(Cordova Bay Records)
Tenacity is a word best describing the steady and consistent career of Nanaimo, B.C bluesman David Gogo. Now celebrating his 14th recording with the release of Vicksburg Call, Gogo has been operating at a steady pace ever since debuting with his first self-titled release in 1994.
Since then, a staple on the Canadian blues scene, Gogo may have operated in the shadows of the likes of Colin James and Jeff Healey but he has shared the stage with the likes of Johnny Winter, BB King, Bo Diddley and Albert Collins and there’s no denying his fortitude in continuing to issue a stream of quality records.
Mixing quality covers with a number of solid original tracks, Gogo balances infectious r&b rock numbers with more traditional blues arrangements to satisfy both traditionalists and those who like to rock out.
Working with bassist Jay Stevens and drummer Bill Hicks at Rick Salt’s Nanaimo-based studios, Gogo provides some tasty lead guitar chops on Stephen Stills’ “Jet Set”, adds a clean interpretation of Neil Young’s “The Loner” and even shows off his own vocal talents with a creditable cover of Annie Lennox’s melody “Why”. Add to this a couple of his own high energy blues rock tracks like “Cuts Me To The Bone” and “Coulda,Shoulda, Woulda” that would do George Thorogood proud, the tasty “Foolin Myself” which also features Savoy Brown’s Kim Simmonds, a raw, traditional blues workout titled “There’s A Hole” topped off by some sizzling harmonica work by Shawn Hall and you have a set of 10 highly palatable tracks. Vicksburg Call provides a pleasant, home-grown treat for all blues aficionados.
Download: “Cut Me To The Bone” “There’s A Hole”, “Coulda, Shoulda,Woulda”
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