Release Date : March 23, 2026
Zac Harmon & the Drive’s latest album Live is a fun and funkdafied
listen. I absolutely love it. Recorded from an assortment of live shows
around the world, this record is loaded with an intoxicating and elevated energy,
which is immediately noticeable. Singer/songwriter/guitarist
Harmon, a multi-award-winning blues artist from Jackson, Mississippi
who was awarded Best Unsigned Band at the 2004 International Blues
Challenge, Best New Blues Artist at the 2006 Blues Music Awards,
and Best Soul Blues Album at the 2022 Blues Music Awards, shines amazingly
bright on this ten-track record. Harmon’s
band consists of Corey “Brown Coy” Lacy on keys/vocals, Nate “The
Bass” Robinson on bass, Gino “LockJohnson” Iglehart on drums/vocals,
and Kingston “Soul Fingers” Livingston on guitar/vocals. Guest musicians include Jabari Johnson
on guitar/vocals, Tommye Young-West on vocals, Lio Saenz Jr, on all
horns, and Bobby Sparks on keys.
The horn-infused jam of “Hump in Your Back” tears the roof off the sucker and has me searching in desperation for a pair of dancing shoes. Harmon’s vocals are suave and his guitar performance is a smoldering one. Once the opening notes of “Feet Back on the Ground” hit, I know I am in for a nearly eight-minute-long, wonder-filled, slow-blues treat. I find a Pink Floyd-appeal to this with the soulful vocals, intrinsic guitar licks, deep bassline, and incredible keyboard accompaniment. A big grin graces my face when “40 Days” hits and Zac sings of “sleeping in bed for 40 days and making love for 40 nights”. This track is especially timely since it lands two tracks after the feel-good, story-telling blues of “Blue Pill Thrill”. Once I hear the funky, twangy riff of Reverend Oris Mays’ “Don’t Let the Devil Ride”, I’m right there in the groove. This rendition picks me up and takes me to church. Since I love Mississippi and I love barbeque, the soul blues of “Mississippi Bar B Q” takes me for a relaxing visit to the Magnolia State for a delicious plate of ribs, a round of drinks, and the wonderful sound of blues music.
Zac Harmon & the Drive’s Live is an outstanding live recording. It’s definitely one of those records I’ll be spinning a lot this Summer.
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For more information about Zac Harmon, visit his
website at https://zacharmon.com/