2015
– Cherryburst
Records
By Phillip Smith; Aug. 15, 2015
My first exposure to the lush and bluesy sounds of Rocky Athas came about because of my
deep appreciation for the band, Black
Oak Arkansas, who Athas played
with for a short while. His work with
the legendary John Mayall drew me in
even further. Regardless of whom he is
playing with, it is always a joy to hear him play. The
Essential Rocky Athas Volume 1 focuses on Athas’ solo works, which he describes as “a labor of love years in
the making”. For the guitar aficionados,
Athas notes fifteen different
guitars used on the ten tracks in this fabulous collection. It
makes me happy to know he plans to release two more volumes later this
year.
Athas delivers energized
Texas blues at its finest in “Long Time Gone” and “Think About It”. The later features special
guest John Mayall. Captivating grooves seasoned with delicious
guitar licks bring these tracks to the forefront. The soulfully performed “Last of the Blues” is
about as perfect a blues song as one can get, with its poignant lyrics and
beautiful melody. It’s so fun to hear
him let it all hang out on “Tearin’ Me Up”, another terrific track.
The album closes out with an exquisite cover of Cream’s “White Room”, bringing the John Mayall connection full circle, as Athas pays homage to the earliest of Mayall’s collaborators, Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce. This track is
truly the pièce de résistance.
I can’t wait to hear volumes 2 and 3.
For more info on Rocky Athas, visit his website http://www.rockyathas.com/
