Blues, shuffle beats and boogie-three great US contributions to Western Civilization.
Guitarist Mike Zito brings his blues rocking team to town at theOld Rock House in St. Louis for a 2021 gig. The band of Matthew Johnson/dr-voc, Lewis Stephens/p-org and Doug Byrkit/b-voc are augmented by guitarists Tony Campenella for a blues drenched “Highway Mama”, Eric Gale for a nasty “Voodoo Chile” and Dave Kalz for a boogie-ing “The Road Never Ends”. The team two steps through a rocking “Mississippi Nights” and dims the lights for the title tune before popping the clutch for closing “Johnny B. Goode.” Hold on tight!
Full fisted pianist Kenny “Blue Boss” Wayne plays and sings with leathered authority with his team of Russell Jackson/b and Joey DiMarco/dr on the stride-fested tribute to Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon. Classic Kansas City pulses are delivered on “Rock and Rolling This House” with a dash of the Texas two step on “ye” Somebody Tell That Woman”. A left hand inspired by Professor Longhair stretches the digits for “The Way She Loves A Man” and “Just You And I” with Wayne tells a story like Ray Charles on “Pigalle Love” and the late n ight Messin’ Round (“With The Blues)”. Dry rubbed with a vinegar sauce.
Guitarist, vocalist and leader Micki Free plays with a harder edge, but the roots are still intact with his team of Soaring “ Hawk” Lopez/dr, Mark “Muggy Do” Leach/key, Ken “Mojo Man” Riley and guests including Andy Vargas/voc, Steve Stevens/g, Karl Perazzo/perc, Gary Clark Jr/g, Kingfish Ingraham/Christone and Cindy Blackman/dr. “World On Fire” is a hard hitting piece akin to vintage Santana, with searing guitar and extroverted rhythm. Hints of thick Hendrix tones are felt on “Heavy Mercy” and the riffing “Bye-2020” with Clark’s guitar searing through the relentless “Woman”. Stevens looks good in nylon strings for the pretty “The Big Regret” with the guitars going tensile on “Spring Fever”. Bright and big brushes painting the town blue.