In these pandemic days we have all suffered from the shortage of live music and those whose weekly tonic is to see some blues played in a small and sweaty club, packed far too tightly for decency and with a band who play together for the fun far more than the money have suffered most than most. This album from Johnny Burgin both reminds us of the joys of a live blues band and reminds us of what we are missing. I have to say though, it really is pretty good.
The sleeve notes point out that this is a band who do not play together regularly and had to be ‘on it’ for the one night of recording the album. On it they were as they sound as though they have been playing together for years. Most of the band are recording artists in their own right and the three special gusts are most definitely special, Rae Gordon, Charlie Musselwhite and Nancy Wright add some serious chops to Burgin’s guitar, Aki Kumar’s harp, Kid Anderson (guitars), Chris Matheos on bass and Steve Dougherty on drums.
“Johnnie Burgin plays a mean guitar”
So, to the music. Classic roadhouse style Blues, 12 original numbers plus covers of Earl Hooker’s The Leading Brand and Robert Lockwood Jr’s I Got To Find Me A Woman. Johnnie Burgin plays a mean guitar, but his real strength is his vocals which are strong but in a high register that suits the style of Blues, especially the harmonica that pervades the entire album.
Kid Anderson takes the lead guitar on most numbers as well as playing piano and his country style riffing is a delight. The special guests are not wasted with some superb sax from Nancy Wright and great vocals from Rae Gordon on three tracks, Charlie Musselwhite sounds on top form as well. Really, just a good live Blues album but in these times of no live music it is a real breath of fresh air.
ANDY SNIPPER
“My thing has always been live music. Going to shows, booking shows, playing shows. Playing with the best musicians I could. More than anything, I loved the feeling of getting in the van and going. Even better, once I got there, I love the feeling of knockin’ em dead.” – Johnny Burgin
Listen to these amazing track previews from Apple Music …
