent lead guitar work. Thumping tom tom work by Johnson compliments the track nicely and Stephens' keyboard work gives hit just the right edge. Jazzy, Hill Country Jam has a slinky rhythm and twin guitar lead which carry the melody in southern style. Stephens' organ work leads the segue into solo guitar leads by Castiglia and Zito. Very nice. Wrapping the release is One Step Ahead Of The Blues with it's laid back feel and handclap rhythm. This is a very cool release with plenty of guitar. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Monster Mike Welch - Nothing But Time - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Nothing But Time, from Monster Mike Welch and it's flat out scorching! Opening with Walking To You Baby, Mike wastes absolutely no time kicking this release into overdrive. With solid vocals and high strung, blues guitar phrasing, Mike sails. Backed by Jerry Jemmott on bass, Bob Welch on piano, Kid Andersen on keys, Fabrice Bessouat on drums, Eric Spaulding on tenor sax, Jack Sanford on bari sax, and John Halblieb on trumpet, this track will part your hair. George Harrison's terrific track, I Me Mine gets a real nice cover by Mike and though he doesn't vary far from the original theme, it's a real nice track and Mike's interpretation, adding horns and blues guitar riffs takes it to the next level. Excellent shuffle, I Ain't Saying shows Mike's strong vocals and Texas style blues riffs setting up a great groove. With Andersen on bass, Spaulding on sax Bob on piano and Bessouat on drums, Mike kills it on guitar. One of my favorite tracks on the release is funky blues, In Case You Care, with Jemmott back on bass, Mike Peloquin on sax, Dr Aaron Lington on bari, Halblieb on trumpet, Mike Rinta on trombone, and Vicki Randle on percussion, this track is hot! Jump For Joy is really packed with energy and Mike is again swinging for the wall. Gotta say if he comes to Phoenix, I'm seeing the concert. Slow blues, Ten Years Ago is that one track when you just sit back in your chair nodding. Mike grabs this track by the scruff and shakes the stuffing out of it. His vocals are gripping and his guitar attack is relentless. Excellent! Wrapping the release is a modern take on Robert Johnson's Kind Hearted Woman Blues with Mike on electric guitar and vocal. His poise and prowess are obvious and his vocals are actually in line with Johnson's own falsetto. This is an excellent track to close a spectacular release. Out of the park

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Jimmy Carpenter - The Louisiana Record - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, The Louisiana Record, from Jimmy Carpenter and it's a heaping bowl of Louisiana blues. Opening with Smiley Lewis' I Hear You Knocking, made popular by Dave Edmunds in the 70's. This track with all the trimmings has a real NO R&B feel with Carpenter on vocal and sax, Mike Zito on guitar, Casandra Faulconer on bass, Wayne Maureau on drums and John Gros with excellent piano and organ work. Super start. Carpenter blows a solid intro on Something You Got and his vocals really work nicely with spot on piano work by Gros. Another track with great piano rolls is Travelin' Mood and Carpenter balances his vocal with sax lead and Zito's slide work really adds some nice grease. With a Latin drum rhythm, Cry To Me really shows Carpenter's lead vocal qualities and his sax soloing balanced with Zito's guitar articulation really works nicely. Earl King's Those Lonely Lonely Nights is another classic NO R&B tracks with soulful vocals by Carpenter and solid piano rhythm by Gros. His sax solo adds some real nice icing to the cake. Wrapping the release is Lee Allen's Rockin' At Cosimo's with a real second line rhythm by Maureau on drums. Carpenter takes it all the way with sax on lead melody and Zito, Faulconer and Gross for an excellent closer. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Bennett Matteo Band - Shake The Roots - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Shake The Roots, by Bennett Matteo Band and it's a funky, blues rocker. Opening with Doesn't Really Matter, a funky rocker, Jade Bennett on lead vocal is in charge. With Gino Matteo and Kid Andersen on guitar they are heavily armed and with Michael Burnham on funky bass, Carson Ford on drums, Jim Pugh and Kid Andersen on keys, Nic Clark on harmonica, Dmar on drums and with Lisa Leuschner, The Sons of the Soul Revivers and Kid Andersen on backing vocals, this is a great opener. Up tempo pop rocker, You're Nothing is a great showcase for Bennett,  Burnham really gets the bottom moving and Matteo's guitar solo is a ripper. Soulful, Paid & Broke is one of my favorites on the release with Bennett digging in deep vocally. With Pugh and Andersen on piano and organ, and perfectly placed guitar accents, this track has that warm Muscle Shoals feel. With it's drone bass line by Burnham and response vocals to Bennett's lead vocal, this track has a lot of grit. Instrumental tension under the vocals really plays nicely on this spiritually blues inspired track and a physical scream accenting the guitar soloing really hits hard. Very cool. Another soul inspired blues, Table For Two is a solid opportunity for Bennett to show her vocal chops. This really is a great demo and with strong vocal backing, hot bass lines by Burnham and excellent drumming by Dmar, the pressure is really mounting. Wrapping the release is pop fused When I Close My Eyes, with a definite radio melody and tight rhythm. Nic Clark on harmonica adds some solid riffs and the keyboard work keeps the pop feel anchored. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Albert Castiglia - I Got Love - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, I Got Love, from Albert Castiglia and it's a strong blues rocker. Opening with title track, I Got Love, Castiglia is upfront with solid vocals and his aggressive guitar style, backed by Justine Tompkins on bass, Lewis Stephens on keys and with power drumming from Ephraim Lowell. Sanctuary seems a natural for the radio track with it's memorable melody and restrained feel. Castiglia's vocals are real nice and his guitar riffs just right. Double Down is a really cool blues rocker with a James Brown beat and some really tasty guitar riffs. Whew! Pulling out the slide on shuffle, Long Haul Daddy, Castiglia really rips it. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the release and one that will leave you wanting more. Funky, Depression Blues will make you sweat with it's aggressive bass line and bottom and full out soloing by Castiglia. Excellent! Wrapping the release is Take My Name Out Of Your Mouth sounding like the echo that happened before the event. With it's slower pace, poise and solid vocals, Castiglia sets up the winding guitar solo nicely and spikes it. This is a real solid release with hot guitar throughout. 

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Gulf Coast Records artist: Mike Zito - Blues For The Southside - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues for the Southside, from Mike Zito and it's really strong! Recorded live at the Old Rock House in St Louis, MO. this band is cranking. Opening with Mississippi Nights, Mike Zito is up front on lead vocal and guitar. Mike has great a super grinding tone and his slide work is great. Backed by Matthew Johnson on drums, Lewis Stephens on piano, Doug Byrkit on bass, this band is smoking. Larry Davis' Texas Flood really gives Zito a chance to put his foot to the floor and he doesn't hesitate a bit. His vocals are firm and his guitar work inspired and scorching! Hell On Me is a great, rolling blues with a solid walking bass line from Byrkit opening up a super land for Zito to wind it up and he's on it. Building a lot tension with his vocals and nice use of a chorus pedal, Zito sets it up nicely. Stephens' organ work adds a lot of lather setting the lob up for a slam by Zito to close. Very nice. Opening side two of this concert is Highway Mama, and adding Tony Campanella on guitar. I really like this track... a perfect example of blues rock at it's best along the lines of Frank Marino's Mahogany Rush. Excellent! Hendrix's Voodoo Chile finds Eric Gales on stage with Zito and a real shootout. This is a 12 minute duel and lots of smoke. Very nice! On Life Is Hard Zito really take his time and works his solo. His chops are excellent and clocking in at over eight and a half minute, it really makes you sad that you  missed this show in person. Wow! Wrapping the release is Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode. With nothing left on the table, this is an excellent closer keeping the energy up and Zito keeps the riffs flying. This is a really strong closer for a really potent double live concert. 

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